Convention center boasts best year yet, new law nixed recounts in 2 races, Hawaii Dems at convention to push for end to civilian killings in Gaza, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Convention center achieves strongest financial year ever. The Hawai‘i Convention Center achieved its best revenue performance since the center’s opening in 1998, which along with strong net income saved $8.9 million in state subsidy this fiscal year. Star-Advertiser.

New law prevented recounts in 2 tight races. Before, recounts had to be automatically conducted in races where the difference was 100 votes or fewer — or the percentage of victory was less than one-quarter of 1%, whichever was “greater,” according to the old law. House Bill 129 changed the word “greater” to “lesser.” Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Democrats Ready To Make Their Voices Heard In Chicago. Of the 31 voting delegates from Hawaii, at least six remain “uncommitted” to Harris over the Biden-Harris administration’s continuing support for Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza. Civil Beat.

Trump recruits Tulsi Gabbard for debate prep. Former President Donald Trump has begun preparing for his debate with Vice President Kamala Harris and has brought in former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard to help sharpen his attacks in a recent practice session at his private club and home, Mar-a-Lago, according to two people with knowledge of Trump’s schedule. New York Times.

Insurers object to order preventing lawsuits following Maui fires. Attorneys for more than 160 insurance companies claim that a Maui judge’s decision barring them from suing any party thought to be responsible for last year’s Maui wildfires has no precedent around the country. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Spent Millions Responding To The Maui Wildfires. Here’s Who Got Paid. State government agencies in Hawaii have spent more than $410 million in the aftermath of the wildfires on Maui, with the majority of those funds paying for hotel and lodging for wildfire survivors through a contract with the American Red Cross. Civil Beat.

Hawaiian homestead spending plans still in flux. Two years into a three-year plan for the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to use $600 million primarily for developing homestead lots for beneficiaries, the agency’s plan is still very much in flux. Star-Advertiser.

‘They Have To Have Known’: Hawaii Scrambles For Solutions To School Bus Driver Shortage. About 2,900 students who rely on bus service didn't have it when the school year began. Many still don't. Frustrated families and lawmakers are now demanding accountability from DOE and its contractor, Ground Transport Inc., which started the year unable to fill 147 of its routes.  Civil Beat.

Japan market sluggish, despite short-lived boosts for Hawaii tourism. Japan returned more than a year ago to its position as Hawaii’s top source of international tourists, but the market isn’t expected to attain its pre-COVID-19 level of more than 1.5 million visitor arrivals until 2026 or 2027. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Electric Company to deploy 100 AI-powered wildfire detection cameras by end of year. HECO is paying $14 million for the project. About half of the cost will be covered by federal funds from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawai‘i set to receive funding to help recover native plants. Approximately $4 million from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, out of the Inflation Reduction Act, will be used to identify translocation sites for 425 Hawaiian plants and improve their resiliency to climate change. Big Island Now.

Oahu

Honolulu Council seeks to revitalize downtown malls. Downtown Honolulu is being readied for an economic revival. That proposed comeback follows plans for new residential and redevelopment projects near and around Fort Street Mall as well as Union Mall. Star-Advertiser.

Case Against Honolulu Attorney Exposes Inner Workings Of Illicit Marshallese Adoption Business. Honolulu lawyer Laurie Loomis, who was one of a handful of U.S. attorneys involved in illicit adoptions of Marshall Islands babies is now facing discipline by the Hawaii board that polices attorneys. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Clean Energy Think Tank Blue Planet Foundation Closes As Part Of Restructuring. The Honolulu-based clean energy nonprofit Blue Planet Foundation is being phased out after some 17 years of pushing for renewable energy reforms in Hawaii, according to its founder and chairman, Henk Rogers.  Civil Beat.

Oahu home sales spiked in July to near 2-year-high. Single-family home sales soared 20.1% in July to their highest level in nearly two years, and the median price hit its fourth-highest point ever, according to recent data from the Honolulu Board of Realtors. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Hawaiʻi County seeks proposals for homelessness and housing solutions.  The county has $10.5 million in grants available to fund services and programs to help people who need housing. Hawaii Public Radio.

Nonprofit accuses Meadow Gold, Cloverleaf of violating Clean Water Act. An environmental lawyer representing a San Francisco-based nonprofit organization says it intends to sue Meadow Gold Dairies Hawaii and its president, Bahman Sadeghi, and Cloverleaf Dairy and its president, Edward Boteilho Jr., for alleged violations of the federal Clean Water Act. Tribune-Herald.

Water haulers seek more sources. With summer bringing increasingly dry weather the past couple of months, business has picked up for water haulers. Tribune-Herald.

