Hawaii legislative session begins today, leadership changes, new lawmakers in the mix, voters oppose gay marriage, old Kauai sugar stack comes tumbling down, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Legislature 2013 session calendar

Hawaii lawmakers were gearing up to address major issues that include the state budget, food and energy independence and education as the 2013 legislative session opens today. Associated Press.

After the 27th State Legislature convenes Wednesday, expect the state budget to dominate discussion. Hawaii News Now.

When the new session of the Legislature opens today, veteran Rep. Joseph Souki will take the gavel from Speaker Calvin Say on the strength of a dissident faction that has sought to remove Say for the past eight years. Star-Advertiser.

It's showtime for the band of former dissidents in the state House of Representatives who are finally taking the reins of power after years of battling outgoing Speaker Calvin Say for control of the House. Star-Advertiser.

Speaker-elect Joe Souki of Maui (District 8 – Wailuku, Waihee, Waiehu, Puuohala, Waikapu) announced today state House leadership positions and chair and vice-chair positions for the 2013 session. Maui Now.

Wednesday is the opening day of the legislative session and it could mark a new era in leadership. KHON2.

Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie this afternoon announced his appointment of Maui businessman Justin Woodson to fill the House seat vacancy created when Rep.Gil Keith-Agaran moved over to the Senate. Civil Beat.

Justin Woodson, owner of a Maui carwash and a former president of the Young Demo­crats of Hawaii, became the newest member of the state House Tuesday, on the eve of opening day of the 2013 Legislature. Star-Advertiser.

As the economy shows positive signs of recovery, this year’s Senate Opening Day ceremony will include remarks by presiding officers, local musicians and honored guests will be allowed to be seated on the chamber floor. Hawaii Reporter.

It was high fives all around following a meeting of the minds Tuesday, before the county mayors made their way downstairs to talk to state lawmakers about their priorities. KITV4.

In order to make the legislative process more open and participatory for the public, Common Cause Hawaii and 13 other community organizations have asked the Senate and House to consider implementing new rules and practices in the 2013 Legislative Session. Civil Beat.

Most Hawaii voters remain opposed to same-sex marriage in the state but support is growing, a new Civil Beat Poll shows. Civil Beat.

The teachers who organized the so-called "Work to the Rule" protests that spread to schools statewide will rally at the State Capitol Wednesday morning, urging lawmakers to consider legislation that the teachers' union says it does not support. Hawaii News Now.

Emboldened by the United Public Workers’ new deal, the Hawaii State Teachers Association wants the state to double down on its latest contract settlement offer. Civil Beat.

The Blue Planet Foundation said Tuesday that the existing state renewable energy tax credit, which has helped the solar photovoltaic industry reach new heights, provides a “significant net fiscal benefit to the state.” Pacific Business News.

Rep. Cynthia Thielen is questioning whether the Public Utilities Commission is properly regulating the cost of electricity in the state. Star-Advertiser.

A Joint State Senate Committee conducted an informational hearing today to receive an update on the implementation of provisions of the federal Affordable Care Act. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii’s largest health insurance provider wants to deliver more support to its members over the next several years, the company’s new CEO said Tuesday. West Hawaii Today.

Travel Technology Association, a trade organization that represents the nation’s top online travel companies including Amadeus, Expedia, Hotels.com, Hotwire, Priceline, Orbitz Worldwide, Travelocity, Travelport and Vegas.com, will fight a court ruling that orders them to pay millions of dollars in back state taxes for $2.7 billion in Hawaii hotel room sales. Hawaii Reporter.

It’s been only three weeks since Brian Schatz abruptly took off in Air Force One with President Barack Obama en route from Honolulu to Washington D.C., where he was promptly sworn in as Hawaii’s new U.S. senator. Civil Beat.

Former U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka left office with about $15,000 in his campaign account. Associated Press.

State roundup for January 16. Associated Press.

Oahu

Tuesday's early morning blaze under a freeway viaduct near Honolulu Airport marked the first time a fire damaged fiberoptic telecomunications cables, cutting off telephone, Internet or cable TV service to about 25,000 homes and businesses. Star-Advertiser.

The Aloha Tower Development Corp. on Monday approved Hawaii Pacific University’s $30 million plan to transform the Aloha Tower Marketplace into a student dormitory with as many as 300 units and entertainment and sports complex that would infuse economic growth into the center near downtown Honolulu. Pacific Business News.

The state Department of Health said Oahu smoke levels during the 2013 New Year's celebrations were consistent with levels during 2012 celebrations thanks to an islandwide ban on fireworks with the exception of firecrackers. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

’Tis the season, according to police — the season for cockfighting, that is. Tribune-Herald.

Fishermen off Honokohau Harbor found what they believe to be debris from the March 2011 tsunami. West Hawaii Today.

The Reed’s Island bridge was closed Monday, marking the start of an approximately nine-month renovation project. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Members of Maui's legislative delegation are optimistic about the significant leadership changes in store when the Legislature convenes Wednesday, saying they anticipate accomplishing a laundry list of priorities for Maui residents. Maui News.

Justin Howard Woodson of Kahului was appointed to fill the vacant state House District 9 seat Tuesday afternoon by Gov. Neil Abercrombie. Maui News.

The Maui County Council is expected to make initial committee referrals on Friday that could include review of the Maui Bus schedules and fares; and a resolution to hire the first county auditor. Maui Now.

Kauai

On the day before the opening of the 2013 state Legislature, Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. traveled to O‘ahu to talk to Legislators about collaboration. Garden Island.

The Lihue Sugar Mill smokestack stood watch over the town of Lihu‘e for almost 65 years. Yesterday, it tumbled into the mud. Garden Island.

