Making medical marijuana mainstream, Hawaii tradewinds less frequent, electric rates increase, special funds scrutinized, Honolulu on the hook for mismanaged nonprofit money, Hawaii Island courts lack sheriffs, Closed for 20 years, Coco Palms still a tourist draw, Godzilla, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii medical marijuana roadside sign (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

Gov. Neil Abercrombie is likely to sign two bills on his desk aimed at making marijuana a more mainstream medicine, according to Sen. Josh Green, D-Kona, a physician who, as chairman of the Senate Health Committee, has been working on reforming the state’s 13-year-old medical marijuana law. West Hawaii Today.

The Hawaii Supreme Court has overturned the conviction of a Hookena medical marijuana patient who was arrested at Kona International Airport when he tried to take his pakalolo on a flight to Honolulu. In a 30-page ruling issued Friday, the Supreme Court majority ordered a lower court to acquit Geoffrey Woodhall, stating that state law, while unclear and contradictory, nonetheless allows for the transport of marijuana by individuals carrying a state “blue card” certifying they are medical marijuana patients. West Hawaii Today.

Experts say the island breezes, called tradewinds, are declining, a drop that's slowly changing life across the islands. Associated Press.

Hawaii regulators have issued three orders affecting rates and the ratemaking process for Hawaiian Electric Co. and its subsidiaries, Maui Electric Co. and Hawaii Electric Light Co., in response to increased frustration by ratepayers for high electric rates and poor customer service. Pacific Business News.

The typical monthly electric bill on Oahu went up $3.13 and $3.17 on Hawaii Island as Hawaiian Electric Co. increased a supplemental fee it gets to pay for a shift to more renewable energy and greater energy efficiency. Star-Advertiser.

The state House Finance Committee is re-evaluating the use of special funds in the months leading up to the next legislative session. Associated Press.

State health officials say they're looking into hepatitis A infections that have struck at least three adults, including one person on Oahu who was hospitalized. All three consumed frozen berry products from Costco and became ill sometime between early and late May, officials said. Star-Advertiser.

Since retiring from the Senate, Daniel Akaka has largely stayed out of the public eye. However, he issued a statement today mourning the passing of former colleague, Sen. Frank Lautenberg, with whom he served for over three decades. Civil Beat.

More than a dozen Hawaii public schools are receiving state of the art lab equipment, thanks to a program out of UH Manoa’s John A. Burns School of Medicine. Hawaii Public Radio.

State roundup for June 4. Associated Press.

Oahu

Potential kickbacks, conflicts of interest and mismanagement of federal grant funds mean the city of Honolulu will have to pay back nearly $8 million it gave to an embattled nonprofit in Central Oahu that serves the elderly and developmentally disabled adults. Civil Beat.

How much in city operational dollars should go to Oahu nonprofit groups and how such funds should be divvied up are at the core of a clash between Mayor Kirk Caldwell and City Council leaders before Wednesday's final vote on the city's $2 billion operating budget. Star-Advertiser.

Two bills Honolulu City Councilman Joey Manahan is pushing would require helmet wearing when skateboarding on city streets and sidewalks, malls, parks and public places.  One of the measures carries a $25 fine per citation. Hawaii News Now.

A Shinto shrine in Kalihi is being threatened with legal action for posting a YouTube video of what it calls the brazen theft of $1,000 worth of amulets representing good fortune. Star-Advertiser.

Tesoro Hawaii's plan to lay off most of its Kapolei refinery workers, which was delayed last month as the company negotiated with a potential buyer, was set in motion Monday with a first group of employees getting notices that they would lose their jobs within three weeks. Star-Advertiser.

Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures confirmed Monday what local actors, hopeful extras and industry insiders have been whispering about for months: The latest remake of the "Godzilla" franchise will be filming in July at several Oahu locations. Star-Advertiser.

This summer, if you want to know whether the Ala Wai Canal meets the state’s standards for safe recreational use, you'll probably have to test it yourself. That is because the city plans to stop testing one of the most heavily used inland bodies of water in the state for dangerous bacteria levels even though the canal is among the most polluted. Civil Beat.

Hawaii

A combination of vacations and sick workers left West Hawaii’s four courts with just one sheriff Monday morning. The severity of the shortage Monday was just indicative of a broader problem, West Hawaii attorneys and court officials said. Department of Public Safety officials said they were bringing sheriffs from Hilo to Kona to fill in the gaps, but acknowledged that they have had trouble for years filling all of the West Hawaii vacancies. West Hawaii Today.

Waikoloa has been put on the map, literally. The West Hawaii community was added to the Federal Aviation Administration’s flight maps last month, after previously being designated as a settlement. Tribune-Herald.

Utility customers will see a 1.6 percent increase to their Hawaii Electric Light Co. (HELCO) bills as the result of annual adjustments approved last week by the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

An Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal team safely removed a grenade on Monday from the shoulder of Hansen Road, which was reopened after being closed for about a day, police said. Maui News.

Firefighters remained at the Central Maui Landfill Monday morning, battling a compost fire reported Sunday afternoon that has delayed residential trash collections and closed the landfill and recycling operations. Maui News.