Ho‘olako Agricultural Innovation Park plans move forward. The Food Basket began clearing the 24.5-acre parcel, located by Homelani Cemetery off Ponahawai Street, over a year ago for its long-planned Ho‘olako Agricultural Innovation Park and Food System Campus. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui County’s July unemployment up 58% to 4.1%, compared with pre-disaster jobless rate. While the vast majority of Maui County residents remain employed, the county’s unemployment rate has gone up 58% in July, compared with the same month last year before the Maui wildfires, according a monthly report from the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. Maui Now.

Maui Rotary clubs and friends sponsor ‘Teardrop of Lahaina’ sculpture. A new sculpture in Lahaina is providing a space for peaceful remembrance.  Maui Now.

Mokulele Airlines grounds portion of its fleet, scrambles to help passengers. On Saturday, Mokulele Airlines said that during routine maintenance procedures, it identified potential discrepancies in the documentation of a recent landing gear servicing on one of its aircraft. As a precautionary step, a portion of its fleet was grounded while additional inspections are done. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

Kauai

Hanalei turns out to welcome Hōkūleʻa on first stop of Pae ‘Āina Statewide Sail. A fanfare of 100-plus people lined Hanalei Pier to greet legendary voyaging canoe Hōkūleʻa as the traditional Polynesian double-hulled vessel and its crew arrived at about 10:30 a.m. Saturday after a 21-hour sail from Sand Island, Oʻahu. Kauai Now.

Mauna Kea protest grows as savvy activists enter second week, telescope opponents march in Waikiki, charter proposal would end Honolulu transit authority, islandwide power outage hits Kauai, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

New arrivals tent at Mauna Kea protest camp ©2019 All Hawaii News

Mauna Kea activists demonstrate savvy in organization, nonviolent protest tactics. The fast-moving events that unfolded last week show the Thirty Meter Telescope protests cannot be dismissed as a bump in the road. Star-Advertiser.

Dispatch from Mauna Kea: The line in the sand. It's not all Woodstockian bliss as a group of more than a thousand Native Hawaiians and their supporters prepare for what seems inevitable conflict over a plan to build a giant telescope on the flank of Mauna Kea. All Hawaii News.


Latest Developments On Mauna Kea TMT Protest. About 2,000 people gathered Sunday near the intersection of Daniel K. Inouye Highway and Mauna Kea Access Road, state officials estimated. Hawaii Public Radio.

Mauna Kea Day 7 – Crowd Swells Into The Thousands. The mountain remains closed under a controversial emergency proclamation, although personnel now have improved access to and from Hale Pohaku. Big Island Video News.

Concert and lectures headline Day 7 of Mauna Kea occupation. Mauna Kea turned partly into an outdoor classroom and concert venue Sunday as professors gave lectures and award-winning musicians played for Thirty Meter Telescope opponents whose numbers swelled by 600 to an estimated 2,000 people. Star-Advertiser.

Medics on Mauna Kea treat hypothermia, sunburn, dehydration. A mobile medical clinic treats demonstrators affected by the weather and the protests. KITV.

Day Seven at Mauna Kea, more bodies join the cause. Since the base of Mauna Kea has gotten more congested, organizers have policed themselves to stay clear of oncoming traffic. KHON2.

Day 7 of Mauna Kea/ TMT protests finds activists bracing for state's next move. Demonstrators gird for a showdown with the state on Monday, as they anticipate government's next move. KITV.


Mauna Kea Day 6 – Mayor Kim Visits. The number of people at the encampment below the Mauna Kea Access Road has swelled over the weekend. Big Island Video News.

Hawaii County mayor Harry Kim meets with TMT opponents. A day after Gov. David Ige claimed TMT protest organizers have not been able to maintain order, Hawaii county mayor Harry Kim visited operations at Mauna Kea. Hawaii News Now.

TMT spokesman: Mauna Kea remains preferred site, no plans to back out. A spokesperson for the Thirty Meter Telescope spoke exclusively with Hawaii News Now Sunday saying project executives have no immediate plans to withdraw from constructing the $1.4 billion telescope atop Mauna Kea. Hawaii News Now.

TMT still wants to build on Mauna Kea, despite protests. Thirty Meter Telescope officials say they still want to build at Mauna Kea. KITV.

A Look At The Science Of The Thirty Meter Telescope. The proposed observatory that is generating mass protests on Mauna Kea seeks to focus on the big unknowns of the universe. Associated Press.


Saturday, Gov. Ige left Hawaii Island without meeting directly with opponents at Mauna Kea. Ige’s decision to not visit Puu Huluhulu and meet directly with opponents isn’t sitting well with those who say his allegations of drugs use, alcohol consumption and rowdy crowds at the site were completely false. Hawaii News Now.