Lyle Tabata stood with co-workers Tuesday afternoon outside the Lihue Civic Center, about a quarter-mile from the former Lihue Sugar Mill on Kauai, and watched as contractors tore down the mill's historic smokestack, a symbol of Hawaii's bygone sugar plantation era. Star-Advertiser.

Thousands of  Kaua‘i and O‘ahu customers — including businesses and government offices, including the Kaua‘i Police Department — were affected by a fire on O‘ahu that knocked out phone and data service for an estimated 10,000 Hawaiian Telcom customers. Garden Island.

Molokai

The Molokai Land Trust has received the deed to a 5-mile stretch of remote and environmentally sensitive coastline along the rugged north shore of Molokai that has endangered ferns, subsistence gathering areas and an extensive tidal pool system, the trust announced Monday. Maui News.

Hawaii voters like Schatz, Maui Dems release names but not finalists for House seat, more bones found on Honolulu rail route, Oahu ballot shortage questions remain, state to get $150M from travel sites, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Brian Schatz with Gov. Neil Abercrombie file photo

Hawaii voters generally think Gov. Neil Abercrombie was right to pick his former lieutenant governor, Brian Schatz, to replace the late U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye, according to a new Civil Beat Poll conducted last week. Civil Beat.

Hindus now have a fellow believer in Congress. Associated Press.

Steady revenue growth from Hawaii's tourism-driven economic recovery may tempt state lawmakers this session to satisfy some of the pent-up demand for state spending since the recession, but lawmakers do not have enough confidence in the economy for much of an expansion. Star-Advertiser.

Teachers who organized the so-called "work to the rule" protests that spread to schools statewide are planning a rally at the State Capitol this week for legislation that the teachers' union says it does not support. Hawaii News Now.

The investigation of widespread ballot shortages that plagued Oahu voters on Election Day is finished, but the thoroughness of the probe is now being brought into question. KITV4.

A judge has ordered some online travel sites to pay the state roughly $150 million for a decade’s worth of back taxes and interest. Associated Press.

The Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources is mounting a renewed push for long-term funding for the protection of the state’s critical watershed areas. Civil Beat.

A Civil Beat poll found 80 percent of respondents had both cell phones and landlines, 11 percent said cell phone only and 9 percent said landline only. Civil Beat.

Hawaiian Electric Co.’s Robbie Alm said Thursday that Hawaii will meet, and probably even exceed, its preliminary mandate of achieving 15 percent clean energy by 2015. Pacific Business News.

Of 27 movies, Elvis Presley made 3 in the islands. Star-Advertiser.

Ben Jay, the new athletics director at the University of Hawaii, will spend his first official day on the job in Manoa on Monday. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu
Archaeologists for the city’s rail transit project unearthed another set of human remains Sunday as they worked on one of two remaining trenches in the proposed downtown corridor. Star-Advertiser.

A company that leases more than 35 acres from the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to operate a racing facility in Leeward Oahu has been hit with more than $100,000 in property-related violations, is several months behind on its rent and is under investigation by DHHL for allegedly clearing land outside the parcel's boundaries and possibly damaging historically significant sites, according to public records and information from city and state agencies. Star-Advertiser.

Former Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle announced he would be an international business adviser for the law firm O’Connor, Playdon & Guben. Civil Beat.

Nearly a dozen people woke up early Saturday morning to take a stand against animal cruelty, specifically cock fighting. KHON2.

Hawaii

Former veteran lawmaker from Hilo Jerry Chang has been named to replace Gerald De Mello, the longtime University of Hawaii at Hilo public relations chief. Big Island Now.

A Big Island landowner has racked up a sizable tab with the Hawaii County Planning Department. Tribune-Herald.

After nearly a year of inaction, some South Kona residents are frustrated by the county’s apparent inability to fix a broken solar heating system for its public swimming pool at Konawaena High School. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Maui Democratic Party releases names of seven qualified applicants for the state House seat vacated by Gil Keith-Agarn, but didn't reveal the three finalists sent to Gov. Neil Abercrombie. Maui News.

A dedication ceremony was held on Friday for the new $26 million science building at the University of Hawai’i Maui College campus in Kahului. Maui Now.

Members of the community last week objected to the proposed removal of concrete modules that were mistakenly dropped on coral within the Keawakapu artificial reef three years ago, citing cost issues and the possibility of creating more problems. Maui News.

Maui County has disclosed it paid $40,000 last year to settle a federal lawsuit filed by a Maui woman who was shot by a Taser gun by one of four police officers in 2006 at her Wailuku home. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai
On Sunday, less than two weeks after being sworn into office, U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-District 2) made her first visit to Kaua‘i since the election. Garden Island.

One month and one week after taking office on December 3, the new Kaua‘i Prosecuting Attorney Justin Kollar said the staff is coming together more quickly than he expected. Garden Island.

If all goes smooth, one of the best skate parks in the state will be ready by the end of the year in Hanapepe, thanks to a partnership between a hardcore group of community members, do-it-yourself skateboarders and local government. And that’s just the first of a series of planned skate facilities. Garden Island.

Molokai

Molokai’s Native Hawaiian Library is sponsoring an Open House and Event, Ua Mau Ke Ea: Sovereignty Endures on Thursday, Jan. 17 from 4 to 6 p.m. Molokai Dispatch.

Hawaii voters seek legal marijuana, Oahu teacher sprays sanitizer into mouth of swearing student, Election Commission report due today, Senate sets priorities, norovirus outbreak in hospitals, Kauai council mulls rainy-day fund, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Pohakuloa military training area (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

The Marine Corps stands to see the biggest military increases in Hawaii in coming years as other services here go through less of a change and as all shift from a wartime footing to greater engagement in Asia and the Pacific, officials said at an annual military-business conference Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii has lost a lot of firepower in the U.S. Congress, when it comes to the military, with the death of Sen. Daniel Inouye, but the state’s younger congressional delegation and its strategic importance will ensure that it plays an important part in the country’s pivot to the Pacific. Pacific Business News.

