Indictment likely for Honolulu police chief, Kauai kills general excise tax increase, China still set for RIMPAC, attorney general had investigated former state auditor, lawmakers quietly oppose marine protection expansion, state Supreme Court to hear 2014 election case, new rules for Hawaiian Home Lands, Maui lets lifeguards get raises, Honolulu's rising middle class, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Uptown shops in Waikiki © 2016 All Hawaii News

In cities across America, the middle class is hollowing out. However, Honolulu’s middle class appears to be increasing. Associated Press.

Amid the flurry of final votes on hundreds of bills last week, Hawaii lawmakers privately weighed whether to sign a letter to President Obama that Rep. James Tokioka was circulating during the last few days of the legislative session. The letter called on the president not to consider expanding the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument, stating that “there is no scientific justification or conservation benefit in doing so.” Civil Beat.

Hundreds of the world’s top ocean scientists will gather in Honolulu next month for the 13th International Coral Reef Symposium. It’s the first time the conference will be held in Hawai‘i. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Senate President Ron Kouchi has a confidential report in his possession that involves possible wrongdoing in the state Auditor’s Office. The report is the result of a Hawaii Attorney General’s Office investigation. Civil Beat.

The federal government for the first time has developed an administrative rule to provide more clarity in implementing the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, the federal law that established a land trust to benefit Native Hawaiians. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. David Ige announced Wednesday that he has signed House Bill 1581 to help expedite the resolution of disputes on actions by state agencies. The new law, which takes effect Aug. 1, allows contested case hearings before the commissions on Water Resource Management, Land Use, Public Utilities, the Hawaii Community Development Authority and cases involving conservation districts to be directly appealed to the Hawaii Supreme Court, according to a release from the governor’s office. Civil Beat.

The U.S. invitation allowing China to participate in the upcoming Rim of the Pacific maritime exercises off Hawaii appears to be holding — even as American accusations fly that China is militarizing the South China Sea, while China maintains America has no business “provoking the new maritime order.” Star-Advertiser.

Struggling U.S. and international stock markets are dragging down Hawaii’s largest public pension portfolio. The state Employees’ Retirement System fund eked out a 0.6 percent gain in the first three months of 2016 but is in danger of finishing the fiscal year ending June 30 with its first loss since 2012, according to a report presented to ERS trustees Tuesday by Portland, Ore.-based Pension Consulting Alliance Inc. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s judicial system ranks among the top three in the country when it comes to access to justice, according to the National Center for Access to Justice’s latest state-by-state ranking. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha and his wife, deputy city Prosecutor Katherine Kealoha, have hired a prominent criminal defense attorney to represent them in the potential federal criminal case against them. In an interview Wednesday with Hawaii News Now, attorney Myles Breiner said he and the Kealohas expect there will be a grand jury indictment in the case.

Extra-tall towers are out, but the density of buildings could double and include less parking in some parts of Kakaako under new proposed rules for development tied to the city’s rail project. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii regulators unveiled an update Wednesday for the Honolulu neighborhood of Kakaako’s transit-oriented development plan calling for diverse residential building types, ground-oriented family housing near transit stations, additional reserved housing, grocery stores, cultural and community amenities, food trucks and spaces for artists. Pacific Business News.

Ross Dress for Less on Ward Avenue in Honolulu is expected to be displaced by the Honolulu rail transit project that’s being built from West Oahu to Ala Moana Center. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii lawmakers sent a strong message last week to two brothers who claim to own portions of eight streets in Kakaako where they started charging for parking six years ago after decades of free public use. Star-Advertiser.

Repairs to a collapsed pier at Waianae Boat Harbor have finally been approved. KHON2.

Hawaii

The Hawaii Supreme Court has agreed to hear a complaint questioning the residency status of Ron Gonzales, who in 2014 unsuccessfully challenged Kohala Councilwoman Margaret Wille for the District 9 council seat. West Hawaii Today.

What started as a bill to increase County Council terms from two years to four has morphed through a series of compromises into a bill adding one more two-year term, so council members would be eligible to serve 10 consecutive years before being term-limited. West Hawaii Today.

Native Hawaiian activists drew closer to their goal of barring further geothermal development on Hualalai, following a hearing Wednesday in the Environmental Court. West Hawaii Today.

The design, engineering and potential capabilities of the Thirty Meter Telescope were front and center Wednesday at the West Hawaii Civic Center. Telescope system scientist Warren Skidmore walked about two dozen people through the technical aspects of the 180-foot tall, $1.4 billion project, which, if built, would be the second largest telescope on Earth, behind a 39- meter scope being constructed by European interests in Chile. West Hawaii Today.

For almost 16 miles of coastline stretching north from South Point, there is no public access to the shoreline. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

After hearing more than an hour of testimony from lifeguards and their supporters, the Budget and Finance Committee today recommended approval of funding for the ocean safety labor contract by a unanimous 6-0 vote. Maui Now.

Pay raises awarded to hundreds of lifeguards and law enforcement officers statewide cleared a major hurdle on Wednesday. Hawaii News Now.

The 70 unit Waiʻale Affordable Housing project proposed for development on 10.36 acres just north of the Waikapū Gardens subdivision on Maui, surfaces for consideration at the Maui County Council’s Land Use Committee meeting at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 18, in the Council Chamber. Maui Now.

The Maui Planning Commission advanced two proposed Kihei projects Monday, approving the 129-unit Kamaole Pointe workforce housing complex and recommending a zoning change for the 22,000-square-foot Kihei Wellness Center. Maui News.

Maui County has agreed to pay $24,000 in damages and to enter into a three-year consent decree to settle an age discrimination lawsuit that alleged the Maui Police Department failed to hire a qualified 45-year-old Hawaii resident as a police officer. Maui News.

Kauai

After two hours of discussion during committee Wednesday, Kauai council members voted 4-3 to recommend killing a proposed bill that would increase the General Excise Tax. Garden Island.

Mason Chock is seeking re-election to the Kauai County Council. Garden Island.

Paul Cienfuegos, a community activist from Portland, Oregon, is on Kauai for one reason: he says there’s another way to shut the door on unwanted corporate industry. Garden Island.