Maui County fire fighters are still on the scene at the Central Maui Landfill Refuse & Recycling Center, where a blaze at the EKO Compost site has closed down operations today and possibly tomorrow. Maui Now.

At first glance, it isn't readily apparent how Maui County's reviving economy is affecting the islands' real estate market, which struggled through the recession with low prices and a glut of foreclosed properties. Maui News.

Kauai

In an effort to increase awareness about its recycling programs, Kauai County launched its “What Goes Where” campaign Monday. Garden Island.

Armed with a machete and a heck of a sense of humor, Bob Jasper gives visitors and locals a snapshot of the property that helped put Kauai on the forefront of Hawaii’s visitor industry decades ago. “Coco Palms has got to be the most famous hotel in the South Pacific,” he said. “It has been shut down for over 20 years and folks still want to see it.” Garden Island.

Molokai

Big Wind was the nickname for the state’s energy plan that included 200-megawatt wind farms on both Molokai and Lanai to supply energy to Oahu via an undersea cable. In the latest plan, Molokai Properties Limited , also known as Molokai Ranch, had planned to lease 11,000 acres of land to wind company Pattern Energy to build 70 400-foot tall wind turbines. But that plan fell through when the Ranch called off the deal in February, announcing their decision not to renew the lease agreement. Molokai Dispatch.

Young Brothers, Limited, the intrastate cargo company serving Hawaii, released its numbers for their first quarter of this year, and the findings could reflect how Molokai is doing economically. Molokai saw a slight increase in its general and agricultural outbound cargo and a minimal decrease in inbound freight.  Meanwhile, larger islands showed more notable decreases. Molokai Dispatch.

Hawaii Supreme Court mulls laptops, cellphones in state courtrooms, Legislature advances Steven Tyler paparazzi, minimum wage, marijuana decriminalization, emergency contraception, preschool bills, global warming seen on Mauna Loa, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Supreme Court (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

The Hawaii Supreme Court is seeking comments on a proposed rule that would allow the public, members of the media and lawyers to use laptops, cellphones and other electronic devices in state courtrooms. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii state House and Senate have approved separate proposals to raise the state minimum wage. Associated Press.

The state House and Senate on Tuesday endorsed a new state-funded preschool initiative, a loan program that may help consumers afford solar-energy devices, an increase of the minimum wage and an unemployment insurance tax break for businesses. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii lawmakers moved on a host of good government measures Tuesday. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii state Senate passed the so-called Steven Tyler Act Tuesday, a bill that seeks to protect celebrities from overeager paparazzi by creating a civil violation if people take unwanted photos or videos of others in their private moments. Associated Press.

The Hawaii State Senate on Tuesday, March 5, passed the Steven Tyler Act, legislation that Tyler and other celebrities said will protect them from overzealous journalists and paparazzi. Hawaii Reporter.
http://www.hawaiireporter.com/steven-tyler-act-passes-full-hawaii-senate/123

A bill that would decriminalize the possession of under one ounce of marijuana has been approved by the state Senate and moved to the House. Big Island Now.

The Hawaii state Senate has voted for a bill that would require hospital emergency rooms to offer emergency contraception to victims of sexual assault. Associated Press.

The state Senate on Tuesday passed a bill that seeks to raise state revenue by developing public school lands. Associated Press.

Hawaii is still trying to get up to speed on spending its $75 million Race to the Top grant. As of Feb. 1, school officials say, the state has spent about $27 million — or 36 percent of the award — on sweeping reforms it pledged to achieve by next year. Star-Advertiser.

The amount of heat-trapping carbon dioxide in the air jumped dramatically in 2012, making it very unlikely that global warming can be limited to another 2 degrees as many global leaders have hoped, new measurements from Mauna Loa in Hawaii show. Associated Press.

The state is promoting this week as "Hawaii Invasive Species Awareness Week" to bring attention to a problem that costs residents and businesses millions of dollars each year. Star-Advertiser.

A Civil Beat review of state records and interviews with local regulators shows that that Hawaii’s rivers, streams and coastal waters are not being tested for the herbicide Atrazine even though the EPA established water safety levels a decade ago and last year required states to regulate pesticides under the Clean Water Act.

As policy makers in Washington continue to struggle with budget issues, Hawaii residents are still wondering what the precise impacts will be on the state. One important area of federal spending for Hawaii: the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration—or NOAA. As HPR’s Bill Dorman reports, the specific cuts to Hawaii’s NOAA operations are still not clear. Hawaii Public Radio.

U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa and U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono introduced bills Tuesday that would reunite Filipino World War II veterans with their families, many of whom live in the Philippines. Star-Advertiser.

After years of waiting, Hawaii's Filipino World War II veterans like 89-year-old Artemio Caleda are again raising their hopes for a change in immigration law that would make it easier to bring their relatives to be near them in their old age. Civil Beat.

Hawaii’s state Insurance Division is expanding the kinds of rate comparisons state residents can find online. West Hawaii Today.

State 3/6. Associated Press.

Oahu

The city ramped up pressure on supporters of the (de)Occupy Honolulu movement Tuesday afternoon, tagging 15 of their tents, chairs, tables, pallets, signs and other items placed on the sidewalk on the makai side of Thomas Square. Star-Advertiser.