More than half of Hawaii voters want the state to follow the lead of Colorado and Washington and make recreational marijuana legal for adults, a new poll shows. Civil Beat.

The state Election's Commission is expected to release the findings of its investigation into problems during November's general election at a meeting on Friday morning. Hawaii News Now.

Thousands of public correctional, institutional and health workers will receive pay raises in the next six months under a draft arbitration award that could lead other public employees to seek similar raises. Star-Advertiser.

Representatives from the state Department of Education and the Hawaii State Teacher's Association will resume negotiations on Friday, nearly a month after the teacher's union rejected the state's latest proposal. Hawaii News Now.

The uproar over Hawaii’s solar tax credits will fuel a good deal of the debate on energy policy this legislative session, which opens next week. Civil Beat.

Hawaiian Electric Co. customers will be on the hook for hundreds of millions of dollars if the utility doesn't switch to liquefied natural gas to power its generators, the executive vice president of the company says. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii State Senate Majority Caucus today unveiled its priorities for the 2013 Legislative Session, which begins on January 16. Hawaii Reporter.

The Senate Committee on Energy and Environment, with Senator Mike Gabbard as the Chair, will host an informational briefing on invasive species issues on Friday, January 11, 2013 at 1:00 p.m. in Conference Room 229 in the State Capitol. Hawaii Reporter.

Hawaii lacks a state-funded preschool program, something that Gov. Neil Abercrombie is making a top legislative priority this year. Civil Beat.

The state will bestow the prestigious Aloha Order of Merit upon former US Sen. Daniel K. Akaka during a ceremony on Monday, January 14. Maui Now.

Island Air, the interisland carrier that has struggled to find its niche among rivals Hawaiian Airlines and Mesa Air Group's go!, is being sold to an undisclosed buyer. Star-Advertiser.

Exhibit highlights honor bestowed upon Japanese-American veterans. Star-Advertiser.

State health officials monitoring outbreak of possible norovirus. KITV4.

State roundup for January 11. Associated Press.

Oahu

The cost of construction delays tied to a recent Hawaii Supreme Court ruling that suspended the city’s $5.26 billion rail transit project are coming in lower than anticipated, the project’s oversight agency announced Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation officials said Thursday the costs of construction delays for September and October stemming from an Aug. 24 Hawaii Supreme Court were 31 percent lower than what they had anticipated. Pacific Business News.

Members of Defend Oahu Coalition gathered at City Hall on Thursday to urge state and city government leaders to stop the planned expansion of Turtle Bay Resort. Star-Advertiser.

A 79-year-old man who was paralyzed by a fall 15 to 20 feet from the illuminated first tee at the Mid Pacific Country Club late at night in 2009 was awarded about $6.2 million in a jury verdict Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

One of the figures in the Stevie Wonder Blunder, Hawaii promoter Bob Peyton, died Thursday morning at Castle Medical Center. Hawaii News Now.

A Hawaii extreme sports athlete plans to liven up a dingy block in Kakaako with a year-round fairgrounds featuring a stationary surfing wave, skateboard park and go-kart track. Star-Advertiser.

An Oahu middle school teacher is on leave after allegedly squirting hand sanitizer into the mouth of a eighth-grade student on Wednesday in front of the class. KHON2.

Hawaii

The Windward Planning Commission was poised Thursday to give the Connections Public Charter School a failing grade for its Kaumana campus proposal. Tribune-Herald.

Waimea’s North Hawaii Community Hospital on Thursday appointed an interim CEO and hired a consulting firm in an effort to improve the facility’s financial performance and attract a permanent chief executive officer. West Hawaii Today.

A professor of Hawaiian language believes he has traced the ancestors of Hawaii’s first inhabitants to the remote, Polynesian Outlier atolls to the southwest. Tribune-Herald.

The same day plaintiffs in a lawsuit against 1250 Oceanside Partners announced they had reached an impasse after several years of negotiations, a South Kona property owner signed a $13 million complaint against the developer. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii Island's economy is gradually improving, but it still has a lot of catching up to do to match other parts of the state. Hawaii Public Radio.

Maui
Complete with nine different teaching laboratories, an observatory, a rooftop garden, wind turbines and a photovoltaic system, University of Hawaii Maui College's long-awaited $26 million science facility is expected to open in the next few weeks. Maui News.

David Raatz Jr., the new director of Maui County's Office of Council Services, had worked as a legislative attorney for the same office for 16 years until March 2012. Maui News.

Maui Memorial Park is planning to rebuild 153 feet of wall within the next three to four weeks, cemetery officials said this week. Maui News.

Kauai

After routinely ending each recent fiscal year with tens of millions of dollars with a budgetary surplus, the county may start using some of that money for a permanent rainy-day fund. But will it cost more to taxpayers? Garden Island.

Five Kaua‘i residents have been selected to appear on the ballot for the board of the Kaua‘i Island Utilities Cooperation. Garden Island.

After a few weeks in plain view on the island’s busiest traffic corridor, the graffiti on the rockwall of the southbound Wailua Bridge was removed Wednesday. The same cannot be said about the graffiti at the bridge’s foundation. Garden Island.

Speaker Say ends 14-year reign, Inouye's health unknown, ordnance could halt undersea cable, state urges teachers union to negotiate, DHHL in disarray, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii House Speaker Calvin Say (c) 2012 All Hawaii News

State House Speaker Calvin Say said Thursday that he would step down as speaker, recognizing he no longer has the votes to remain in power but appealing to majority Democrats to organize without the help of Republicans. Star-Advertiser.

The longest-serving speaker in the history of the Hawaii House of Representatives announced Thursday that he is resigning from the chamber's top post. Civil Beat.

