Rail work approaches Ala Moana, Katherine Kealoha resigns as deputy prosecutor, ethics complaint filed against Caldwell, Japan Airlines' Kona stop successful, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Aerial view of construction near the North Nimitz Highway to H1 Interstate merge, April 2018. PC: Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transit

Rail construction begins between Middle Street and Ala Moana Center. Rail disruptions will be moving deeper into the city as crews start a four-year, $400-million project to relocate utility lines in the city center section. Hawaii News Now.

Middle Street-to-Ala Moana phase of rail project moving ahead. The roughly 100 people attending tonight’s Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation meeting heard the message loud and clear from rail officials and their contractors: “We’re coming.” Star-Advertiser.

Teachers’ proposal would require hefty hike in property taxes. The union representing Hawaii’s public school teachers is arguing that a state tax on second homes valued at more than $1 million could bring in $200 million to $400 million in new revenue for public schools that could be used to raise teacher salaries, enhance classrooms, support special education and maybe even fund public preschools. Star-Advertiser.

Innovative New Program Plugs Some Holes In Mental Health Care System. A new network of providers and social workers is teaming up to get mental health patients the treatment they need. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii Interagency Council on Homelessness conducted its quarterly meeting today and provided updated plans. Hawaii Public Radio.

The state is warning consumers of a social media scheme in which the scammers are posing as Stephen Levins, executive director of the Hawaii Office of Consumer Protection. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Katherine Kealoha Resigns From Honolulu Prosecutor’s Office. She and her husband, former Police Chief Louis Kealoha, face their first trial on bank fraud charges in November. Civil Beat.

Katherine Kealoha resigns as deputy prosecutor. She and her husband, former Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha, are fighting federal charges in what could become one of the biggest public corruption trials in state history. Star-Advertiser.

Ex-police chief's deputy prosecutor wife resigns as corruption trial nears. Hawaii News Now.

Katherine Kealoha resigned as deputy prosecutor with the City and County of Honolulu Monday. KHON2.

Katherine Kealoha resigns as Honolulu Deputy Prosecutor. KITV.

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Resident files complaint against mayor over education tax lobbying. A Makakilo resident filed a complaint with the city Ethics Commission alleging that Mayor Kirk Caldwell overstepped his authority by asking chairmen of the city’s 33 neighborhood boards to put discussion on a controversial constitutional amendment on their agendas, offering his opposition on the issue and then suggesting that they invite a political action committee to speak on it. Star-Advertiser.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii said a recent federal court decision could spell trouble for two bills before the Honolulu City Council that make it illegal to obstruct or “lodge” on sidewalks and other public property, as well as existing ordinances that target the homeless. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii high school students tapped to fill medical assistant shortage. Hawaii Pacific Health has teamed up with Kapiolani Community College and five public high schools to launch an innovative program to train students as medical assistants during their senior year. Star-Advertiser.

The number of luxury homes on Oahu selling for $1.5 million and above rose 15 percent last month compared to the same month last year, although the median price of those homes declined by 8 percent, according to an analysis by Coldwell Banker Pacific Properties. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

In its first year of service between Tokyo and Kailua-Kona, Japan Airlines’ daily flights were responsible for injecting $73.49 million in visitor spending into the Big Island, generating $8.58 million in state tax revenue, according to the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Pacific Business News.

Salary Commission still irked at charter amendment oversight. How involved should the public be in determining government salaries? West Hawaii Today.

The Hawaii County Salary Commission met in the Hilo Council Chambers on Monday to consider proposals for adjustments to future salaries of county executives and elected officials. Big Island Video News.

Closing of Pahoa lava shelter a bittersweet moment for volunteers, staff. Tribune-Herald.

Shelter that housed hundreds of eruption evacuees closes after four months. KHON2.

The process of reopening Highway 137 to Pohoiki began Monday after county officials and private contractors visited the lava-covered roadway. Tribune-Herald.

Lava upsurge dies down; naming the fissure heats up. A state board has received its first application recommending a name and expects a second application soon as part of a process that will involve Hawaiian elders, competing proposals and possibly a public meeting in Puna to determine what to call the roughly 100-foot-tall cinder cone that began as one of 24 cracks in the ground emitting lava and at times spouted magma more than 200 feet high. Star-Advertiser.

Overuse of the historic Waipio Valley and an effort to sell much of the land have created an uncertain future for the hearty people who live, work and play here. Civil Beat.

Maui

Former Maui police officer gets probation for his role in bribery scheme. Walter Ahuna was sentenced Monday to three years probation with six months of home confinement. Ahuna is accused of helping two other former police officers, Anthony Maldonado and Chase Keliipaakaua, in their effort to get a victim to withdraw his complaint. KHON2.