The deployment of a Navy ship out of Pearl Harbor was put on hold last week because of budget uncertainties that threaten to undermine the "rebalance" of U.S. forces to the Pacific, Adm. Samuel Locklear III, head of U.S. Pacific Command, told the House Armed Services Committee on Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

Billionaire's arrest could affect Hawaii property. Hawaii News Now.

Gaudy. Cheap. Offensive. Dozens of statues that Japanese real estate tycoon Genshiro Kawamoto erected on four of his sprawling estates along Kahala Avenue have been described by observers in these terms. Star-Advertiser.

Genshiro Kawamoto has been called many things — eccentric, mysterious, a nuisance. You can add one more to the list: suspected criminal. Civil Beat.

We investigated Genshiro Kawamoto's tax bills here in the islands and found he's by and large a model taxpayer. KHON2.

Turtle Bay Resort is willing to negotiate with the state to protect land around the North Shore landmark from development. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Independent spoke with entrepreneur and philanthropist Henk Rogers to discuss his new project: accelerating the creation of a new cadre of Hawaii tech companies via his new organization, Blue Startups. The accelerator provides mentorship and seed funding for teams over a three-month process, at the end of which is a business that can seek greater funding.

Hawaiian Electric Co. said Tuesday that it has improved its online Oahu map to help customers and contractors plan new solar photovoltaic systems. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

Marriott International has notified Hawaii labor officials that the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort and Spa is being sold and the hotel's 315 employees could lose their jobs in early May if the new owner does not retain Marriott as the property's manager and operator. Pacific Business News.

The capital improvement budget submitted late last week by Mayor Billy Kenoi is 37 percent higher than last year’s. But don’t expect all those projects to be started right away. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii County Fire Department’s request to add an ambulance at Makalei Fire Station was denied this year because of the state’s fiscal situation, Fire Chief Darren Rosario said. West Hawaii Today.

The state Senate, following the House’s lead, adopted a resolution renaming Saddle Road connecting East and West Hawaii the Daniel K. Inouye Legacy Highway after the late U.S. senator. Tribune-Herald.

Michael Madoff was in Honolulu on Tuesday to hear his lawyers plead with a federal judge to let his lawsuit involving the death of his son be resolved in Hawaii. A large wave washed the New York teenager into the ocean at the Kaawa­loa lighthouse near Kealakekua Bay on Hawaii island July 4. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

Maui Film Studios LLC began leasing the new warehouse in Central Maui on Friday. In the coming months, Maui Film Studios will be outfitting the warehouse as a 21,000-square-foot soundstage, "the largest film studio in Hawaii," said Socrates Buenger, owner and chief executive officer of the company, on Monday. Maui News.

The Maui County Council on Friday unanimously passed a bill that would officially subject properties used for converting wind to usable energy to real property taxes. Maui News.

A special grass that curbs erosion and absorbs substances such as lead and arsenic from the soil and water through its roots is part of a Maui County pilot project that begins today. Maui News.

Kauai

Former state Rep. Roland Sagum III has been charged with allegedly taking rocks from a 15-acre archaeological preserve in Poipu, Kauai, in 2011. Star-Advertiser.

Two bills that would enable the state Public Utility Commission to consider the Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative's status as a member-owned, nonprofit co-op when reviewing regulatory issues have made considerable progress in both chambers of the state Legislature, with ample support from some state agencies and every member of the Kaua‘i County Council. Garden Island.

Arrivals to Kaua‘i grew 10.6 percent to 92,163 visitors in January 2013 with increased arrivals from the top four visitor markets, according to a Hawai‘i Tourism Authority report. Garden Island.

Hawaii fishermen fight new rules, audit pans school cafeterias, big raise for Maui mayor, Ellison pushes Lanai development, Kealakekua Bay reopens to kayakers, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii fisherman (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

Hawaii fishermen say they are being pushed to the limit by a barrage of proposed federal and state laws that threaten their livelihood. Civil Beat.

Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald is asking state lawmakers for $90 million to construct a new Kona courthouse on Hawaii island, funding for a military veteran treatment program and 16 additional deputy sheriff positions for courthouse security. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii lawmakers will make decisions on several key bills this week as deadlines for bills looms ahead. Associated Press.

Heeding widespread outrage over the Public Land Development Corporation, Hawaii lawmakers are poised to sign off on legislation that would repeal the act that created it just two years ago. Civil Beat.

An internal Department of Education audit has found an "unacceptable" lack of oversight, monitoring and accountability of the state's $92 million school food services program. Star-Advertiser.

Same-sex marriage is shaping up to be a hot-button issue at the state capitol.KHON2.

While Gov. Neil Abercrombie is floating a hike in the hotel room tax as one way to raise state revenue, the visitor industry is panning the proposal. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii has been getting a bad rap in recent reports for not providing mental health records to a national database used by gun dealers to check on buyers. Civil Beat.

According to the 2012 Point-in-Time Count, there are nearly 6,300 homeless across the state. A proposed house bill would establish a program that helps those not from Hawaii return to their home state and reconnect with their family. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii lawmaker backs off bill to create a sports task force. Pacific Business News.