House Speaker Calvin Say said Thursday he plans to step down from his leadership post on the first day of Hawaii's new legislative session and is endorsing House Finance Committee Chairman Marcus Oshiro to succeed him. Associated Press.

Speaker Say

Calvin Say has stepped down as speaker of the State House of Representatives. Hawaii News Now.

Rep. Calvin Say announced Thursday he will no longer be a candidate for House Speaker for the 2013-2014 legislative sessions. KITV4.

The longest-serving state Speaker of the House says he is stepping down from his leadership position, but a power struggle at the Capitol is far from resolved. KHON2.

It's been more than a week since U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye was admitted to the hospital, yet his status as of Thursday remained closely guarded. Civil Beat.

The discovery of thousands of chemical warfare weapons off of Pearl Harbor could cause problems for the state's highly touted interisland cable project, designed to bring renewable energy from the neighbor islands to Oahu. Civil Beat.

Facing growing teacher protests over a labor dispute in its 17th month, the state called on the teachers union Thursday to make clear what it wants in a new contract and to explain why it can't return to the bargaining table before the new year. Star-Advertiser.

U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono will serve on the energy, judiciary and veterans' affairs committees when she moves to the U.S. Senate in January, Senate Demo­crats announced Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

The turnover in leadership at the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands continues, with the latest departure being its deputy director, Michelle Kauhane. Civil Beat.

Mitch Kahle, founder of the Hawaii Citizens for the Separation of State and Church, has often been called "the Grinch who stole Christmas" for his efforts at making sure local governments don't appear to be officially sanctioning religious practices or holidays, including, of course, Christmas. But Kahle doesn't mind. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Gas is in the middle of a federal permitting process to bring liquefied natural gas to the Aloha State for the first time. West Hawaii Today.

State roundup for December 14. Associated Press.

Oahu

The Public Charter School Commission voted Thursday to approve the opening of two new charter schools next year on Oahu: an elementary school that would partner with the Polynesian Voyaging Society and a secondary school focused on sustainability. Star-Advertiser.

Rental apartments won out over condominiums Thursday in a competition to build affordable housing in a tower that could rise to 650 feet on state land in Kakaako. Star-Advertiser.

Some Oahu soldiers out for a bit of exercise ended up rescuing a threatened green sea turtle. Associated Press.

Hawaii

An independent study of Hawaii County’s property tax policies found evidence of what some West Hawaii residents have been complaining about for years —there are big differences in how much tax people pay for what appear to be similar properties. West Hawaii Today.

Big Island veterans struggle to find work. Tribune-Herald.

An Air National Guard presentation at a national conference gave former Ka‘u Councilwoman Brittany Smart an idea. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii County is looking to take advantage of current low interest rates by refinancing up to $60 million of its long-term debt. Big Island Now.

A well at Puna Geothermal Venture is offline after failing during an annual test on Tuesday. Tribune-Herald.

Last week, racial and cultural disturbances caused Kona's Kealakehe High School to be closed for a day to let things calm down.  Now some school administrators and community leaders have taken a first step towards addressing core issues beyond last week's incidents. Hawaii Public Radio.

Maui

The Fairmont Kea Lani, the Four Seasons Resort Maui, the Ritz-Carlton Kapalua, and the Wailea Beach Villas have all been ranked on the upcoming Condé Nast Traveler’s Gold List for 2013, an annual reader’s choice poll. Maui Now.

The Iao Valley State Monument was reopened Tuesday after the state Department of Land and Natural Resources completed repairs to park walkway sections. Maui News.

The Kaiwi Ohana Holiday Craft Fair, set for Saturday in Waiohuli Hawaiian Homes, has been canceled due to lack of vendor interest, organizers said. Maui News.

Kauai

County officials again heard criticism during a briefing to the Kaua‘i County Council Wednesday on the progress of repairing Kilauea Gym’s leaking roof. Garden Island.

In the 20 years since its inception, Kaua‘i Habitat for Humanity has built 108 affordable homes, made critical repairs to 19 substandard homes and is on track to construct a total of 124 homes by 2021. Garden Island.

Paulo fires up Train Day ahead of Waimea parade. Garden Island.

Akaka bids farewell to Senate, Hawaii lawmakers report more gifts, Supreme Court rebuffs teachers union, Honolulu rail's day in court, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka farewell speech courtesy photo

U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka was honored by friends and colleagues on Wednesday as a gentleman who embodied the spirit of aloha even when the political climate in Washington, D.C., turned dark and unforgiving. Star-Advertiser.

Sen. Daniel Akaka today delivered his farewell address on the floor of the U.S. Senate. Civil Beat.

Retiring Sen. Daniel Akaka on Wednesday urged Congress to do all it can for U.S. veterans and their families and made one last appeal to allow for Native Hawaiians to form a federally recognized government, an issue he’s unsuccessfully pushed for years. Associated Press.

Hawaii Sen. Daniel Inouye is expected to remain chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. Associated Press.

A Civil Beat analysis of lawmakers' 2012 disclosure forms shows that Hawaii legislators received $278,416 in gifts between July 2011 and June 2012, more than twice what they reported receiving last year. Civil Beat.

One day after two environmental groups sued the state over controversial new rules that effectively reduce the number of state tax credits that can be claimed on solar systems, the Hawaii Department of Taxation has exempted some projects from the rules. Civil Beat.

Hawaii's already booming solar industry is seeing a new stampede of business in the wake of new state rules that will reduce Hawaii's generous solar tax credits by half. Hawaii News Now.

A teachers union bid to compel the state labor board to issue a ruling in a petition for relief from the terms of a contract imposed on teachers in July 2011 has failed. Star-Advertiser.

This morning the Hawaii Supreme Court denied a petition by the Hawaii State Teachers Association trying to force the Hawaii Labor Relations Board to prematurely issue a decision regarding the ongoing labor dispute about HSTA's current contract. Hawaii Reporter.