Haleakala National Park will begin accepting applications for guided astronomy and hiking tour Commercial Use Authorizations, valid for up to two years. Maui Now.

Kauai

Andria Tupola, Republican candidate for governor of Hawaii, is on Kauai for a two-day campaign swing. Garden Island.

Kauai flush with films. “We started out this year with Disney’s ‘Jungle Cruise’ and we’re getting ready to start with the ‘Fast and the Furious’ offshoot — ‘Hobbs and Shaw,’” said Randy Francisco, Kauai film commissioner. “So with 2018, we’ll have these two bookend blockbusters.” Garden Island.

Farms and farmers may get government help, doctor shortage looms, residents buy sex online, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii farmers market ©2018 All Hawaii News

More than 45,000 acres on Oahu should be designated as important agricultural lands and required to stay that way in perpetuity under a new plan submitted by Mayor Kirk Caldwell to the Honolulu City Council. Star-Advertiser.

Lawmakers seek federal aid to help local farmers in wake of natural disasters. Hawaii’s congressional delegation is urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture to provide financial assistance to Hawaii farmers affected by the Kilauea Volcano eruption on Hawaii island, flooding from heavy rains in April and Hurricane/Tropical Storm Lane last month. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Congressional Delegation is urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture to provide direct assistance to Hawaii farmers affected by recent natural disasters. Big Island Video News.

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Hawaii facing doctor shortage. Hawaii lost 51 full-time doctors from 2017 to 2018, the first loss since 2014 when 92 left the workforce, according to the latest physician workforce survey by the University of Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s Mental Health Care Crisis. The lack of psychiatrists is a particular problem for people who rely on the state’s public health insurance for low-income residents. Civil Beat.

Hawaii residents dominate in buying sex online, study says. A new study that shines a light on a hidden corner of Hawaii’s illicit sex trade estimates that 1 in 11 adult males here buys sex online. Star-Advertiser.

The state Department of Transportation says pedestrian fatalities have increased by 84 percent from the same time last year. Associated Press.

The state’s film industry is on pace for a record year. Film and television production in Hawaii could generate in excess of $400 million this year, topping the record mark set in 2010. Star-Advertiser.

UH Wants $600 Million In 2019 To Modernize Its Crumbling Campuses. And that’s just the beginning. The university has a six-year, $1.6 billion plan in the works. Civil Beat.

St. Francis Medical Center Tries To Stop $80M Settlement For Abuse Victims. The center employed the psychiatrist accused of sexually abusing dozens of students at Kamehameha Schools, which reached the settlement with victims. Civil Beat.

Are Hawaii Residents Experiencing Disaster Fatigue? It has been a stressful year for residents of Hawaii. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaiian Airlines announced late Thursday night that it will be the only carrier to offer nonstop flights between Honolulu and Boston when it begins the service in April. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

The board of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation is nearing a pivotal decision on whether to solicit new partners in the development, operation and maintenance of the city’s 20-mile rail line, a proposal that could eventually involve billions of taxpayer dollars. Star-Advertiser.

The owner of Hawaiian Memorial Park has filed a new draft environmental impact study in a bid to add 30,000 more burial sites to the Kaneohe cemetery nearly a decade after a similar effort was rejected by a state commission. Star-Advertiser.

Estate formerly owned by King Kamehameha III up for auction. The four-bedroom, three-bathroom house sits on two acres of land off Nuuanu Pali Drive. KHON2.

UH Manoa gets $1M for microbe research in Waimea Valley. With $1 million from the W.M. Keck Foundation, which funds pioneering research, the UH faculty members will map the microbial communities that underpin the valley’s varied ecosystems and explore how they function. Star-Advertiser.

University of Hawaii Manoa professor H. Annamalai is leading a project to improve weather forecasts for US-affiliated Pacific Islands like the state of Hawaii. Maui Now.

Hundreds of volunteers helped Malama the Aina at a cleanup Sunday morning at Ala Moana Beach Park. Volunteers removed trash, plastics, and other debris from the beach and park areas and enjoyed music, snacks, and giveaways.  KITV.

Launch of Hawaii Five-0, Magnum P.I. celebrated by adoring fans in Waikiki. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

The National Park Service has produced a new map prior to the reopening of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on National Public Lands Day on September 22. Big Island Video News.

With Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on track to reopen later this month, Volcano businesses are cautiously optimistic about a return to pre-eruption visitors. Tribune-Herald.