The state Senate and the House are working together in crafting legislation that would prohibit those convicted of animal cruelty from owning a pet — and even living in a house where there is a pet — for a period of one to five years, depending on the severity of the conviction. Garden Island.

A different kind of fish tagging. GMO fish could have mandatory labeling by next summer. Garden Island.

State roundup for February 11. Associated Press.

Oahu

The city of Honolulu has fined a Manoa woman $57,000 and continues to add penalties of $100 a day for illegally storing piles of furniture and other household items on a strip of land next to the house she rents, a situation residents say has divided the affluent community. Star-Advertiser.

Mayor Kirk Caldwell today announced his latest round of cabinet appointments Saturday. Hawaii News Now.

The commanding officer and executive officer of the submarine USS Jacksonville, based at Pearl Harbor, were relieved of duty Sunday because the sub's periscope struck a vessel last month while operating in the Persian Gulf, Navy officials said. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

The state Board of Land and Natural Resources will hear testimony Tuesday at 11 a.m. concerning the long-debated, $1.3 billion Thirty Meter Telescope project planned for the summit of Mauna Kea. Tribune-Herald.

Three kayak rental and tour companies could be back in business in Kealakekua Bay as early as the end of this week. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Mayor Alan Arakawa will see a 19 percent jump in his salary from $114,030 to $135,696 annually beginning in July. Maui News.

A bill to privatize public hospitals, including Maui Memorial Medical Center, came under fire last week from public union leaders and members, and two state House committees recommended establishing a nine-member task force to study the proposal's feasibility. Maui News.

Lanai

Economic development on Larry Ellison’s island of Lanai continues to move full speed ahead with projects beginning as early as the end of this year and the addition of about 10 senior managers to Lanai Resorts LLC, which is headed up by Lanai-native Kurt Matsumoto. Pacific Business News.

Molokai

Molokai Ranch has called off a deal for a proposed wind farm on its west Molokai land. Hawaii Public Radio.

The south shore of Molokai boasts one of the largest fringing coral reefs in Hawaii, providing a home for fish, a draw for tourism, shelter from ocean storms, and sustenance for the local economy. Coral is fragile, though, and biologists fear these valuable organisms could be extinct by the year 2100. This is why the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) proposed to list 66 species of coral as endangered or threatened, an action that could protect the island’s reef. Molokai Dispatch.

Tourist injuries rise, sugary drink tax controversial, Tax Dept. snoops investigated, Legislature spurns Supreme Court, teachers want tax hike, Maui waste-to-energy bids roll in, Public Land Development Corp. targeted, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Tourist watches Hawaii surf (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

Tourism officials and first responders are redoubling their efforts to raise visitor awareness about the potential perils of Hawaii's natural attractions after at least 11 accidental deaths of tourists this year. Star-Advertiser.

Public-health advocates on Wednesday called on state senators to approve a steep new fee on soda and other sugar-sweetened beverages to raise money to combat obesity, but beverage, restaurant and retail interests argued that singling out soda is unfair. Star-Advertiser.

A measure that would add a penny per ounce fee to sugary beverages will get another hearing before the state Senate’s Health Committee takes a vote on it. West Hawaii Today.

More than 57 percent of the people in Hawaii are obese or overweight. Hawaii News Now.

In an historic first, Hawaii Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald on Wednesday delivered his biennial State of the Judiciary address on YouTube. The Hawaii Legislature didn't invite him to address lawmakers, as is customary. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald started a new tradition Wednesday when he delivered his State of the Judiciary address via YouTube, making it the first time that speech has been delivered through social media. Pacific Business News.

A software glitch mistakenly added Hawaii to a tsunami watch alert sent out globally on Tuesday, an official with the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said. Star-Advertiser.

A legislative inquiry has been made into the state taxpayer record breaches that KHON2 revealed yesterday had raised red flags with federal investigators. And the tax department itself is seeking tougher laws in the wake of the case. KHON2.

Hawaii’s educators are asking state lawmakers to bump up funding for education by increasing the general excise tax by 1 percent. West Hawaii Today.

There are 19 bills going through the Legislature dealing with election registration and oversight, and 16 regarding Internet or by-mail voting. Honolulu Weekly.

Connecticut and Illinois are ranked worst in the nation when it comes to taxpayer burdens from unfunded liabilities, but Hawaii is close behind them, coming in as the third worst “sink hole” state. Hawaii Reporter.

Hawaii lawmakers are moving forward this session with bills to fix the state’s broken school bus program. Civil Beat.

Hawaii lawmakers want to dedicate more than $1 million over the next two years to mitigate the effects of a beetle that is endangering the state’s coffee crops. Associated Press.

More than a dozen national media organizations have signed on to a letter opposing Hawaii's so-called "Steven Tyler Act," a bill that seeks to prevent paparazzi and reporters from stalking celebrities who vacation in the islands. Star-Advertiser.

A state education task force formed to help come up with a teacher evaluation system is causing some consternation among members who worry little is being accomplished as a deadline for recommendations quickly approaches. Civil Beat.

A Senate committee recommended Wednesday approving Gov. Neil Abercrombie's controversial nominee to run the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands even though the nominee's former deputy said she was fired in December for not accepting a position in another department that was to be paid for using DHHL money. Star-Advertiser.