Hawaii Supreme Court affirms Koa Ridge development, Legislature seeks contested case fast-track, lawmakers forge China ties, church can't use marijuana, Slom back in hospital, Banyan Drive redevelopment advances, Puna man gets police to pay for seized marijuana, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Luau in Kona © 2016 All Hawaii News

The state agency promoting Hawaii is increasingly going digital, using social media and virtual reality to reach potential visitors. Leslie Dance, director for marketing and product development for the Hawaii Tourism Authority, told industry representatives at a tourism marketing meeting in Waikiki on Wednesday the agency plans to unveil its first virtual reality offering at its September tourism conference. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii lawmakers are seeking to speed up the resolution of important contested cases brought before certain state boards and commissions in the wake of the Thirty Meter Telescope debacle. Star-Advertiser.

Health insurance providers, energy firms, a private prison company and other organizations collectively spent nearly $1 million on lobbyists to influence legislators in January and February, according to filings with the Hawaii State Ethics Commission. That brings the total spent on lobbying connected to the Legislature to nearly $14 million since 2013, the commission’s data shows. Civil Beat.

The two majority leaders of the Hawaii Legislature traveled to China in late March as part of an effort to facilitate formal relations between the United States and China at state and local levels. Sen. Kalani English said the trip could lead to increased Chinese tourism to Hawaii, thanks to visitor industry ties already established between China and Hawaii, and an interest in Sun Yat-sen, the early 20th-century Chinese revolutionary who spent significant time in the islands. Civil Beat.

Several hundred seniors converged at the state Capitol Rotunda on Wednesday morning for the fourth annual Kupuna Power Day, a mix of entertainment and educational activities. Star-Advertiser.

State Sen. Sam Slom remained hospitalized Wednesday for what his staff described as “routine testing and treatment following his hospitalization last month for a stubborn infection.” Star-Advertiser.

A federal court is ruling that a church for Native Americans in Hawaii should not be excused from federal marijuana laws despite the group’s claim that ingesting cannabis is part of its sacred sacrament. Associated Press.

Plans are in the works to launch a statewide system enabling people to send 911 text messages during an emergency. Star-Advertiser.

The coral on the sea floor around the Pacific island of Kiritimati looked like a boneyard in November — stark, white and lifeless. But there was still some hope. Associated Press.

Oahu

Hawaii’s highest court ruled today that an initial phase of the planned Koa Ridge residential community in Central Oahu may proceed.Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Supreme Court has issued a ruling that allows developer Castle & Cooke to proceed with building a 3,500-home community known as Koa Ridge in central Oahu. Civil Beat.

Castle & Cooke Hawaii’s long-delayed 3,500-home Koa Ridge master-planned community in Central Oahu will move ahead after the Hawaii State Supreme Court ruled in favor of the developer on Wednesday, saying the Hawaii Land Use Commission properly reclassified the 768 acres of land from agricultural to urban for the project. Pacific Business News.

The Hawaii Supreme Court has paved the way for the Koa Ridge housing development in Central Oahu to finally move forward. Hawaii News Now.

The Hawaii Supreme Court has given the green light to a controversial Castle and Cooke development that’s been in the works for nearly 20 years. KHON2.

Plans by Mayor Kirk Caldwell to create a housing development division appear doomed, and the future of the Hale Mauliola homeless center at Sand Island and related programs could be as well, under the latest draft of the $2.3 billion operating budget that moved out of the City Council Budget Committee on Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

As many as half the patrol officers on one shift in Honolulu Police Department’s Kalihi district staged a sickout for three days last month in protest of their managers' attempt to crackdown on overtime, sources told Hawaii News Now on Wednesday.

The changing profile of Kakaako, as high-rise condominiums fill the historic district, underscores the need for public open spaces, said Kiersten Faulkner, executive director of Historic Hawai‘i Foundation. Star-Advertiser.

A landowner apologized residents on Oahu's North Shore, promising that they will have a say in a development mauka of Shark's Cove. Hawaii News Now.

Home sales on Oahu took off in March, posting gains of more than 20 percent, while the median price of single-family home and condominiums also increased by single digits, according to statistics released Thursday by the Honolulu Board of Realtors. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

Most County Council members don’t like the idea of enlarging the Board of Ethics, or giving the council more say over its appointees. But that didn’t stop them Wednesday from spending more than an hour in discussion before once again postponing a bill that would do just that. West Hawaii Today.

The Hawaii County Council gave its support Wednesday to forming a new development agency tasked with improving the Banyan Drive area. Tribune-Herald.

The county settled a lawsuit with a Puna man who claims police illegally confiscated the medical marijuana growing on his Fern Acres property almost four years ago. Tribune-Herald.

When a single rental listing on Craigslist can get 30 or more responses in its first day, it’s not hard for shrewd landlords to bend the law to weed out families and the disabled. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

In response to the high volume of animal emergency calls, the Maui Humane Society revived its 24-hour, seven-day-a-week animal emergency response hotline on Monday to assist domestic animals and livestock. Maui News.

Ron Youngblood was remembered Tuesday as a craftsman writer who elegantly captured Maui life and the spirit of its people, an intelligent blue-collar newsman who could turn a phrase, a mentor to young writers and journalists and a loving brother. Maui News.

Kauai

Addressing the well-documented need for more affording housing on Kauai is a noble cause, but it should not come at the expense of losing the island’s rural character, a Kauai councilman said Wednesday. Garden Island.

Green Aloha, Ltd., one of the consortiums applying for Kauai’s first medical marijuana dispensary license, has struck an agreement with United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 480. Pacific Business News.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources will hold a public meeting on the proposed Haena Community-Based Subsistence Fishing Area Management Plan at Kilauea School Cafeteria from 6-9 p.m. Tuesday. Garden Island.