=====

Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard steps up effort to qualify for fall primary debate. Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard needs to attract about 30,000 more unique donors to her presidential bid to fulfill one of two criteria for making it into the Democratic primary debates in September, an event that’s expected to significantly winnow the crowded field of presidential contenders. Star-Advertiser.


It’s Biden Vs. Harris — And Gabbard — In CNN Debate’s 2nd Night. Sanders will face Warren and Buttigieg in the first round of the DNC forum, which is in Detroit. Civil Beat.

=====

This Hawaii Entrepreneur Wants To Build The Moon’s First ‘Airport’. Henk Rogers, an early backer of pushing Hawaii toward using 100% renewable energy, has a new idea: use a crew of construction-worker robots to build an underground moon base. Civil Beat.

Higher Per-Capita Distribution of Pain Pills On Neighbor Islands. A database highlights which manufacturers, distributors and pharmacies distributed the most prescription pain pills in the islands from 2006 to 2012. Civil Beat.

A recent study co-authored by a John A. Burns School of Medicine researcher at the University of Hawaii at Manoa highlights why new laws regarding price negotiation between government entities and pharmaceutical companies may be necessary to provide affordable healthcare to the segment of the nation’s elderly population dealing with heart problems. Big Island Now.

Oahu

Hundreds of Thirty Meter Telescope opponents protest in Waikiki. Hundreds of protesters marched along Kalauaka Avenue Sunday morning in opposition to the construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope at Mauna Kea on Hawaii Island. Star-Advertiser.

Large anti-TMT march makes is way through Hawaii’s heart of tourism: Waikiki. Hundreds of people turned Waikiki’s sidewalks into a river of red t-shirts and Hawaiian flags Sunday to rally against construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope. Hawaii News Now.

It was one of the biggest demonstrations seen so far, close to 2000 kiai, who call themselves the protectors of Mauna Kea, marched two miles on Sunday from Fort DeRussy to the Honolulu zoo. KHON2.

Thousands march through Waikiki against TMT. Another day of demonstrations on Mauna Kea also saw rallies of support coming from Oahu. KITV.

=====

Charter amendment proposal would dissolve HART. City Council Chairman Ikaika Anderson wants voters to abolish the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation and transfer oversight of the island’s troubled rail construction project to an agency that answers directly to the mayor. Star-Advertiser.

Proposal Would Give Honolulu Voters Chance To End HART. The proposal, which rail leaders say comes from Honolulu City Council Chairman Ikaika Anderson, would place the city transportation department in charge of the remaining construction. Civil Beat.

=====

Sweeping Local-Hire Bill Draws Pushback From Nonunion Builders. City Councilman Joey Manahan says the purpose of the legislation is to make sure that union labor is used on any public works project worth over $250,000. Civil Beat.

Farrington Highway Is A Lifeline — And A Big Hazard — For Leeward Residents. The poorly designed highway presents lots of risks to pedestrians — too few crosswalks and sidewalks, narrow shoulders, no medians and speeding cars. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Building permits drop as vacation rental applications snarl process. The county’s new vacation rental registration laws are stimulating almost as many questions as applications, as property owners struggle to meet county requirements ahead of a Sept. 28 deadline. West Hawaii Today.

Administrators eye tweaks to pharmacy college. Enrollment at the University of Hawaii at Hilo’s Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy is expected to decline this fall, university officials say. Tribune-Herald.

New UH-Hilo chancellor makes student success a top priority. Three weeks on the job and University of Hawaii at Hilo’s Chancellor Bonnie Irwin is wasting no time in her new role. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui water board to study buying water diversion system. The governing authority for Maui’s water utility plans to study the feasibility of buying and maintaining an irrigation system that diverts stream water from east Maui and delivers it other parts of the island. Associated Press.

Committee to Meet in Lahaina to Discuss Affordable Rentals. Maui County Council’s Affordable Housing Committee will hold a district meeting in Lahaina on Wednesday, July 24 beginning at 6 p.m. at the West Maui Senior Center, located at 788 Pauoa Street in Lahaina. Maui Now.

MECO reports highest energy demand in decade amid heat wave. Fans, air conditioning, low wind may contribute. Maui News.

Kauai

Kauai’s power is restored after an island-wide outage. At around 2:30 p.m. Sunday afternoon, July 21, the Kauai Island Utility Cooperative reported an island-wide outage after the main generating unit at the Kapaia Power Station experienced a fault. KHON2.