The solar industry has been booming in Hawaii, but state officials worry the industry’s tax credits are draining state coffers. Associated Press.

One of the strongest measures of a politician's electoral strength is how much campaign cash they have and who gave it to them. In that regard, Gov. Neil Abercrombie would appear a formidable candidate. Civil Beat.

Between 12 and 15-thousand people are homeless at any given time in Hawai’i.  The state legislature is proposing a number of bills this session that attempt to ease the situation on all islands…especially for Native Hawaiians who comprise the largest segment of the homeless. Hawaii Public Radio.

Two bills aimed at providing more legislative access for neighbor island residents passed out of key committees. Maui Now.

Popular parrot fish could soon be off limits permanently. KHON2.

“Catching Fire,” the second installment of “The Hunger Games” movies, is due to resume filming in Hawaii at the end of this month. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

A proposal for a year-round fairground in Kakaako with go-kart racing, a zip line, indoor skydiving and a surfing wave pool received limited but wholesale public support at a Wednesday hearing held by the state agency overseeing development in the area. Star-Advertiser.

Worse than ever and with no end in sight -- that's how some Chinatown merchants are describing conditions in their neighborhood. Hawaii News Now.

After KHON2 broke the story of private donors paying for a $10,000-a-month assistant to Honolulu's mayor, a list of who gave will be disclosed, and the Honolulu Ethics Commission may weigh in. KHON2.

A female green turtle that traveled more than 500 miles from the French Frigate Shoals to Oahu died Wednesday after being struck by a boat. Star-Advertiser.

A former high school teacher charged with having sex with a female student in his classroom was sentenced to 10 years in jail on Wednesday. KITV4.

Hawaii
University of Hawaii at Hilo College of Pharmacy administrators are warning that the fledgling program is in danger of having its wings clipped before it has barely had a chance to fly. Tribune-Herald.

For the second time in six months, the Hawaii County Council voted unanimously to send a message to the state Legislature that the county opposes threats to its home-rule powers posed by the Public Land Development Corp. West Hawaii Today.

A Hawaii island physician who was severely injured in a car crash two years ago involving former University of Hawaii quarterback Colt Brennan reached an out-of-court settlement Wednesday in her personal injury lawsuit, her lawyer said. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

Maui County has received 20 bids from potential developers to build and operate a waste-to-energy plant that is proposed for a 10-acre site next to the landfill in Puunene. Maui News.

The state Land Use Commission on Thursday is scheduled to hear oral closing arguments and to consider a challenge to the development of two large retail centers and 250 affordable housing units proposed in north Kihei. Maui News.

The US Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing the designation of critical habitat to protect some 135 plant and animal species in Maui Nui. Maui Now.

Hundreds of Maui residents paid their last respects to noted Maui Attorney B. Martin Luna at services held at the Ala Lani United Methodist Church on Saturday. Maui Weekly.

Kauai

Police arrested two men Wednesday at Wailua Beach for obstructing a construction site for the county multi-use path. But to James Alalem, 55, of Wailua, and Ray Catania, 62, of Puhi, they were only protecting their religious rights. Garden Island.

A new data projector and an audio-visual screen are just a few of the new toys Lihu‘e Library patrons will be able to enjoy once construction is finished. Garden Island.

A small but fiery crowd of biologists, fishermen and ocean enthusiasts gathered in Lihu‘e Monday to ask questions and provide comments related to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s proposal to list 66 species of corals under the Endangered Species Act. 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.

Courts offer legal aid, gas prices drop, Kaui mayor fingered in gas theft, Honolulu mayor filling cabinet, Maui seeks waste-to-energy plant, hypnosis thefts in Chinatown, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Supreme Court (c) 2012 All Hawaii News

With the backing of Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald, courthouses across the state are setting aside space to help people who can't afford a lawyer prepare for their day in court. Star-Advertiser.

As Hawaii’s main solar lobby fights off attempts to scale back the state's energy tax credits, a national expert and advocate of solar energy says that Hawaii should get rid of the incentives altogether. Civil Beat.

A state Senate committee will announce the findings of its investigation into the University of Hawaii's operational and financial management. Star-Advertiser.

Teachers intend to stop doing all the work they do on their own dime, limiting their hours to what's contractually obligated, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Everything else that would normally get done won't on work-to-rule protest days, the first of which was last week at Campbell High School and a few other campuses around the state. Civil Beat.

Publishers of the free guides and brochures visitors pick up at Hawaii's airports may soon have to pay the state for the right to get their publications into visitors' hands. Star-Advertiser.

Federal scientists have developed new tsunami forecasting models that can accurately predict where a wave will hit, and where it will flood. They've also designed new buoys that could help the tsunami warning center fill the gaps in its net. So why hasn't Hawaii embraced the new technology? Civil Beat.

Prices at the pump have continued to mercifully decline as the Thanksgiving holiday nears. Tribune-Herald.

Oahu

Hawaii Civil Defense will conduct tests of five warning sirens around Oahu on Monday. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu City and State lawmakers hold informational meeting over disaster planning. KITV4.

The process of establishing a new Honolulu city administration has begun for Mayor-elect Kirk Caldwell. KITV4.