Hawaii Supreme Court vacates Thirty Meter Telescope permit on Mauna Kea, Navy on standby in dengue battle, U.S. Supreme Court puts Native Hawaiian election on hold, Maui tackles homelessness, Kauai addresses bed and breakfasts, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Thirty Meter Telescope protester, courtesy Occupy Hilo Media

In a ruling that could set back development of the Thirty Meter Telescope for years, the Supreme Court of Hawaii on Wednesday invalidated the permit allowing construction of the $1.4 billion project on Mauna Kea. The court, in a unanimous decision, said the state Board of Land and Natural Resources erred when it approved the project’s Conservation District Use Permit before holding a contested case hearing to consider evidence about whether the permit should be granted. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Supreme Court has voted unanimously to vacate the permit allowing the Thirty Meter Telescope to be built atop Mauna Kea, a mountain on the east side of Hawaii Island. The justices concluded that the state Board of Land and Natural Resources violated due process when it approved a permit for the $1.4 billion project in 2011 prior to holding a contested case hearing. Civil Beat.

A long-awaited Hawaii Supreme Court ruling Wednesday invalidating a construction permit for what would be one of the world's largest telescopes represents a major setback for the $1.4 billion project on a mountain astronomers tout for having perfect star-gazing conditions. Associated Press.

The Hawaii Supreme Court on Wednesday vacated the $1.4 billion Thirty Meter Telescope’s permit to build an observatory atop Mauna Kea and sent the case back to the state Board of Land and Natural Resources for a contested case hearing. Pacific Business News.

The Hawaii Supreme Court voted unanimously, today, to vacate the permit allowing the Thirty-Meter Telescope (TMT) to be constructed on Mauna Kea. The court ruled that the state Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) wrongfully approved a conservation use permit in 2011 prior to holding a contested case hearing. Project officials will have to return to the BLNR to get new approval for the project. Hawaii Independent.

The Hawaii Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled the permit allowing construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope near the summit of Mauna Kea is invalid. According to the court, the Board of Land and Natural Resources shouldn’t have issued a permit to build the $1.4 billion next-generation telescope until a contested case hearing to evaluate a petition by a group challenging the project’s approval could be held. Tribune-Herald.

The Hawaii Supreme Court on Wednesday invalidated a permit awarded for the construction of one of the world's largest telescopes on Mauna Kea, a mountain many Native Hawaiians consider sacred. Associated Press.

The permit allowing the Thirty Meter Telescope to be built and operated on Mauna Kea has been thrown out by the Hawaii Supreme Court. In the conclusion of a 58 page opinion written by Chief Justice Mark E. Recktenwald, the court vacated the lower circuit court’s findings of fact and judgment.  Big Island Video News.

The state’s highest court has revoked a permit for construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope atop Mauna Kea. The Hawai‘i Supreme Court ruled that due process was violated when it approved the permit for the telescope before holding a contested case hearing. TMT may now have to go through the process again if they still want to construct the $1.4 billion telescope. Hawaii Public Radio.


The Hawaiʻi Supreme Court issued an opinion today vacating the circuit court’s May 5, 2014 decision that had affirmed the Board of Land and Natural Resources’ Conservation District Use Permit that was granted on April 12, 2013, for the Thirty Meter Telescope at Mauna Kea. Maui Now.

The state "put the cart before the horse" when it issued a permit for construction of the Thirty-Meter Telescope before a contested case hearing on the issue was resolved, the state Supreme Court ruled Wednesday. Hawaii News Now.

Construction of a Thirty Meter Telescope has been halted again. On Wednesday, the Hawaii Supreme Court ruled the permit to construct the telescope on Mauna Kea is invalid. TMT opponents are calling this their most important victory yet. KITV4.

========

The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday formally granted an injunction blocking the Na‘i Aupuni Hawaiian self-governance election while the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals considers the case challenging it. Under the order, Na‘i Aupuni officials are prohibited from counting ballots and certifying the winners of the election until the appellate court makes a decision. Star-Advertiser.

The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday blocked the counting of ballots in the ongoing Nai Aupuni election until a lower court takes action on a related lawsuit. The ruling was a blow to supporters of an election of delegates to a Native Hawaiian convention on self-governance, but a big victory to those who oppose it. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii State Ethics Commission has been talking for more than a year about how to improve its online electronic filing system. The current system by which lawmakers and other government officials file required disclosure forms on finances, gifts, lobbying and travel is clunky — requiring, for example, users to submit PDF documents, either printed out or as electronic attachments. Civil Beat.

Officials are questioning the head of NextEra Energy Hawaii about what would happen if the company takes over Hawaiian Electric, the state's main utility company. The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission's chief counsel Thomas Gorak questioned NextEra Energy Hawaii President Eric Gleason on Wednesday during one of a series of public hearings that will last several weeks. Associated Press.

NextEra Energy Inc. is expected to have up to five of the company's executives join the Hawaiian Electric Co. executive team if the $4.3 billion sale of the Honolulu-based utility to the Florida energy giant goes through. Pacific Business News.

Every time transparency takes a hit at otherwise open hearings to decide the fate of NextEra Energy’s $4.3 billion acquisition of Hawaiian Electric Industries, it stinks up the process. That’s the perspective of Randy Iwase, the head of the Public Utilities Commission who is acting as a sort of lead judge in the three-day old hearing at Blaisdell Center. Civil Beat.

NextEra Energy Merger: The Real Action Is In The Politicking. The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission will ultimately decide if the $4.3 billion deal should be approved, but that hasn’t stopped polling, press conferences and news releases. Civil Beat.


While charter school leaders are pushing back against what they say is too much oversight by the Hawaii State Public Charter School Commission, a state report released Tuesday criticizes the commission for just the opposite. Civil Beat.

Oahu
Friends, family members, employees, well-known political figures and business executives have submitted letters totaling 200 pages to U.S. District Judge Susan Oki Mollway urging her to go easy on Honolulu telecommunications executive Al Hee as he faces several years in prison for tax fraud. Star-Advertiser.

Construction is underway on a temporary homeless shelter in Kakaako. The state says the location is perfect because of it’s location and proximity to transportation, but it will only be open for two years. KHON2.

Installing residential solar-energy systems is at its peak this time of year as homeowners try to cash in on end of year tax incentives.   But as HPR’s Wayne Yoshioka reports, the industry has taken a number of hits recently that have already reduced demand. Hawaii Public Radio.