Fault at Kauai power station causes islandwide blackout. The Kauai Island Utility Cooperative said Sunday there was an islandwide power outage at approximately 2:30 p.m., when the main generating unit at its Kapaia Power Station had a problem. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai's Power Company Says Largest Generating Unit Inoperable. An islandwide outage on Kauaii 's has knocked out the power cooperative's largest generating unit and rolling blackouts could be implemented, the utility said Sunday. Hawaii Public Radio.

Islandwide power outage strikes Kauai. Traffic lights turned off Sunday around 1:15 p.m. as an islandwide power outage struck Kauai. Garden Island.

5G Action Kauai holds second meeting. The group will hold a demonstration and rally at the corner of Kapule Highway and Ahukini Road on July 27, starting at 11:45 a.m., as part of a national day of action against 5G. Garden Island.

No human waste at Kauai beaches, study finds, but community groups disagree. The state contracted the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory to use its unique DNA sequencing technology to track the source of the high bacteria counts in the area, which have consistently prompted warning signs to go up at Mahaulepu Beach and Waiopili Stream. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii's coral reefs in fair condition, time capsule found at state Capitol, Honolulu chief deputy prosecutor takes leave in federal probe, Southwest Airlines coming to Hawaii, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Cauliflower coral ©2018 All Hawaii News

Report: Hawaii’s coral reefs in ‘fair’ condition, face serious threats. Looking at coral reefs near the Main Hawaiian Islands as well as the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, the report found that climate conditions — temperature stress and ocean acidification — are some of the biggest factors contributing to the health of the coral reef. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii’s commercial fishing industry is fetching high values for its catches even though the overall volume is relatively low compared with other states. The industry in Hawaii generated $867 million in sales in 2016 and added nearly 10,000 jobs. Star-Advertiser.

2018 Tax Return Preparation Will Be Complicated and Might Cost More. The Federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will go into effect for the 2018 tax year.  It includes some of the most sweeping changes in 30 years.  But, Certified Public Accountant Reg Baker, says the Hawaii Legislature did not adopt the Federal tax code. Hawaii Public Radio.

New VA Secretary: We will do more to help Hawaii’s military veterans. New U.S. Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie met with Hawaii’s VA leaders Thursday, passing along assurances that he believes he can revamp the department that cares for America’s military veterans. Hawaii News Now.

Lawyer: State Hospital escapee may have gotten fake IDs, cash during off-campus trips. Randall Saito may have gotten the fake IDs and thousands in cash he used to escape the State Hospital last year and flee to California from a nearby rehabilitation facility. Hawaii News Now.

Dam evacuation zone information and maps now available online. After a scare earlier this year, the state has unveiled a new website that allows you to easily find out whether your home is in a dam evacuation zone. KHON2.

Time capsule recovered from State Capitol building. To prepare for the 50th anniversary of the Hawaii State Capitol in March 2019, a task force and state archivist dug up a piece of history on Wednesday, Dec. 12. KHON2.

Flight attendants picket at Honolulu airport amid United Airlines staffing cuts. Flight attendants worldwide are standing together in solidarity to protest the decision by United Airlines management to initiate staffing cuts. Hawaii News Now.

United Airlines flight attendants protest staff and service cuts at Honolulu airport. The flight attendants are asking management to increase staffing and stop planned staffing and service cuts. Star-Advertiser.

United Airlines flight attendants take a stand against job and service cuts. Nation-wide protest for United Airlines flight attendants. KITV.

Fighter jet that crashed offshore to be salvaged as investigation continues. A 47-year-old civilian pilot who sustained serious injuries after his fighter jet crashed into waters off Honolulu underwent surgery Thursday, but remains in good spirits. Hawaii News Now.

Despite recent crash, military says air combat training exercises are crucial. A Hawaii lawmaker stressed the importance of military training exercises. KITV.

Southwest Airlines Co. is confident about prospects for its coming service to Hawaii, despite declining fares to the islands and a rival’s report of weak demand. Bloomberg News.

Oahu

Second-in-command at city Prosecutor’s Office steps aside amid widening federal probe. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu Prosecutor Keith Kaneshiro’s deputy takes leave. One of Honolulu Prosecutor Keith Kaneshiro’s top deputies who has been linked to a federal investigation of government corruption is taking a leave of absence effective immediately, according to a statement sent by his attorney today. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu’s Chief Deputy Prosecutor Taking Leave Amid Federal Corruption Probe. Chasid Sapolu was identified as a “subject” last week in the widening investigation into local law enforcement. Civil Beat.

High-ranking prosecutor takes leave of absence amid federal investigation. KHON2.