Hawaiian Electric Co. says its interconnection facility inside the battery energy storage system warehouse at the Kahuku Wind Farm on Oahu's North Shore, which was destroyed by fire in August, will cost at least $8 million to rebuild and take about a year to complete. Pacific Business News.

The Italian parent company of one of the largest contractors working on the Hono­lulu rail project now has a credit rating just above junk-bond status, and officials with the Hono­lulu Authority for Rapid Transportation want assurances that that won't affect the $5.26 billion project. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu motorists saw something Friday that they haven’t seen in nine months: Prices at a number of gas stations around Oahu dipped below $4 a gallon for the first time since February. Pacific Business News.

An 8-inch water main broke on Ahua Street between Kaihikapu and Mokumoa Streets in Salt Lake early Monday morning near Hawaii Self Storage, causing the road to buckle up. Hawaii News Now.

The Chinatown community is on alert after a new scam has swindled thousands of dollars worth of cash and jewelry from elderly women. Police are looking for three women whose scheme may involve hypnosis. KHON2.

Hawaii

Hawaii Electric Light Co.'s recently launched search for developers to expand geothermal energy production on Hawaii island emphasizes the potential benefits of locating new production facilities on the west side of the island where population growth is the fastest. Star-Advertiser.

Geothermal companies are trying to line up potential sites for a new power plant before a bidding deadline early next year. Tribune-Herald.

Along with a new County Council leadership, there will be a new county clerk taking office next month. Big Island Now.

The sewer rehabilitation project along Kalanianaole Avenue in Hilo has progressed to its second phase, leaving businesses that were impacted by the first phase breathing sighs of relief. Tribune-Herald.

Almost everything used in Ke Kula o Ehunuikaimalino’s cafeteria is washable, reusable, recyclable or compostable, said Clare Loprinzi, the school’s garden coordinator. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Maui County is seeking bids for a company to convert the island's solid waste into energy in an effort to cut down on the amount of trash that ends up in the Central Maui Landfill in Puunene. Maui News.

Maui County isn’t waiting on the electric utility to issue a request for proposals for waste-to-energy projects. The county’s Department of Environmental Services issued its own RFP last week. Civil Beat.

A state Office of Planning official said that developers of two large retail centers and 250 affordable housing units in Kihei should have filed a motion with the state Land Use Commission to amend conditions placed on the parcel that was initially proposed as a light industrial park. Maui News.

A National Transportation Safety Board report on a December 2009 helicopter crash in Hana, Maui, in which a commercial pilot and a Federal Aviation Administration inspector were seriously injured, presents a frightening narrative of a routine safety exercise that turned into a life-threatening emergency. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai

A warrant for the arrest of Kauai Mayor Bernard P. Carvalho Jr. on charges that he stole more than $5,000 of county gasoline in 2009 and 2010 has been submitted to two state judges on the Garden Isle who reportedly refused to sign the warrant until there is more evidence. Hawaii Reporter.

The personal attorney for Kauai Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. angrily denounced efforts by Police Chief Darryl Perry and outgoing Prosecutor Shaylene Iseri-Carvalho to charge the mayor for alleged theft of more than $5,000 of county gasoline. Hawaii Reporter.

People for the Preservation of Kaua‘i, one of the driving forces behind the fight against the Hawai‘i Superferry, has reformed with a new mission — to squash Act 55 in court. Garden Island.

DBEDT: Kaua‘i had strong 2nd quarter in 2012. Garden Island.

Molokai

Molokai residents put in their two cents for who they felt should become the new Honorary Mayor of Kaunakakai last Saturday, and elected Glenn Davis. Molokai Dispatch.

Honoring kupuna is part of Hawaiian culture, and on Molokai, there’s a special tradition to recognize those with exceptional aloha spirit. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kanemitsu Bakery, after having been closed for five months, will be open in time for Thanksgiving this year. Molokai Dispatch.

Public fights sealing Hawaii court records, Hanabusa-Djou debate for 1st Congressional, man seeks DNA confirmation of Native Hawaiian blood, Oracle sailing team not training off Lanai after all, Kauai councilman-prosecutor fight intensifies, Hawaii County Council battles its attorneys, UH backlash continues, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Supreme Court building (c) 2012 All Hawaii News

A proposal to seal court records that have been expunged is getting a lot of push back, with the majority of people who submitted formal comments saying the records shouldn't be kept secret. Civil Beat.

In their first debate before a large audience this election, U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa repeatedly questioned challenger Charles Djou's voting record when he briefly represented Hawaii in Washington, D.C. Civil Beat.

Hanabusa

U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa said Tuesday that her top priority would be job creation to help with the nation’s economic recovery if she is re-elected to Congress in November, while former U.S. Rep. Charles Djou, her Republican opponent, said he would focus on the federal government’s $16 trillion debt. Star-Advertiser.

Djou

Former Congressman Charles Djou, running for his old job as the U.S. representative for urban Honolulu, has made being a dad part of his pitch to voters. Civil Beat.

On Tuesday, September 25th, Hawaii Public Radio hosted a candidate forum for the First Congressional District in HPR’s Atherton. Incumbent Democratic Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa faced challenger and former Congressman Charles Djou. Hawaii Public Radio.

Candidates for Hawaii's first congressional district squared off in a debate on Tuesday.KHON2.