Nearly three-quarters of a century after bombs fell on Oahu, launching America into World War II, war dead and veterans on both sides of the conflict — as well as the reconciliation with Japan that is still ongoing — will be memorialized and highlighted on Dec. 7. Star-Advertiser.

Former home of legendary surfer Duke Kahanamoku for sale. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii

The U.S. Navy is on standby to help battle dengue fever on the Big Island, the director of the state Department of Health said Wednesday. Director Ginny Pressler made the announcement during a three-hour informational session with the Hawaii County Council, participating with fellow physicians Sen. Josh Green and Rep. Richard Creagan, county Civil Defense Administrator Darryl Oliveira and Aaron Ueno, Big Island district health officer for the DOH. West Hawaii Today.

Mosquito repellent has found its way back into Big Island stores — although stocks and selection are thin in places. Tribune-Herald.

Aloha Petroleum will spend $3.25 million to update five fuel storage facilities statewide after violating the federal Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act at its East Hilo bulk fuel storage terminal. Civil Beat.

Aloha Petroleum agreed to pay $650,000 to settle Clean Air and Clean Water acts violations at its Hilo East bulk fuel storage terminal, one of the company’s two fuel storage facilities near Hilo Harbor, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Tribune-Herald.

A large swath of North Kohala coastline with environmental and cultural significance is on its way toward preservation. The Hawaii County Council unanimously gave the go-ahead Wednesday for the Finance Department to begin negotiations to purchase the Hapuu to Kapanaia cultural corridor, a 167-acre corridor that includes two major heiau from Kamehameha I’s time. It also approved negotiations for the purchase of Halelua, a 50-acre parcel that includes much of the lower Halawa Gulch. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Mayor Alan Arakawa's administration has submitted five bills and a proposed budget amendment to the Maui County Council aimed at "nuisance" behavior associated with homeless people. Maui News.

Maui County Mayor Alan Arakawa's administration has submitted five bills aimed at enforcing laws surrounding "nuisance" behavior and a proposed budget amendment to address the growing homelessness crisis. Associated Press.

Something to lose sleep about: The battle with the coqui frog. One becomes a thousand, and the annoying noise makes ‘chickens look like nothing’ Maui News.

A few weeks ago the state Land Use Commission LUC met at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center to discuss the final environmental impact statement (EIS) for Olowalu Town, a massive development project pushed by Bill Frampton and Dave Ward. The project is billed as a “complete community”–containing its own housing, public infrastructure, recreation, commercial development and open space. The LUC didn’t decide the fate of the EIS (or the project), but will meet again at the MACC on Dec. 7 to take it up again. MauiTime.

Opinion: Looks like the special Maui County Liquor Commission subcommittee tasked with crafting a selection process to find a new Liquor Control (LC) Director has been busy. And in contrast to the Liquor Commission’s secret October machinations that led to the double-crowning of Commissioner Dana “son of former LC Director Joe” Souza (up-ended only by Souza’s surprising and never-explained decision to decline the position, made just days before he was to assume office), the selection committee’s work is being documented in public records. MauiTime.

Kauai

Bed and breakfasts were up for discussion again at Wednesday’s County Council meeting. Councilman Ross Kagawa summed up the goal of the current proposed B&B bill, saying that it’s a chance to control where and how homestays and B&Bs operate. Garden Island.

The Kauai County Council chairman threatened to have another councilmember removed from a meeting Wednesday. An argument broke out during public testimony on Bill 2606, which aims to “implement a homestead tax cap for owner-occupied properties that receive a homeowner exemption and also for long term affordable rental properties.” Garden Island.

One of three public meetings to be held in Hawaii and Southern California about future Navy training activities in Pacific waters will take place tonight. The Navy is preparing an evaluation of potential environmental effects associated with its planned military training, testing and research in these areas after 2018. Garden Island.

Environmentalists seek tougher tuna rules, Maui mulls tax breaks for affordable housing, butterfly arrives in Hawaii, IRS probe shows Hee's political spending, charter changes coming to Honolulu, trial on Pohakuloa munitions cleanup, Supreme Court seeks lawyer rules on medical marijuana dispensaries, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii fish market © 2015 All Hawaii News

Environmentalists on Friday asked a federal judge to stop the National Marine Fisheries Service from allowing Hawaii-based fishermen to attribute some of the bigeye tuna they catch to U.S. territories. They argue the agency is enabling the fishermen to circumvent international agreements aimed at controlling the overfishing of a popular tuna species known as ahi. Associated Press.

Researchers from the University of Hawaii say they’ve identified a tiny newcomer to Hawaii that’s been settling across the islands with “remarkable” speed. The Sleepy Orange, a butterfly commonly found across the Americas — from the Southern United States all the way to Brazil — was first spotted on Oahu in 2013. It has since become common on Maui, and also spotted on Kauai, Molokai, Hawaii Island and even Kahoolawe. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii Supreme Court is seeking public input on whether to amend its rules to allow attorneys to help clients who are applying for high-stakes licenses to run medical marijuana dispensaries. The court’s Disciplinary Board issued a formal opinion last month saying lawyers shouldn’t provide legal services to help establish or operate medical cannabis businesses because that would assist in committing a federal crime. Civil Beat.

The IRS investigation into Sandwich Isles Communications Inc. also exposed some eye-popping spending in a politically connected corner of Hawaii’s business community that benefited from hundreds of millions of dollars in federal subsidies and contributed generously to the campaigns and causes of many of the state’s leading politicians. Star-Advertiser.

State lawmakers have confronted the issue of how to allow charitable giving by candidates in a way that creates a public benefit but doesn't give incumbents an unfair advantage over those seeking to challenge them politically. Maui News.

Oahu

Hawaiian Electric Co. has given the green light to nearly 10,000 rooftop solar systems on Oahu this year, and still the rush of applicants outpaces what the utility can approve. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu residents have until Oct. 31 to submit proposals to the Honolulu Charter Commission for improving the city and county government. As of Friday only six proposals have been submitted, but the commission chair still anticipates that the ultimate response will be similar to 2005, when 180 proposals were made. Civil Beat.