=====

The Cost Of Honolulu Rail’s Westside Stations Keeps Going Up. HART had boasted of savings from its decision to build the nine stations three at a time. But those savings have disappeared. Civil Beat.

City introduces new proposal for separated walkway near a Kalihi elementary school. An effort is in the works to make the trip to school safer for kids going to Fern Elementary in Kalihi, by making a new separated walkway. KHON2.

Deadline Looms for Waikiki Natatorium Draft EIS. The deadline for the long awaited Draft Environmental Impact Statement is December 24th, Christmas Eve. Hawaii Public Radio.

High levels of bacteria found at Hanauma Bay. The state Department of Health has issued a high bacteria advisory today for Hanauma Bay. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Big Island dairy that spilled millions of gallons of raw sewage faces big fines. The state is seeking $91,000 in fines against embattled Big Island Dairy for massive wastewater spills this spring. Hawaii News Now.

Linda McMahon, the head of the United States Small Business Administration, talked about the eruption of Kilauea Volcano during her keynote address at the 2018 Winter Meeting of the Western Governors’ Association on Thursday. Big Island Video News.

What’s next for Kilauea? Volcano might enter into lull, research article says. Tribune-Herald.

Henk Rogers, the Dutch-born entrepreneur who founded the Blue Planet Foundation (and who brought the Tetris video game to the U.S. in the '80s) pressed governors from around the western United States to adopt aggressive renewable energy mandates in their states. Big Island Video News.

Retired Washington judge pushes controversial theory on who killed Dana Ireland. A retired judge with a controversial theory about one of Hawaii’s most notorious murders is still pressing forward, despite rejection by prosecutors and defense attorneys. Hawaii News Now.

Maui

26 pages of liquor rule changes OK’d. The Maui County Liquor Control Commission approved another round of rule changes Wednesday — this time received favorably — that assist nonprofits holding special events and restaurant owners with liquor licenses. Maui News.

Extension OK’d for old Maui Lu project. Developer given to 2027 for timeshare development. Maui News.

Construction of Wailea hotel to start in February. Construction of a new 110-room boutique hotel on Maui is scheduled to begin in February, completing the full build-out of hotels in the Wailea Resort master plan, which dates back to 1987. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai

The Kauai Island Utility Cooperative is closing out the year with nearly 45 percent of its fuel needs being met from renewable sources following 12 months of productivity from a Tesla solar- plus-storage facility. Star-Advertiser.

Clean your boots. Rapid Ohia Death was on the table at the Kauai County Council committee meetings on Wednesday as part of ongoing outreach to educate people in Hawaii about the fungus targeting the native trees. Garden Island.

Wash Off Those Invasive Species After A Hike Or Backcountry Drive. A few precautions can prevent the spread of undesirable plants and critters, ecotourism operators are told. But the advice applies to everyone. Civil Beat.

UH pay hikes questioned, Honolulu suffers sewage spills, renters may purchase solar power, former state officials join HMSA, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

University of Hawaii at Hilo ©2017 All Hawaii News

Lawmakers question big pay hikes at UH. Some lawmakers are blasting a decision by the University of Hawaii to award $800,000 in pay raises and merit-based bonuses to university executives. Star-Advertiser.

End of tax write-off for premium seats may hit hard at UH. In good years UH has grossed as much as $4.4 million annually from its premium seat contributions and parking initiatives, or as much as 10 percent of the revenue it takes to run the 21-team athletic program in Manoa. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Department of Education is thinking up new ways to attract teachers to the state to address an ongoing teacher shortage, starting with looking at teacher-exchange programs with other countries. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Medical Service Association has hired two high-profile former state employees. Kathryn Matayoshi, former superintendent of the Department of Education, was hired to lead the sales team, and former state representative Pono Chong is joining Hawaii’s largest health plan as a lobbyist. Star-Advertiser.

A new Community-Based Renewable Energy program is designed to open the door for people previously shut out of the solar market. Hawaii’s long-awaited Community-Based Renewable Energy Program is designed to let residents, including renters, buy their electricity from off-site producers of renewable power. Civil Beat.

Rental Housing Report. A recent study that tracks rental housing across the country throws some light on the plight of families in Honolulu and Hilo as they struggle to make rent spending more than a third of their salary for housing. Hawaii Public Radio.

Filing error overvalues Island Air's assets. Hawaiian Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq: HA), the parent of Hawaiian Airlines, last week agreed to pay $750,000 for the assets of its now defunct competitor. Due to the filing error, Hawaiian will now only have to pay $625,000. Pacific Business News.