A man who says he’s at least half Native Hawaiian but doesn't have the records to prove it is suing the state for not accepting DNA test results as evidence of his ancestry. Civil Beat.

Hawaiian Airlines, state's largest carrier, which collected $32.6 million in baggage fees through midyear, is well on its way to eclipsing the record $56.6 million it collected in 2011. Star-Advertiser.

Southwest Airlines may be a step closer to flying from the Mainland to Hawaii, but the airline says it is not ready to publicly discuss a timeline as to when that might happen. Pacific Business News.

Seattle-based Alaska Airlines is partnering with Hawaii’s state Department of Education to give Isle students in public and private schools, as well as home-schooled students, the opportunity to create a design that will decorate one of the airline’s Boeing 737-800 airplanes. Pacific Business News.

A research team has returned from research in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands with new information on opihi reproduction. Associated Press.

Researchers say preliminary evidence reveals that female ‘opihi or limpets live higher on the rocky shore than their male counterparts. Maui Now.

A state Senate committee plans to press the University of Hawaii about its contract and tenure procedures, as the scale of its Stevie Wonder concert inquiry expands. The committee chair says loose ends revealed in the first hearing need more investigation, including something known as instant tenure. KHON2.

A marathon Senate panel meeting Monday on a botched benefit concert revealed a dysfunctional UH leadership team, embarrassed the university and raised serious governance and operational concerns, onlookers said. Star-Advertiser.

Senate hearings on the University of Hawaii's Stevie Wonder debacle are finally letting the public in on key information that UH leaders wrongfully sought to keep to themselves. Star-Advertiser.


The former chair of the University of Hawaii Manoa Faculty Senate said the performances of UH President MRC Greenwood and Board of Regents Chair Eric Martinson before a special State Senate committee Monday were "terrible" and did not restore confidence in the university. Hawaii News Now.

State roundup for September 26. Associated Press.

Oahu

Hawaiian Electric Co. has completed the second and final phase of a project to upgrade transmission equipment in urban and East Honolulu that includes "smart controllers" that will allow the utility to more quickly detect outages and restore power to customers. Star-Advertiser.

Off the Beat: Deception at Honolulu Hale. Civil Beat.

The city's Department of Planning and Permitting will hold separate community workshops to present the Downtown and Kalihi neighborhood transit-oriented development draft plans. KITV4.

Hawaii

Council Chairman Dominic Yagong and the civil attorneys whose job it is to represent the county continued sparring over representation Tuesday, when Yagong abruptly canceled an executive session scheduled to discuss defending the county against a high-stakes lawsuit. West Hawaii Today.

The primary contest for County Council District 1 saw five candidates face off in the Aug. 11 primary, with just 93 votes separating the two finalists, Valerie Poindexter and Chelsea Yagong. Tribune-Herald.

More than 4,500 Hawaii County voters have either changed their addresses or registered anew since the August 11 primary registration deadline, but it's not clear when they will receive confirmation of their voter status. Hawaii Public Radio.

Repairs to Milolii landing are completed and a prefinal inspection is scheduled for Thursday morning, said Department of Land and Natural Resources spokeswoman Deborah Ward. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Developers of the planned Honua'ula luxury golf community in Wailea say they're still committed to building the required affordable housing units tied to the project despite telling the state Land Use Commission there are no immediate plans to start construction in the near future. Maui News.

The Maui County prosecutor's office is declining prosecution of nine people who were arrested on suspicion of gambling offenses when police vice officers executed search warrants at a Wailuku residence last month. Maui News.

Kauai

Citing distorted news releases and alleged lies from a defense attorney’s press release, the Kaua‘i Office of the Prosecuting Attorney has made recordings related to a civil lawsuit available to the public. Garden Island.

The nine candidates running for one of the seven seats at the Kaua‘i County Council went through a battery of quick-fire questions Monday evening at the Historic Waimea Theater. The forum attended by approximately 60 people and hosted by the West Kaua‘i Business Association was the first of four events scheduled in four days this week. Garden Island.

Lanai

Oracle Corp.’s sailing team is canceling plans to train in Hawaii this winter for next year’s America’s Cup race in San Francisco, the team’s general manager said Tuesday. Associated Press.

Uphill climb for Native Hawaiian recognition bill, Honolulu train stalled by human remains, coqui frogs heard on Oahu, BYOB survives on Maui, Habitat for Humanity building Big Island homes, yacht racing may come to Lanai, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Native Hawaiian protest (c) 2012 All Hawaii News

A Senate committee advanced the newest version of a Native Hawaiian federal recognition bill Thursday, signaling the start of a last-ditch campaign to gain a full Senate vote on the bill before its chief sponsor retires. Star-Advertiser.

U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka's office says the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs has amended and passed a bill granting federal recognition to Native Hawaiians. KITV4.

Thursday was a good day for Sen. Daniel Akaka and the Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act that he hopes will be his legacy. Civil Beat.

The Public File: Hirono, Lingle Each Spend $1 Million On TV Ad Time. Civil Beat.

Next year, the Chinese space mission Chang’e 3 is embarking on the first soft moon landing in 40 years — and Hawaii scientists will have a pair of eyes on the trip. Civil Beat.