Is the City Violating the Law in Destroying Homeless People’s Property? As the ACLU launches a legal battle against Honolulu’s sweeps of homeless encampments, it points to a case in Los Angeles in which that city’s sweeps were ruled unconstitutional. Civil Beat.

Hawaii

A lawsuit claiming the state breached its duties to protect public lands used for the Army’s Pohakuloa Training Area will go to trial this week. Filed by Big Island residents Clarence Ching and Mary Kahaulelio, the suit says the Department of Land and Natural Resources failed to ensure that munitions are cleaned up after military exercises as the Army’s existing 65-year lease for the lands between Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa requires. Tribune-Herald.

Flooding that turned coffee fields into wastelands of rock this week has Kainaliu coffee farmers asking how the water can be managed in a way that doesn’t pit neighbor against neighbor. West Hawaii Today.

Only one Hawaii County Council seat will be open because of term limits next year, and two political neophytes are already planning to run for it. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

A Maui developer is seeking to create a largely rural residential subdivision near Lahaina on 271 acres of land zoned for agricultural use. Star-Advertiser.

A bill that would provide a $75,000 property tax assessment exemption for landowners who rent to lower-income residents in the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development voucher program was introduced Thursday by Maui County Council Member Robert Carroll. Maui News.

After 2nd Circuit Court implements its upgraded security system for Hoapili Hale on Oct. 9, all courthouse visitors will go through a single screening location on the first floor before they can enter the building. Maui News.

Kauai

A Navy-funded project landed five scientists on a research boat in the waters between Kauai and Niihau earlier this month in an effort to learn more about the effects of sonar on whales and dolphins. Garden Island.

A group of homeless people in Lihue have set up a semi-permanent tent city in the forested lot between Walmart and Wilcox Memorial Hospital. The owners of the lot are in the process of clearing it and have given the homeless people who live in tent city three weeks to vacate the premises. Garden Island.

Molokai

After dangerous winds and huge swells led to the cancellation of a world-renowned canoe race, stranding competitors on Molokai, some say Hawaiian Airlines increased fares in the rush to fly off the island. About 750 paddlers were left looking for flights off the island Saturday when race officials called off Na Wahine O Ke Kai, which is sponsored by Hawaiian Airlines. Associated Press.

Hawaii attorneys barred from helping medical marijuana dispensaries, artist chosen for Abercrombie portrait, ACLU seeks homeless-rousting injunction, Big Island mayoral race kicks off, Honolulu warned in 2010 about low rail estimate, more on the Mauna Kea tent removal, more government and political news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Supreme Court building © 2015 All Hawaii News

Hawaii lawyers can’t help clients apply for high-stakes medical marijuana dispensary licenses authorized under a new state law, according to a formal opinion of the Hawaii Supreme Court Disciplinary Board. Attorneys can provide legal advice regarding the state’s newly enacted medical marijuana dispensary law, but shouldn’t provide legal services to help establish or operate businesses because that would assist in committing a federal crime, the board said. Civil Beat.

The State Foundation on Culture and the Arts has unanimously approved a plan to have Maui artist Kirk Kurokawa paint the official portrait of former Gov. Neil Abercrombie that will hang in the governor’s chambers at the state Capitol. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii regulators are concerned about NextEra Energy Inc. and Hawaiian Electric Co.’s inability to meet deadlines when submitting responses to information requests, according to public documents. Pacific Business News.

Two Hawaii organizations dedicated to helping Native Hawaiian children will receive $1.6 million in federal grants from the U. S. Department of Education. Garden Island.

Report: Hawaii Has 2nd-Lowest Obesity Rate. But the islands’ obesity rate has more than doubled since 1990, and its diabetes rate increased last year. Civil Beat.

Oahu

The American Civil Liberties Union of Hawai‘i is asking a federal judge to immediately stop the city from conducting homeless encampment sweeps in Kakaako. A hearing on the matter is set for 2:30 p.m. Tuesday in U.S. District Court. Star-Advertiser.

A group of homeless individuals filed a motion in federal court Monday to seek an immediate halt to the city’s enforcement of the stored property and sidewalk nuisance ordinances. Civil Beat.

The City and County of Honolulu continued enforcement of its sidewalk nuisance ordinance in Kaka’ako today.   Meanwhile, a panel discussion on building more affordable housing to ease homelessness was conducted. Hawaii Public Radio.

The city was warned in 2010 of rail’s costs. Former Gov. Ben Cayetano cites a state report predicting the project’s price tag would balloon. Star-Advertiser.

A program designed to draw more customers to struggling businesses along Honolulu’s rail line is not working. KHON2.

Better customer service, competition for the airport contract and tighter safety regulations are some of the ways Honolulu’s taxi system could be improved, critics say. Star-Advertiser.

Known as the Whitmore Project, a plan is taking shape to turn Lake Wilson into a major source of power for farmers who take up residence in Central Oahu. KITV4.

Expatistan, which compares prices of a wide array of consumer goods, transportation, rent and other things, ranks Honolulu as the seventh-most expensive city in America and the 17th most expensive city in the world. Civil Beat.

Hawaii

Former Kohala Councilman Pete Hoffmann on Monday became the first candidate to formally announce he’s running for Hawaii County mayor. West Hawaii Today.

State Department of Land and Natural Resources officers have removed a large tent used by Thirty Meter Telescope opponents to camp on Mauna Kea. Tribune-Herald.

The large tent that housed the around-the-clock vigil held by opponents of the Thirty Meter Telescope was confiscated overnight by the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Big Island Video News.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources has confiscated a big tent atop Mauna Kea that people protesting the Thirty Meter Telescope project had built there. Civil Beat.

Nineteen state conservation officers with support from Hawaii County police Monday dismantled a tent erected near the Mauna Kea Visitors Center, enforcing a rule aimed at stopping protesters from camping. Star-Advertiser.

Law enforcement officers are sweeping part of the island for marijuana growing operations and checking on medical marijuana permits. West Hawaii Today.

A Hilo towing and used auto parts company is contesting a citation and fine from the state Department of Health. The DOH said Monday in a written statement it’s fining Ken’s Towing Service Inc. $7,500 for allegedly operating a vehicle salvage facility without a permit and obstructing a DOH inspection. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Construction design flaws and repeated brown-water incidents prompted Maui County to issue one of its longest stop-work orders for a construction project earlier this year for a development in Kapalua. Maui News.