The Rat Lungworm Task Force. The State Department of Health has created a Rat Lungworm Task Force to look at this daunting disease. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Suits Against Honolulu Cops Cite ‘Culture Of Silence’ At HPD. An attorney says the incidents that injured his clients could have been prevented if officers had been disciplined in the past. Civil Beat.

About 6,200 gallons of raw sewage spilled into Honolulu Harbor today after a clogged pipe caused waste water to seep out of a manhole near Pier 38, a Department of Environmental Services spokesman said. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu grapples with 3 large sewage spills over 2 days. Hawaii News Now.

Homeowner at center of Portlock beach access debate suffers stroke and wife blames city. Hawaii News Now.

A former employee at Waianae's largest medical facility has been indicted for the alleged theft of thousands of boxes of diabetic test strips that were later sold on the black market. Hawaii News Now.

A 69-year-old woman accused of stealing millions of dollars from an Oahu non-profit pleaded not guilty in court Tuesday. Lola Jean Amorin is accused of taking $7 million from stealing millions of dollars from an Oahu non-profit pl The Arc in Hawaii, a non-profit that provides services for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. KITV.

Efforts are underway to save the Falls of Clyde. A year and a half after she was impounded by the state Harbors Division, the historic Falls of Clyde may be heading home to her birthplace of Scotland this summer. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii DLNR

Albatross colony at Kaena Point gets new life. Conservationists last week teamed up with the U.S. Navy to translocate 21 Laysan albatross eggs to Kaena Point Natural Area Reserve from the Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kauai. Star-Advertiser.

For aircraft safety (and theirs), 21 albatross eggs relocated to Oahu. Twenty-one fertilized Laysan albatross eggs have been taken from a colony on Kauai, where the protected birds are an aircraft strike hazard. Hawaii News Now.

One of the state’s largest charities is worried it will have less money to help those in need next year because of tax changes that take effect next month. KHON2.

Honolulu-based Hawaiian Islands Land Trust will honor Henk Rogers and Blue Planet Foundation, the clean energy nonprofit he founded, at its 17th annual Buy Back the Beach: Malama Kipuka Benefit Luau on Jan. 20. Pacific Business News.

Paradise Park founder had knack for numbers and real estate. James Wong is probably most known for establishing Paradise Park in Manoa Valley. But he also developed real estate on Oahu, taught accounting at Chaminade College and in recent years lobbied for bills at the Legislature to improve affordable-housing production. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Five Big Island regions are especially vulnerable to contamination from cesspools, a state report says. The Dec. 19 report to the Legislature by the Department of Health says the Big Island is home to more than half of the state’s 87,900 cesspools, and has five of the 14 areas prioritized for cleanup. West Hawaii Today.

A driver’s insurance policy should cover the cost of replacing approximately 15 headstones damaged or destroyed after a vehicle plowed into Hilo’s Alae Cemetery last week, according to the Hawaii County Department of Parks and Recreation. But the department is still asking family members to call so they can help replace the grave markers. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Adult Correction Officer Recruitment Opens on Maui. Maui Now.

November home sales sizzle with strong demand. Low inventory makes it a hot sellers’ market. Maui News.

Lost funding has put brakes on local Read Aloud program. Cost cutting has led to loss of vans, use of U-Haul vehicles. Maui News.

1,275 Rocks Returned to Haleakala in 2017. Letters of apology to Pele, the Hawaiian goddess of fire and volcanoes, often accompany these rocks. Maui Now.

Kauai

Coastline changes. While geologists say shifting sands aren’t unusual, it’s a prediction of what could be coming in the next few decades and scientists say long-term studies of the area are necessary. Garden Island.

Expedia Travel featured Lihue as one of the best vacation destinations in America to escape the winter, mainly because its average temperatures in January reach a warm 78 degrees and drop to a comfortable 65 degrees. Garden Island.

Teaching telescope to be idled, Mauna Kea access restricted as Hawaii prepares for Thirty Meter Telescope, VA promises improvements, Honolulu bird limit ruffles feathers, GOP hosts first fundraiser, Hawaii worst place to make a living, geothermal exploration expands, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hoku Kea telescope, courtesy University of Hawaii

Under pressure to reduce astronomy’s footprint on Mauna Kea, the University of Hawaii at Hilo plans to remove its Hoku Kea teaching telescope after wasting nearly $800,000 in federal grants on the project. Tribune-Herald.

The state is proposing to restrict public access to a large portion of Mauna Kea’s summit — the site of recent protests against construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope. The Department of Land and Natural Resources drafted new “emergency rules” that would “protect against imminent peril to public safety and natural resources,” according to documents posted Monday on the department’s website. Tribune-Herald.