The State Senate's investigation into UH's Stevie Wonder concert fiasco and its aftermath is expanding in scope to include numerous financial and management issues at the university, and could continue for several weeks. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii has paid more than $80,000 in worker’s compensation benefits to another dead man. Associated Press.

Eleven years of war have taken their toll on U-S Servicemembers and their families. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu
The first human remains to be discovered in the path of the Honolulu rail project have been unearthed in Kakaako by a crew conducting an archaeological survey for the project. Star-Advertiser.

The first human remains have been found along the proposed Honolulu rail route, ratcheting up the tension that has gripped the city's transit project when it comes to the sensitive issue of Native Hawaiian burials. Civil Beat.

Human remains have been found along the route of Honolulu’s rail transit project in the city’s Kakaako area, the first burials discovered during archaeological surveys of the 20-mile route. Pacific Business News.

Archeologists surveying the planned route of Honolulu’s rapid transit line discovered a single human bone fragment yesterday afternoon near Cooke Street in Kakaako.Hawaii Reporter.

Excavation continues tomorrow at the site of the first bone fragment discovered along Honolulu's proposed rail route. KHON2.

The Hawaii Supreme Court ruling that stopped construction on the Honolulu rail line is expected to delay work for the next nine months while the city completes an archaeological survey along the route and obtains new permits to resume building, transit officials were told Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

The city of Honolulu is rehashing old arguments in its request for the Hawaii Supreme Court to reevaluate its recent decision stopping the $5.26 billion Honolulu rail project, according to court documents filed Thursday by the Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation. Civil Beat.

With Ben Cayetano opposing the Honolulu Rail on environmental grounds, and Kirk Caldwell supporting the Rail as green, it’s time to take a look at which one is the more credible advocate for the environment. Honolulu Weekly.

Invasive-species investigators will be looking into at least 12 reports of coqui frogs across Oahu as a result of the "Go Out and Listen Night!" surveillance event Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Thursday morning a meeting was held at HTA headquarters at the Hawaii Convention Center to discuss how large tour buses could continue to bring visitors to the popular beach parks without disturbing Kailua residents. KITV4.

Kamehameha Schools is expanding food production on land it owns in Punaluu as part of an effort to improve management and use of its vast agricultural property holdings. Star-Advertiser.

Hotel employees at the Turtle Bay Resort voted overwhelmingly Thursday to authorize a strike. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii
A Maui pilot must make amends for illegally flying axis deer to the Big Island by providing a group trying to eradicate the invasive species there with 500 hours of helicopter flight time — an act of restitution expected to cost him more than $300,000. Associated Press.

Veteran helicopter pilot Thomas Leroy Hauptman will provide the Big Island Invasive Species Committee 500 hours of flight time as restitution for illegally transporting Maui axis deer to Hawaii island. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii County Councilwoman Brenda Ford will introduce at the Sept. 18 Planning Committee meeting a resolution to urge the state Legislature to abolish the Public Land Development Corporation. Tribune-Herald.

Habitat for Humanity West Hawaii’s 2012 Blitz Build in Kona got under way as the sun rose over Hualalai with hundreds of volunteers eager to construct five affordable family homes within 10 days. West Hawaii Today.

Work may begin next week on replacing a sewer underneath Kalanianaole Avenue in Hilo. Tribune-Herald.

A weekly farmers market may be returning to Captain Cook, two years after it was moved because of complaints about traffic. West Hawaii Today.

The Hawaii Board of Land and Natural Resources could revoke a permit for the kayak tour company that led a group of teens when one from New York was swept out to sea. Hawaii News Now.

Kona-based microalgae producer Cyanotech Corp. said Thursday it has secured a $5.5 million long-term loan agreement to make a major investment in its production facility. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

The Maui County Liquor Control Commission on Wednesday voted down a proposal to exclude hotel and condominium hotel liquor licensees from a law allowing customers to bring their own bottle of wine to restaurants to consume with meals. Maui News.

With reports showing a decrease in complaints and noise levels from bars at Kihei Kalama Village, the Maui County Liquor Control Commission voted Wednesday to take no action on a proposal to ban late-night music, dancing and entertainment at the Kihei complex. Maui News.

Maui motorists are advised that the transport of wind turbine components for the Auwahi Wind Farm project in Ulupalakua will begin next week. Maui Now.

Kauai

After nearly six hours of discussion and public testimony, the Kaua‘i Planning Commission’s three-member Subdivision Committee on Tuesday deferred a decision on whether to recommend an 8-year extension on subdivision permits for a proposed development of more than 2,000 acres of prime agricultural land across Kealia Beach, at the north end of Kapa‘a Town. Garden Island.

“Start Something!” is the call to action to the community by the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kaua‘i as school children begin to settle in to the new school year. Garden Island.

Instruction  in how to shaka, led by Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr., is an aspect of the three-week intensive English and Experiential Learning program being undertaken by six students of the Oshima National College of Maritime Technology, more commonly known as Oshima Shosen, or Merchant Marines. Garden Island.

Lanai

Billionaire Larry Ellison is considering plans to bring his America's Cup-winning racing team to Lanai for training in a move that would bring a huge lift to the island's economy. Hawaii News Now.