The state hopes that planting native trees and shrubs and enforcing ungulate controls will help restore a native dryland forest and critical ecosystem that once spanned Haleakala's leeward slope from Makawao to Kaupo. Maui News.

Makila Land Co. is proposing to develop 150 rural residential lots of a half-acre to 1 acre on 271 acres in Launiupoko. Maui News.

A Maui police officer accused of exposing himself to women and children and masturbating in front of them earlier this year has been charged with nine counts of sexual assault in the fourth degree. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai
Kauai’s test results were in the top five of the statewide Hawaii Smarter Balanced Assessment scores recently released.  Garden Island.

The junk cars, rusted appliances and wild boar carcasses that make up an illegal dump along the Anahola coast are still ripening in the sun nearly three months after the state agency that manages the land said it would work to clean it up. Garden Island.

Hawaii Supreme Court hears Mauna Kea Thirty Meter Telescope case, Hurricane Ignacio veers slightly north of islands, Waikiki sand still contaminated with bacteria, PUC approves Molokai ferry changes, Honolulu homeless to be rousted soon, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Supreme Court screen grab, courtesy ʻŌiwi TV

 The Hawaiʻi Supreme Court heard oral arguments today for a case challenging the issuance of the Conservation District Use Permit by the Board of Land and Natural Resources to the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo for the TMT project. Oiwi TV.

The legal battle over the controversial Thirty Meter Telescope drew a step closer to resolution Thursday when the state’s highest court heard oral arguments in the case. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Supreme Court justices expressed skepticism about the state Land Board’s process of approving construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope on Mauna Kea during oral arguments in a case challenging the state’s endorsement of the $1.4 billion project. The justices grilled state attorneys Thursday about whether the Board of Land and Natural Resources was wrong to approve a permit for the project in 2011 prior to holding a contested case hearing. Civil Beat.

Attorneys representing the state, the University of Hawaii and opponents of the planned Thirty Meter Telescope project presented their cases in oral arguments before the Hawaii Supreme Court in Downtown Honolulu Thursday morning. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii’s Supreme Court has heard oral arguments in a case involving building one of the world’s largest telescopes on Mauna Kea. Opponents are challenging a permit allowing the telescope to be built on conservation land. Associated Press.

Hawaii Supreme Court hears Mauna Kea telescope case. KITV4.

Long before dozens of people were arrested while protesting against building a giant telescope atop Hawaii’s Mauna Kea, there were years of environmental studies, public hearings and court proceedings. Associated Press.

The chair of the Mauna Kea advisory group to the University of Hawaii said he is offended by Governor David Ige’s request that the management of 10,000 acres of mountain land leased by UH be returned to the jurisdiction of the State Department of Land and Natural Resources. Big Island Video News.

Hurricane Ignacio has maintained its speed in the Central Pacific as its track takes the storm near the Hawaiian islands. The National Hurricane Center said at 5 a.m. Friday, Ignacio was located approximately 840 miles east-southeast of Hilo. Hawaii News Now.

The Hawaii State Teachers Association is challenging the Ethics Commission’s stance that public school teachers may not travel free as chaperones on students’ educational field trips that they organize with tour companies. Star-Advertiser.

Establishing direct flights between Honolulu and Hong Kong and London are the top priorities for Hawaii visitor industry leaders when it comes to establishing air service with underserved international markets, according to an informal poll taken Thursday at the state's annual tourism conference. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige said Thursday it’s a top priority for Hawaii that the U.S. be able to process Japanese travelers for immigration and customs before they even get on a plane for the islands. Associated Press.

Hawaii’s largest interisland cargo carrier has encountered what it hopes is the first ripple of a rebound in goods it transports between islands. Star-Advertiser.

The United Health Foundation ranks Hawai‘i number 1 among states in overall health, crediting us with double digit decreases in smoking and binge drinking in the last two years.  Still, 22% of Hawai‘i’s  population is considered obese, a situation three fitness buffs are trying to address. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu
For a second consecutive month, those overseeing Honolulu’s rail project have held off approving a nearly $9 million delay claim for Ansaldo Honolulu, the firm that’s creating the elevated transit system’s rail cars and operating system. Star-Advertiser.

Time is now running out for 20 to 25 people who, if still living on the outer edges of the Kakaako homeless encampment Sept. 8, will be rousted from their makeshift homes in the first sweep since conditions there sparked renewed efforts to address Oahu’s homeless problem. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell announced Thursday that the city will resume the enforcement of the storage property and sidewalk nuisance ordinances in the Kakaako homeless encampment after Labor Day. Civil Beat.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell defended his administration's effort to shore up areas of Waikiki during a tourism industry event held on Thursday, including recent city efforts to continually raise funds for replenishing sand on Waikiki beaches that are lost to erosion. Pacific Business News.

The first partial sweep of the Kaka‘ako homeless encampment will take place the day after Labor Day.  Mayor Kirk Caldwell says notices will be given to people living there next Monday—telling them to leave.  The area is a small portion of the Kaka‘ako Waterfront where about 20 to 25 people are living. Hawaii Public Radio.

Environmental groups are calling for updates to Hawaii's wastewater systems in the wake of two beach closures due to sewage from a treatment plant spilling near the ocean. Associated Press.

UH Manoa study points to bacteria left in sand post-sewage spill. KITV4.

When nearly half a million gallons of raw sewage poured into Ala Moana Beach Park on Monday, the city tested nearby areas for bacteria levels caused by the sewage spill. But it didn't test for sewage in Waikiki that day. Hawaii News Now.

About 1 million gallons of treated but not yet disinfected wastewater have spilled on the Windward Shore, forcing health officials to close beaches from the Halona Blow Hole to Erma’s Beach on Thursday. Civil Beat.