Substitute teachers won millions in back pay on Wednesday in court, but the state has yet to pay for past rulings. KHON2.

The U.S. attorney for Hawaii collected $3.3 million related to civil and criminal cases during the latest fiscal year. Associated Press.

There's growing concern in Hawaii over the impacts of a new federal law aimed at improving food safety and security at everything from roadside stands to big-chain supermarkets. Civil Beat.

Hawai’i lawmakers have been trying to pass Food Safety legislation in Hawai’i for the last two years but have been unsuccessful.  The topic was discussed again yesterday at a House Agriculture Committee meeting. Hawaii Public Radio.

It took 14 years, but Angel Yanagihara, a biochemist and assistant research professor at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, has developed a treatment for painful and possibly life-threatening box jellyfish stings. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii is one of 32 states that will share, with the District of Columbia, in a $42.9 million settlement with Pfizer Inc. that resolves claims the drug maker used unfair and deceptive practices to market its drugs Zyvox and Lyrica. Pacific Business News.

State briefs 12/13. Associated Press.

Oahu

A federal judge will soon decide whether to issue a court order that would essentially halt the city’s rail project and its federal funding, or issue a more limited injunction suggested by the city to stop construction only in the project’s final downtown segment of the 20-mile rail line. Star-Advertiser.

The $1.55 billion Honolulu expects to receive from the Federal Transit Administration to help build the controversial Honolulu rail project could now hinge on the opinion of a federal judge. Civil Beat.

A ruling that could ultimately decide the fate of Honolulu’s elevated-rail project will be made in “short order,” U.S. District Judge A. Wallace Tashima said Wednesday after hearing arguments from attorneys for the plaintiffs and defendants in the federal lawsuit challenging the $5.16 billion project. Pacific Business News.

A federal judge today listened to new arguments in the legal challenge to Honolulu’s $5.3 billion rapid transit project and said he will rule shortly on whether to order a halt to the project. Hawaii Reporter.

The city of Honolulu has launched a yearlong project to study tsunami inundation zones and determine where improved escape routes or clear signs are needed to better inform the public of where to go during a tsunami warning and evacuation. Star-Advertiser.

A group of Honolulu paramedics and emergency medical technicians filed a legal complaint Wednesday accusing the city of failing to pay them overtime earned during the past six years. Star-Advertiser.

Come January 22nd, all your daily water use will be billed to you on a monthly schedule. KHON2.

Observers reported seeing 10 Hawaiian monk seals Wednesday on various Oahu beaches, including an offshore islet. Star-Advertiser.

After Hawaii Reporter published news stories about local businessman Daniel Doi’s legal problems with the state, Doi created his own web site, called Hawaii Reported, that claims he is the victim of a political vendetta orchestrated by state officials. Hawaii Reporter.

Hawaii

County Council members who leave office are no longer under the jurisdiction of the Board of Ethics, even if their actions took place during their tenure with the county. West Hawaii Today.

U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye announced Wednesday that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved a biocontrol project aimed at slowing the spread of fireweed, or Madagascar ragwort, on the islands of Hawaii and Maui. Tribune-Herald.

The state Department of Transportation is moving ahead with plans for a roundabout on Highway 130 near Pahoa. Tribune-Herald.

Terry Oliver, a four-decade forestry veteran, has high hopes for the eucalyptus timber industry on the Big Island. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

An imported case of dengue fever has been reported on Maui, but the state Department of Health says there have been no additional cases so far. Maui News.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's approval of using moth caterpillars from Madagascar in the battle against fireweed was welcomed Wednesday as a long-awaited, effective weapon to kill the noxious weed that sickens and sometimes kills cattle. Maui News.

The Iao Valley State Monument was reopened Tuesday after the state Department of Land and Natural Resources completed repairs to park walkway sections. Maui News.

Kauai

A proposal to raise the minimum real property tax by 500 percent on Kaua‘i died in the hands of the Kaua‘i County Council’s Finance and Economic Development Committee Wednesday. Garden Island.

Hanalei Pier shed removal triggers restoration efforts. Garden Island.

Local residents are reminded that experts from the University of Hawai‘i will discuss the health of coral along Kaua‘i’s North Shore during a community briefing today in Hanalei. Garden Island.

Molokai

The 113th Audubon Christmas Bird Count will take place on Molokai Thursday, Dec. 20. Molokai Dispatch.

Sierra Club sues for solar tax credits, Honolulu rail back in court, Abercrombie touts land buy, Akaka honored on Senate floor, OHA officers installed, Kauai rethinks property tax exemptions, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Honolulu solar panels courtesy photo

The Sierra Club Hawaii chapter and Earthjustice filed a lawsuit Tuesday to try to prevent the state from enforcing new restrictions on solar tax credits, prompting Gov. Neil Abercrombie to accuse the environmentalists of protecting "people who cheat." Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Sen. Daniel Akaka was praised on the floor of the U.S. Senate on Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

The head of Hawaii's public school teachers union says the decision to turn down a take-it-or-leave-it two-year settlement offer that included annual 2 percent raises was because of the lack of clarity about a revised teacher evaluation system linked to student performance. Star-Advertiser.

A new performance-based teacher evaluation system and reduced sick leave are the key issues preventing the Hawaii State Teachers Association from agreeing to a new contract with the state, union leaders and educators said. Civil Beat.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs honored a newly elected trustee and four re-elected trustees during an investiture ceremony Tuesday at Central Union Church. Star-Advertiser.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs today officially added one new face to its Board of Trustees and applauded the re-election of four incumbents amid the splendor of an investiture ceremony attended by an estimated 500 guests. Hawaii Reporter.