A new set of administrative rules could restrict use of and access to a one mile area near the Mauna Kea Access Road. The Board of Land and Natural Resources will vote on the proposed administrative rule changes during its Friday meeting on Oahu. Big Island Video News.

The local Republican Party hosted its first fundraiser for the 2016 election last week. It was a sell-out and party leaders say this is only the beginning.  Hawaii Public Radio.

The U.S. Secretary of Labor and the U.S. Secretary of Veteran Affairs are in Hawaii to find out what issues our local veterans are facing – this time it’s jobs. KITV4.

Acknowledging the "crisis" last year over long patient wait times, the head of the Department of Veterans Affairs said the agency is "making progress, we're making improvements, but we're not where we need to be yet." Star-Advertiser.

Doctors Angle to Make Extra Money From Elite Access. A new concierge system offers access to quality care only to Hawaii patients who pay a premium, which places strain on other primary care doctors. Civil Beat.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on Monday said abnormally warm waters that threaten the spread of major heat stress to Hawaiian reefs are likely to return. Garden Island.

A pair of Oahu-based shark experts — Kim Holland and Carl Meyer — are working on an analysis of shark behavior in Hawaiian waters. The report is expected to be released by the end of the year. Holland said he and Meyer are staying tight lipped on the subject until their report is finished. Garden Island.

Struggling members of Hawaii’s middle class aren’t imagining it: Hawaii really has become a very tough place to get by. In fact, it is the nation’s worst place to earn a living, according to a recently released money-rates.com survey. Civil Beat.

47 Years Later, Hawaii Senator Meets Birth Mother. Sen. Glenn Wakai reunited with Yoko Boughton, who lives in Okinawa. Civil Beat.

Sixteen medical marijuana dispensaries will open in Hawaii for the first time on July 15, 2016, but only eight license applications will be granted in the state. Pacific Business News.

Henk Rogers, the entrepreneur who made "Tetris" famous, announced Monday the launch of a new company that offers batteries for rooftop solar systems and a way to disconnect from the electric grid, something he says more Hawaii residents will want if NextEra Energy Inc. becomes their electric company. Star-Advertiser.

More than 20 years ago, video game entrepreneur Henk Rogers popularized “Tetris,” a strategic game that requires players to make efficient use of alternating puzzle pieces as they perpetually fall from the sky. Now, the 61-year-old hopes the work he’s been doing at his energy lab on the Big Island will help provide the pieces to solve a much more complex puzzle — energy independence. Tribune-Herald.

Oahu

A bill that requires Oahu residents with 10 or more birds on a residential property to get a permit has some bird enthusiasts crying foul. Star-Advertiser.

The company that runs the city's landfill will not contest charges in a federal case involving the discharge of millions of gallons of contaminated stormwater into the ocean near Ko Olina Resort. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii residents would buy more local eggs if they could find them — and they’re willing to pay a premium for freshness, a recent food sustainability survey shows. That finding meshes nicely with plans for a solar-powered egg farm in central Oahu that would start with 300,000 hens and possibly expand to 1 million egg-layers. Civil Beat.

The limited supply of single-family homes on Oahu pushed the median price to $700,000 in June, tying the record set a year ago and placing homeownership out of reach for many first-time buyers. Star-Advertiser.

The number of condominiums sold on Oahu in June jumped by 22 percent even as the median sales price fell 6 percent compared to the same time last year, while the median price of a single-family home remained flat as the number of sales rose 7 percent, the Honolulu Board of Realtors said Tuesday. Pacific Business News.

A week into Oahu's plastic bag ban, some folks are wondering why so many plastic bags are still being given out at island grocery checkout stands. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

After obtaining permits in March to begin exploring for geothermal energy under the dormant Hualalai volcano, researchers with the University of Hawaii are looking to more than double the number of survey sites included in the project. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Opinion: News that the organization Stop Cane Burning filed a lawsuit in the state’s new Environmental Court against the state Department of Health over–you guessed it–cane burning has moved at least one legislator to offer some proposals for weaning Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar (HC&S) off of the dirty, archaic method of harvesting sugar. And I wasn’t surprised to see that the legislator is state Representative Kaniela Ing, D–South Maui. MauiTime.

Kauai

The Kauai Police Department has completed its investigation into the January death of a pedestrian who was struck by a car and then struck a second time by a police officer who was responding to the scene. Garden Island.

Kahoolawe

At least two jobs will be saved and around five volunteer trips to Kahoolawe will be secured as the state Department of Health recently extended its restoration project for the cash-strapped Kaho'olawe Island Reserve Commission, which is facing layoffs and program cuts in light of a budget shortfall. Maui News.