The Environmental Protection Agency is taking the next step in addressing questions about the Navy’s Red Hill fuel storage facility.  More than 140 comments were received during the public comment period over the Navy’s Administrative Order on Consent to repair and maintain the facility. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii

A veil of secrecy was drawn tightly around a hearing Wednesday and Thursday over pay and benefit packages for the county’s 14 Fire Department battalion chiefs, who say their compensation has not kept pace with their unionized counterparts in the department. West Hawaii Today.

The Big Island’s first hydrogen production facility, part of a $5 million demonstration project, will be built in Kona rather than Puna. Tribune-Herald.

The Queen’s Health Systems is in discussion with Kona Community Hospital about a potential partnership on Hawaii's Big Island. Pacific Business News.

The public will soon have vehicle access to part of a massive forest reserve on the southeastern slopes of Mauna Loa. West Hawaii Today.

A new lava flow has started pouring from Kilauea's Pu'u O'o vent on the Big Island.  The breakout first started early Thursday morning and is headed in a new direction. Hawaii News Now.

Maui

Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co. sought flexibility in the amount of scheduled guaranteed power it would supply Maui Electric Co. during recent power purchase agreement negotiations because the sugar plantation said it needs to trim its use of coal and other fossil fuels and to improve its operations, according to a filing with the state Public Utilities Commission last week. Maui News.

The landmark Buzz's Wharf Restaurant, which closed last year, may be leveled after nearly 50 years at Maalaea Harbor to make way for dry dock space and increased boat traffic. Maui News.

The Maui Ocean Center plans to release six juvenile green sea turtles into the open sea this afternoon to continue their life in the wild. Maui Now.

Six juvenile turtles were released from the Ali'i Nui tour boat in a private ceremony for aquarium staff, members of the Hawaii marine science community and dignitaries.Maui News.

Kauai

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, shared his thoughts on this and other topics he is working on in Washington, D.C. during a wide-ranging discussion with the Lihue Business Association Thursday morning, and he also sat down for an interview with The Garden Island.

The beach fronting the St. Regis Princeville Resort reopened following a 2,000 gallon sewage spill caused by a broken line. Garden Island.

Molokai

The Public Utilities Commission has approved Sea Link of Hawaii's proposed changes to its sailing schedule and operations to help keep the Molokai ferry afloat. Maui News.

Hawaii blocks access to Mauna Kea visitor's center and summit as protests continue, state Supreme Court rules against marijuana initiative, Hawaii worst state to do business, Honolulu pushes for general excise tax hike for rail, Maui residents fight sugarcane burning, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Mauna Kea TMT blockade, courtesy Big Island Video News

Construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope remained on hold for a second straight day Thursday after two rock altars were discovered on the access road leading to the Mauna Kea summit. Star-Advertiser.

Police named the 12 individuals arrested and charged Wednesday with obstructing Mauna Kea Access Road while protesting the construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope. Tribune-Herald.

The boulders and rock walls were cleared Thursday, but the road to the top of Hawaii’s tallest mountain remained inaccessible to the public following a dramatic protest against the Thirty Meter Telescope the day before. Tribune-Herald.

Despite a handful of arrests, officers and protesters treat each other well. But this week’s attempt to resume construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope gets off to a rocky start with boulders strewn across the mountain road, forcing its closure. Civil Beat.

Mauna Kea's summit access road, visitor's center remain closed indefinitely. Hawaii News Now.

Boulders cleared, Mauna Kea road remains closed. Hawaii Independent.

Protesters arrested while preventing construction from resuming on a giant telescope have returned to the Hawaii mountain they say they’re protecting from desecration. Associated Press.

The gravel road leading to the summit of Mauna Kea has been cleared of boulders, however the road has been temporarily closed until further notice. Big Island Video News.

VIDEO: Mauna Kea TMT Showdown – Part 1 of 3. Big Island Video News.

VIDEO: Mauna Kea TMT Showdown – Part 2 of 3. Big Island Video News.

VIDEO: Mauna Kea TMT Showdown – Part 3 of 3. Big Island Video News.

The Office of Mauna Kea Management is working on a set of rules that will for the first time give the office legal tools to govern public and commercial access on the mountain. Associated Press.

What happened on the mountain top Thursday took some state officials by surprise, but according to the state's top lawyer, the decision about access sits squarely at the University of Hawaii. KITV4.

Hawaii has ranked as the worst state to do business for the second time in three years, according to CNBC’s annual America’s Top States for Business ranking. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii: Sun, Surf and Suicides. The islands seem to be part of a phenomenon one expert dubbed “suicide tourism,” in which some people seek out final-destination spots in well-known places. Civil Beat.

U.S. Census Bureau released the 2014 state and county population information Thursday, including estimates broken down by age, sex, the five major race groups and Hispanic origin between April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014. Civil Beat.

Oahu

The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation estimated that the city would have to raise the median property tax bill by 5.6 percent to cover the existing project’s massive shortfall. How to finance that $900 million shortfall and whether to extend the half-percent surcharge were major issues at the Legislature this year, and Gov. David Ige is now considering whether to sign a bill to extend the excise tax surcharge for Oahu residents for five years to cover the rail project’s cost overruns. Star-Advertiser.

The state has a constitutional obligation to protect productive farmland, Hawaii Supreme Court justices were told Thursday during oral arguments in a lawsuit challenging a land reclassification for D.R. Horton’s 11,750-home Hoopili development. Civil Beat.

The Hawai’i Supreme Court heard oral arguments today in the case challenging the 12-thousand home Ho’opili development project in Ewa. Hawaii Public Radio.

The Howard Hughes Corp. has changed its plans for a Kakaako residential project back to a mostly affordable for-sale condominium tower after requesting a Hawaii agency approve the project as a rental development. Pacific Business News.

The Bikeshare Hawaii program got a big boost when the state and city pledged $1 million each to help put an estimated 1,700 bicycles on Oahu roads next year. Star-Advertiser.

A 14-year police veteran and a former reserve officer are facing federal charges in connection with assaults in September on two gambling house patrons at the hands of another officer. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

The Hawaii Supreme Court on Thursday snuffed out proponents’ hopes of enforcing a voter-approved ballot initiative making adult personal use of marijuana on private property the lowest law enforcement priority of Hawaii County. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

It was a packed house Thursday night at the Kihei Community Center as residents concerned about cane burning met with the Department of Health and Hawaiian Commercial and Sugar Company. KHON2.