The Center for Biological Diversity, a mainland conservation group, has taken the unusual step of pushing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to designate the Northwestern Hawaiian islands and parts of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch as a Superfund cleanup site. Civil Beat.

Hawaii is the nation’s second-healthiest state behind Vermont, with broad health insurance coverage and better lifestyle choices than the rest of the country, according to America’s Health Rankings 2012 issued Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

A growing number of Hawaii drivers convicted of drunk driving are installing ignition interlock devices in their cars. Hawaii News Now.

State roundup for December 12. Associated Press.

Oahu

A federal judge is scheduled to hear arguments this morning on whether to issue a court order halting the city’s $5.26 billion rail project linking East Kapolei to Ala Moana Center. Star-Advertiser.

Hundreds of acres of rich Oahu farmland and a site where Hawaiian royalty once went to give birth will be protected from development under a plan announced Tuesday by public agencies and a nonprofit organization. Associated Press.

The Trust for Public Land is transferring more than 1,700 acres of land in Central Oahu acquired from the George Galbraith Trust to two Hawaii state agencies, which will preserve the former pineapple fields for farming. Pacific Business News.

The state plans to grade approximately 1,200 acres of land it purchased from the George Galbraith Estate within the next few months to make it available to farmers by the middle of next year. Star-Advertiser.

Demise Of Community Recycling Bins A Policy Failure. Civil Beat.

Hawaii

Former County Clerk Jamae Kawauchi has been hired as a deputy prosecuting attorney in the county Prosecutor’s Office in Kona. West Hawaii Today.

Items before the county Board of Ethics today range from accusations the county acted improperly in securing $10 million in bond anticipation notes from a local bank, to allegations a former County Council member lied when he said his polling place did not open on time in the primary election. West Hawaii Today.

Kealakehe High School returned to a normal finals week schedule Tuesday, Principal Wil Murakami said. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

No retailers in Maui County made underage tobacco sales during an operation this spring where minors attempted to purchase cigarettes, the state Department of Health said Monday. Maui News.

Maui County saw double-digit increases in both the percentage of homes and condominiums sold last month and the median prices for those categories. Maui News.

Seabury Hall's Izabela Hamilton's gouache creation inspired by the Na Pali Coast on Kauai was named one of three state finalists in the he Alaska Airlines' "Paint the Plane" student contest, where the winner will have his or her design painted on an Alaska Airlines 737 jetliner. Maui News.

Kauai

The Cost Control Commission recently asked the Kaua‘i County Council to raise by 300 percent the bare-minimum real property tax on Kaua‘i. Now, the commission is considering raising the age limit for senior citizens to qualify for a hefty exemption. Garden Island.

The new Kaua‘i County Council, with two new members, has an action-packed agenda today for its first committee meeting. Garden Island.

Only a handful of people were present early Tuesday morning at a Kaua‘i Planning Commission meeting to witness the nail in the coffin on Kealiakealanani Agriculture Subdivision, a project that five years ago promised to become a model ag community, with nearly 200 ag lots and a diversified crop production including taro, tea and cacao. Garden Island.


Niihau

The clouds cleared and Niihau's cliffs burst into view as we hovered over the nearly 4,000-foot-deep Kaulakahi Channel looking for whales. A red light on the helicopter's control panel flashed and beeped, only adding to my excitement for exploring the not entirely "forbidden island." Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii teachers union rejects contract, Green Party sues state elections office, Inouye remains hospitalized, UH Pisces program at sea over budget cuts, TPL finalizes $25M Oahu land buy, Maui Island Plan advances, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii State Teachers Association courtesy photo

The teachers union has turned down a settlement offer that would have included the restoration of a 5 percent wage cut, 2 percent raises each year of the 2013-15 contract and $2,500 bonuses for new teachers who successfully complete probation. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii State Teacher's Association's negotiating team has reportedly rejected the state's most recent contract offer, according to a Hawaii Department of Education spokesperson.  Hawaii News Now.

Work-to-the-rule is something teachers practice poorly at best and not at all at worst. Civil Beat.

The Green Party of Hawaii and seven voters representing every major island are suing state Chief Elections Officer Scott Nago, alleging he improperly promulgated rules dealing with ballot shortages in the Nov. 6 General Election. West Hawaii Today.

The Green Party of Hawaii is suing the state and its chief election officer because of how the general election last month was conducted. Associated Press.

The Green Party of Hawaii has asked a state court to stop the chief elections officer from conducting another election until there are new rules in place to prevent the type of voter disenfranchisement that occurred in November. Civil Beat.

Sen. Daniel Inouye (c) 2012 All Hawaii News

U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye has been hospitalized since Thursday after he fainted while in one of his Senate offices, according to his staff. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Senator Daniel Inouye was admitted Sunday to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for observation related to his oxygen intake. Inouye fainted at his office on Dec. 6 and was taken to George Washington University Hospital. Hawaii News Now.

As part of a $25.4 million upgrade, State Civil Defense officials are changing how they activate Hawaii's tsunami sirens. Civil Beat.

The University of Hawaii submersible program, already hit by federal budget cuts, is trying to line up research and commercial dives next year to keep the 32-year-old program afloat but has no contracts yet, officials said. Star-Advertiser.

FCC’s Plan to Put Political Ad Data Online Falls Short. Civil Beat.

More than 270 accountants, attorneys and tax experts attended a workshop today to hear about what the State Tax Department is doing to increase revenues. Hawaii Public Radio.

State roundup for December 11. Associated Press.

Oahu

The state and a nonprofit organization have finalized the $25 million purchase of one of Oahu's largest tracts of undeveloped land in a move expected to significantly expand food production and make Hawaii more self-sufficient. Star-Advertiser.