Hawaii kills non-compete clause for high-tech workers, Tetris inventor goes off grid, Hanabusa to discuss Hawaiian homelands, open records less open, Waimanalo landfill could close, $1.2M land money not spent, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Solar Impulse 2 approaches Honolulu, courtesy Solar Impulse

Solar Impulse 2 made its first U.S. landing Friday in Hawaii, an event that highlights the state’s goals to create a clean energy sector that has “tremendous economic potential,” the head of the State Energy Office said after the solar-powered aircraft touched down at Kalaeloa Airport in West Oahu. Pacific Business News.

A plane attempting to fly around the world, powered only by the sun, has landed safely in Hawai‘i. The 4,000 mile flight over the Pacific Ocean was the plane’s longest and most challenging leg. Hawaii Public Radio.

A plane powered by the sun’s rays has landed in Hawaii after a record-breaking five-day journey across the Pacific Ocean from Japan. Associated Press.

A bill that supporters believe will help attract high-tech workers to Hawaii and encourage growth in the local technology sector has been signed into law by Gov. David Ige. Act 158 prohibits technology companies from requiring their workers to enter into "noncompete" agreements as a condition of employment, a change that is supposed to make it easier for technology workers to move from job to job. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige signed several health-related bills Thursday as the state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs unveiled an online service for insurance agents to file general liability and workers compensation coverage information for contractors and pest control operators. Civil Beat.

Gov. David Ige has approved a new exemption from the state open records law that will withhold government records from the public if releasing the information "would create a substantial and demonstrable risk of physical harm" to a person. Star-Advertiser.

The state would halt acceptance of new charter school applications for a year starting next fall under a proposed hiatus before the Hawaii State Public Charter School Commission — a move advocates say would stifle growth of the local charter movement. Star-Advertiser.

Kathryn Xian is determined to get a sex trafficking law in Hawaii, despite opposition from the governor and the Hono­lulu prosecutor. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Despite a multiyear waiting list for slips at the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor, state operators have a vacancy rate above 10 percent, potentially costing the state tens of thousands of dollars annually. Star-Advertiser.

City Councilwoman Kymberly Pine hopes to expedite the closure of the Waimanalo Gulch Sanitary Landfill, a contentious issue prompting years of frustration and concerns. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Pacific Health is no longer considering an acquisition of Wahiawa General Hospital. Star-Advertiser.

Will the Hammer Fall on Homeless Encampment in Kakaako? After an attack on a legislator, some homeless people expect their tent city to be dismantled. But so far, officials are showing restraint and acknowledging there’s no place else for many of the campers to go. Civil Beat.

Tetris video game inventor Henk Rogers has taken his home off the grid and will announce his new company, Blue Planet Energy Systems, on Monday. The new venture, which will sell and install battery systems for homes and businesses running on solar technology, plans to begin sales on Aug. 1. Star-Advertiser.

Hiking survey shows some Oahu trails bursting at the seams. KITV4.

Hawaii

Almost $1.2 million has accumulated in a special account since voters in 2012 approved setting aside money for nonprofits to compete for grants to help take care of land bought with open space funds. But the county has yet to award its first stewardship grant. West Hawaii Today.

At least two incidents of vehicular violence have been committed atop Mauna Kea against its protectors, even as state agencies accuse protectors of endangering public safety through their blockade. Hawaii Independent.

Encouraged by a sound study showing their noise will have minimal impact on neighbors, backers of the Kona Motorsport Park are pushing for the project to get higher priority at the county. West Hawaii Today.

Medical marijuana dispensaries could start operating on the Big Island next year, after Gov. David Ige this week indicated he would not be vetoing the bill authorizing them. Tribune-Herald.

The Big Island — specifically, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park — saw a boom in visitor numbers in May as people flocked to catch a glimpse of a Madame Pele in action. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking public comment on the control or eradication of invasive rodents and mongooses in native Hawaiian ecosystems. Maui News.

The group Stop Cane Burning and three Maui residents Wednesday filed the first lawsuit in the newly established Maui County Environmental Court that challenged as unconstitutional the state Department of Health's issuance of a cane burning permit to Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co. Maui News.

Kauai

A pair of proposed federal rules that spell out the process by which the 95-year-old Hawaiian Homes Commission Act should be administered is the topic of a public meeting in Anahola Tuesday night. Colleen Hanabusa, the former U.S. representative and state Senate president, is billed as the guest speaker. Garden Island.

A makeshift junkyard overtaking a stretch of undeveloped land held in trust for Native Hawaiians has grown so problematic that community leaders are binding together in an effort to put a stop to it. Garden Island.