A long-awaited high school stadium on Maui finally has the green-light. It certainly seems to have been on the fast track since there’s resolution. KHON2.

Bus drivers at Maui Economic Opportunity voted to form a union Tuesday night, an official with Hawaii Teamsters Local 996 said Wednesday. Maui News.

Kauai

A public meeting to discuss Kauai’s housing shortage started with a bit of irony: so many people showed up that several were turned away due to lack of space. Garden Island.

Next month, a public hearing is set for a measure that would require hikers in need of rescue — who disregard warnings — to pay the county for recovery missions. Garden Island.

Hawaii to become first state in nation to raise smoking age, state Supreme Court hears Honolulu Police secrecy case, homeless increase 10%, Honolulu officials don't misuse pCards, emergency sea cucumber harvest ban enacted, public concerned about Red Hill fuel tank leaks, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Cigarette display in Hawaii © 2015 All Hawaii News

Gov. David Ige has signed a bill to make his state the first to raise the legal smoking age to 21. The measure aims to prevent adolescents from smoking, buying or possessing both traditional and electronic cigarettes. Gov. David Ige signed it Friday. Associated Press.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige signed a bill Friday that will make Hawaii the first state in the nation to ban smoking for anyone under the age of 21 once it goes into effect Jan. 1, 2016. Civil Beat.


The number of homeless in Hawaii increased to its highest level in five years, boosted by a dramatic jump in the number of unsheltered homeless individuals, who now outnumber the sheltered, according to data released Thursday by the state. Star-Advertiser.

The latest count of Hawaii’s homeless population shows it increased by more than 10 percent — despite the high-profile efforts of Honolulu city and state officials to combat the issue. Civil Beat.

Neighbor island data confirms houselessness on the rise The state released the neighbor island data from its 2015 Point in Time count today and, in all counties but Kauai, the number of houseless citizens has increased. Hawaii Independent.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources is proposing an emergency ban on harvesting sea cucumbers in Hawaii’s nearshore waters after officials were alerted to recent incidents of over-harvesting off Oahu and Maui. Star-Advertiser.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources says the recent mass harvesting of sea cucumbers from near shore waters on Oʻahu and Maui has prompted them to request emergency actions to prevent the depletion of this marine resource from Hawaiʻi’s oceans. Maui Now.

Reports of mass commercial harvesting of sea cucumbers off Oahu and Maui that may be in the tons have prompted the state Department of Land and Natural Resources to seek a four-month emergency ban on the taking of the sea creatures. Maui News.

A study that could have implications for Hawaii’s timber and wind-turbine industries has found evidence of two distinct lineages of the endangered Hawaiian hoary bat, which flew 2,500 miles across open ocean in two migratory waves. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii residents have until 6 p.m. Friday to submit comments on a controversial proposal to expand areas under federal protection and strengthen rules aimed at protecting humpback whales and other marine life. Civil Beat.

Nearly halfway through their sail around the world, a group of researchers arrived in Hawaii to look at plastic pollution on our shores as part of a global study of the issue. Star-Advertiser.

Republican reps ask Souki to stand down on ethics commission complaint. State reps. Ward and McDermott say the speaker has overstepped his authority, praise commission's executive director, Les Kondo, for his firm enforcement of the state ethics code. Hawaii Independent.

Oahu

The Hawaii Supreme Court on Thursday heard arguments about whether the names of Honolulu Police Department officers suspended for serious offenses should be made public — and whether the decision to release or withhold the names ultimately rests with the courts or Legislature. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Supreme Court heard arguments Thursday in a case that could have far-reaching implications for police accountability in the Aloha State. At issue is whether cops who are suspended for serious misconduct, such as assault, drunken driving or lying to investigators, should have their names and disciplinary records released under Hawaii’s public records law. Civil Beat.

No apparent misuse in Honolulu officials’ pCard spending. KHON2.

Hundreds of people packed the Moanalua Middle School cafeteria Thursday night to hear a draft plan to improve the Navy's fuel tank facility at Red Hill. About 27,000 gallons of jet fuel oil leaked from one of the tanks last year, prompting concerns about whether nearby drinking water supplies were affected. Hawaii News Now.

About 200 concerned citizens turned out for a public hearing held by the Environmental Protection Agency to hear public comment on a measure that is supposed to address the damage caused by a 27,000-gallon fuel spill at the Navy’s Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility in 2014 and to prevent any future spills by the Navy. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu City Council’s Zoning and Planning Committee resurrected a controversial issue in Kailua and O’ahu’s North Shore.  That of vacation rentals in residential neighborhoods. Hawaii Public Radio.

After three hours of testimony both in favor and against making more residential vacation rentals legal, the City Council Zoning and Planning Committee voted Thursday to defer the issue yet again. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Hawaii County’s homeless population has exploded in the past year, adding more new individuals than the rest of the state combined. In a count conducted statewide on Jan. 25, the state Department of Human Services logged 1,021 homeless individuals without shelter on the Big Island, and an additional 220 that were being housed either through emergency shelters or transitional housing programs. Tribune-Herald.

With protesters waving signs outside their gate, developers of the Hokulia luxury subdivision say they are committed to moving quickly to create plans for burial sites, and will sit down with area descendants to craft plans for how graves should be protected and cared for. West Hawaii Today.

For a pretty penny, you can own what is considered the largest privately owned tract of old-growth koa forest on the planet. Honolulu-based Finance Factors is selling a 13,129-acre property known as the “Hilo Koa Forest.” Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui County's unemployment rate edged below 4 percent in May to 3.9 percent, 0.6 percentage point lower than the same month last year, the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations reported Thursday. Maui News.

Kauai

The drought that is gripping Kauai is expected to improve in some areas — and become more severe in others. Garden Island.

“Squeezed Out: Understanding Kauai’s Housing Shortage” is the topic of the Kauai Planning and Action Alliance (KPAA) annual membership meeting Thursday from 2 to 4 p.m. at Kauai Community College, OCET Building, Room 105. The public is welcome to attend. Garden Island.