The Trust for Public Land’s purchase of 1,743 acres of former pineapple fields in Central Oahu from the George Galbraith Trust for $25 million closed on Monday, according to Bishop Street Commercial, which handled the sale. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

There were no incidents at Kealakehe High on Monday, the first day back for students since fighting linked to racial tensions caused school officials to cancel classes Friday. Star-Advertiser.

One of two men who escaped from Hawaii Community Correctional Center last Wednesday allegedly choked an unarmed, 63-year-old guard while the other punched the victim and stole his keys to the facility, according to court documents. Tribune-Herald.

Jamae Kawauchi Starts New Job As Deputy Prosecutor. Big Island Now.

According to an application filed in October, a South Kohala company wants to develop about 150 2-acre lots, but there’s a problem: the lot size is a deviation from the 5 acres required by the area’s zoning. West Hawaii Today.

Renovations to the Edith Kanaka‘ole Multi-Purpose Stadium are scheduled to begin Monday and end just before the start of next year’s Merrie Monarch Festival. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii Island had the highest rate of violations in the state, with 8.1 percent percent of the stores selling to minors. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

The Maui County Council today voted to advance on first reading the Maui Island Plan by a 7-2 vote, but not before making amendments to add in and remove certain lands from the plan's directed growth boundaries. Maui News.

Maui County Council Member-elect Don Guzman raised nearly 30 times as much money as opponent Alan Fukuyama to win the council's Kahului residency seat, according to a Maui News analysis of campaign spending reports. Maui News.

Two of the three coral species found in Hawaii that have been proposed for listing as endangered or threatened species by the National Marine Fisheries Service are growing off the shores of Maui. Maui News.

Combining a passion for supporting local agriculture and producing innovative beers, the latest round of Maui Brewing Co.'s seasonal canned brews showcases Maui-grown breadfruit as its star ingredient. Maui News.

Kauai

The county of Kauai has a program aimed at cracking down on junk mail and saving landfill space. Associated Press.

The basketball courts at Laukona and Wiliko parks in Hanama‘ulu were closed Friday, and will continue to be closed for approximately two weeks for resurfacing. Garden Island.

The Kaua‘i Independent Food Bank’s Holiday Food and Fund drive got a boost over the weekend with contributions from CBRE, the management company for the Kukui Grove Center, as well as Cub Scouts from Cub Pack 148 in Lihu‘e. Garden Island.

Pearl Harbor attack remembered, Hawaii legislators to get 25% pay hike, Japan earthquake no tsunami threat to Hawaii, active shark season, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Attack on Pearl Harbor, historical military file photo

Seventy-one years ago today, when shock and horror came to Hawaii in the form of a Japa­nese aerial attack, the Hono­lulu Star-Bulletin sent out reporter Elizabeth Peet McIntosh to cover the casualties and aftermath. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu after Pearl Harbor: A report published for the first time, 71 years later. Washington Post.

Gladys Aiona Brandt: The Unpublished Pearl Harbor Day Speech. Civil Beat.

More than 2,000 people are gathering at Pearl Harbor on Friday to mark the 71st anniversary of the Japanese attack that killed thousands of people and launched the United States into World War II. Associated Press.

Friday will be a somber day at Hawaii’s biggest tourist attraction, the Arizona Memorial at the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Legislator Salaries Going Up 25 Percent. Civil Beat.

Sixteen months into a rancorous labor dispute, the state and public school teachers union appear to be making progress toward a contract that would begin July 1. Star-Advertiser.

As teacher participation in "work to the rule" demonstrations has swelled in recent weeks, some educators say the state is trying to undermine their protests.Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii is tied with Vermont as the state with the eighth lowest unemployment rate in October 2012, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Civil Beat.

A strong earthquake has shook an area off the eastern coast of Japan, but it does not appear to have been strong enough to generate a tsunami threat to Hawaii. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Honolulu Mayor-elect Kirk Caldwell raised just less than $1.7 million for his mayoral campaign in which the former city managing director toppled two political heavyweights en route to the city's top office. Star-Advertiser.

Kirk Caldwell and the Super PAC that supported him spent more than $5 million to win this year’s Honolulu mayoral election – tripling the expenditures of losing candidate Ben Cayetano, according to reports filed today with the state Campaign Spending Commission. Hawaii Reporter.

Members of the Honolulu City Council have agreed to keep Chairman Ernie Martin in the top leadership position as the calendar starts on a new year of business. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation on Thursday approved $25.9 million to cover additional costs to a contractor because of a delay in construction prompted by a Hawaii Supreme Court ruling. Star-Advertiser.

More than half of all visitors to Hawai’i stay in Waikiki.  That equates to nearly 3 million tourists annually that use or consume staggering amounts of electricity and water to make their visits comfortable and enjoyable. Hawaii Public Radio.

The Honolulu Police Department is upgrading its website, reconstructing it to include an area where HPD detectives can seek the public's help locating suspects by publishing photos, video or other information related to their cases. Star-Advertiser.

Twenty Native Hawaiian middle and high school students on Oahu are participating in a nine-month marine debris tracking project that includes science lessons, cultural activities and community service. Star-Advertiser.

Byron's Drive-In, established in 1965 near Honolulu Airport, will close at the end of February to make way for the landowner's redevelopment plans. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Kealakehe High School will remain closed to students Friday, Dec. 7 after a spate of fights on the campus this week. Hawaii 24/7

The head of the Senate Education Committee believes cancelling Friday's classes at Kealakehe High School is an unpopular but wise decision. KHON2.

Kona Community Hospital is now nearly one hundred years old.  The Hospital Board is beginning to plan its replacement...with input from the community. Hawaii Public Radio.

Maui

The seven shark attacks in Maui County waters this year have many asking if there’s an increased danger of getting in the ocean right now. Maui Now.

Wailuku Main Street Association, a nonprofit organization that has been the recipient of more than $2.2 million in county funding in the last decade, and its board chairman, Thomas Cannon, have been ordered by a judge to comply with a subpoena and to hand over additional financial and organization documents to the state attorney general by Jan. 3. Maui News.

The Wahikuli-Honokowai Watershed Management Plan will be completed by the end of the month with runoff to be handled in a coral-friendly manner, said members of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at a public meeting Tuesday at the Lahaina Civic Center. Maui News.

Convening on Maui for the first time since the mid-1800s, the Hawaii Supreme Court heard oral arguments this morning in a criminal case focused on a defendant's constitutional right to be represented by an attorney of his choice. Maui News.

The Government of Singapore Investment Corp. will buy the Grand Wailea on Maui and three other luxury U.S. resorts owned by a group led by New York-based Paulson & Co. for $1.5 billion after no other bidders stepped up to bid on the bankrupt resort properties. Pacific Business News.

Kauai

Pakala Beach, located on the Westside, was reopened Thursday, a day after a man was bit on the foot by a shark. Garden Island.

Roberts Hawai‘i is the operator of the Sunny Po‘ipu express, a shuttle designed for visitors bound “from the airport to paradise” on Kaua‘i’s South Shore. The service was launched on Nov. 1. Garden Island.

The annual Lights on Rice Parade is scheduled to begin 6 p.m. today and portions of the parade route will be closed to traffic. Garden Island.

Mainland tourists returning to Hawaii, reapportionment lawsuit headed to court, spike in shark attacks, Oahu beach smoking ban advances, new AD to be named at UH, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii tourists returning (c) 2012 All Hawaii News

Despite economic uncertainty and lagging consumer confidence, North American leisure and business travelers are expected to make more trips to Hawaii next year. Star-Advertiser.

A lawsuit over the 2011 drawing of political boundaries that resulted in Hawaii Island getting a fourth state senator will be heard next month in U.S. District Court. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii-born President Barack Obama recognized retiring U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka today during the president's remarks at the Tribal Nations Conference in Washington D.C. Star-Advertiser.

After reviewing a consultant's study that some hoped would be the silver bullet to bring down soaring student transportation costs, state lawmakers left a legislative briefing Wednesday still wondering how much money the Department of Education will be able to save through the recommended policy changes. Civil Beat.

Hawaii's elderly may be victims of the upcoming congressional budget deal, according to an analysis done by the American Association of Retired People. Civil Beat.

University of Hawaii officials say they expect to announce the name of a new athletics director either late Thursday or Friday. Pacific Business News.

Wil Okabe, president of the 13,500-member Hawai‘i State Teachers Association, issued a statement Wednesday in response to the state’s definition of “work to rule.” Garden Island.

For the past two years and four months, a detachment of the Montana Air National Guard has been watching over Hawaii’s skies as part of an air defense “alert” mission, with two pilots ready to fly 24 hours a day, seven days a week in the event of an emergency. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Prohibitions on smoking are becoming more commonplace around the world and a ban on lighting up at popular Honolulu beach parks would have little impact on tourism, supporters of such a measure told the Honolulu City Council on Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Newly re-elected Honolulu Prosecutor Keith Kaneshiro says he's beefing up his staff dedicated to fighting elderly abuse in Hawaii and laying the groundwork to put pimps behind bars. Civil Beat.

Within days of his election in 2010, Mayor Peter Carlisle traveled to Washington, D.C., to meet with Federal Transit Administration officials to pledge support for the previous administration's rail transit project. Star-Advertiser.

A $200 million high-rise condominium project that would create 635 affordable homes at the former Hono­lulu Advertiser property in Kakaako was unanimously approved Wednesday by the Hawaii Community Development Authority. Star-Advertiser.

A $50,000 donation to the University of Hawaii Cancer Center from UH President M.R.C.Greenwood and her longtime partner, Patricia Johnson, has earned the couple prominent recognition at the front entrance of the new center. Hawaii Reporter.

Hawaii

The Big Island is continuing to have problems activating all of its 71 Civil Defense sirens following the Oct. 27 tsunami warning. Tribune-Herald.

A proposal to make West Hawaii the lone area in the state to ban scuba spearfishing sparked contentious debate at a public hearing in Kona that was still going at press time Wednesday. West Hawaii Today.

Biomass fuel could eventually replace oil at one of Hawaii Electric Light Co.’s power plants, HELCO President Jay Ignacio said Tuesday. Tribune-Herald.

A handful of Hawaii Island residents brought suggestions for Hawaii Electric Light Co. to consider as the company pursues a state-mandated Integrated Resource Plan. West Hawaii Today.

The Windward Planning Commission today will reconsider the fate of a popular performing arts center in Kalapana Seaview Estates. Tribune-Herald.

The Hoppa-on, Hoppa-off bus was hoppin’ along for a few days last week until the lack of a pesky permit put the brakes on the operation. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

A 2nd Circuit judge on Wednesday granted a request by the state Attorney General's Office to have Wailuku Main Street Association and its board chairman, Thomas Cannon, to comply with a subpoena to turn over various association documents as well as for Cannon to appear for sworn testimony. Maui News.

The Wailuku Main Street Association is refusing to comply with an additional subpoena, calling it "unreasonable and oppressive" and adding that a state attorney is just "fishing" for information to "harm us." Maui News.

Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa will be among the dignitaries present during the Hawaii Presidential Center Inaugural Gala on Jan. 19 in Washington, D.C., according to an announcement. Maui News.

Kauai

A shark bit a 60-year-old surfer off Kauai’s west shore Wednesday, raising the attack total for Hawaii to 11 this year, an exceptionally active period for the ocean predators. Star-Advertiser.

Many award recipients honored Tuesday during a Transportation Security Administration ceremony were with the organization when it rolled out at the Lihu‘e Airport, said Monika Mali of the TSA. Garden Island.