The recent purchase of the “Great Crack Property” in Ka'u by the National Park Service concludes a plan 50 years in the making. Tribune-Herald.

Some vacation rental condos, by a quirk of zoning, are being swept up into a vacation rental bill while those just across Alii Drive are not, an issue that has a crowd ready to speak out at the Leeward Planning Commission meeting. West Hawaii Today.

Roadblocks to relicensing push some drivers to illegal behavior. A bureaucratic barrier, a lack of adequate state statutes and the sluggish pace at which county Departments of Motor Vehicles process road tests have created a glitch in the driver’s re-licensing process that’s incentivizing thousands of Hawaii residents to break the law every year. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Maui County will float a $109 million general obligation bond to refund outstanding bonds and loans and to refund the county general fund about $45 million for money already spent on new projects, according to an announcement. Maui News.

Mayor Alan Arakawa announced that three major bond rating agencies awarded Maui County the highest bond ratings in the state last week. Maui Now.

The state Campaign Spending Commission levied a $2,700 fine Wednesday on Maui County Council Member Alika Atay, his campaign and its treasurer for violating Hawaii campaign finance laws, commission General Counsel Gary Kam reported. Maui News.

One in 10 Maui County residents lives below the poverty line, which is lower than the national poverty rate of 12.3 percent for 2017, according to data released Thursday by the U.S. Census Bureau. Maui News.

Kauai

Controversial sister city? Last Monday, Sara Duterte, the mayor of Davao, a city on Mindanao Island in the Philippines, was on Kauai signing a sister-city partnership with Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. She’s the daughter of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, whose administration has been criticized by Amnesty International and other groups for committing multiple human rights violations. Garden Island.

Shearwaters in the skies. Lights will go on this week for Friday night football on Kauai, marking the season’s first football game within the endangered Newell’s shearwater fledgling season. Garden Island.

Will sea level rise swallow Honolulu rail? Plus, manhunt continues for cop killer, Schatz bill pushes emergency alerts, Maui sand mining moratorium expires, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Aerial view of the guideway near the Halawa station.

Rep. Sylvia Luke: Move Rail Inland To Avoid Sea-Level Rise. Mayor Kirk Caldwell called the idea a “red herring” that would kill the project. Civil Beat.

Luke tells HART board to move rail project mauka. Citing a recent report on rising sea levels, state House Finance Chairwoman Sylvia Luke pressed city transit officials Thursday to consider shifting the route of its planned rail line from Middle Street to King Street and the University of Hawaii instead of through Kakaako to Ala Moana Center. Star-Advertiser.

Top lawmaker says rail should avoid Kakaako. The reason? Climate change. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu mayor urges HART board to consider alternative ways to pay for rail. KHON2.

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Congressional candidates share views in forum in Waikiki. Who will voters send to Washington D.C. to fill congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa's seat? KHON2.

This Democratic Party Email Promoting Hanabusa Is Raising Eyebrows. The party says it really didn’t mean to promote the gubernatorial candidate over her Democratic rivals, including Gov. David Ige. Civil Beat.

Gubernatorial candidate Colleen Hanabusa touts leadership skills in run for top office. KITV.

Schatz Introduces Bill To Shore Up Local Emergency Alert Systems. The bill would require alerts to run repeatedly on TV and radio, and potentially also run on streaming services such as Netflix. Civil Beat.

Emergency alerts could soon interrupt streaming services like Netflix, Spotify. Bill would require online streaming services to carry broadcast emergency alerts. KHON2.

Hawaii Gas issues RFP for purchase of renewable natural gas. Hawaii Gas is taking the next step in its clean fuels diversification strategy by issuing a request for proposals to purchase renewable natural gas. Pacific Business News.

Teachers spend hundreds on supplies for their classrooms they are never reimbursed for. KHON2.

2018 monk seal pup season is record-breaking — but hold the applause. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Caldwell considers mental health facility as chronic homeless return to park. Star-Advertiser.

City Council committee advances "monster homes" bill. Demolishing monster homes after they're built, and fining contractors who keep building when they're told not to. Those are at the heart of two bills circulating at the Honolulu City Council. KITV.

Police seek help with cold cases. The Honolulu Police Department is putting a spotlight on dozens of cold cases under a new cold-case program called A'ole Poina, which means “never forgotten.” Star-Advertiser.

Campaign aims to keep roads safe with eye contact, spirit of mahalo. KHON2.

Chamber of Commerce Hawaii is declared the best. Star-Advertiser.

West Oahu home sales post double-digit gain, East Oahu prices rise. Communities in West Oahu saw double-digit gains in single-family home sales last month on modest price gains, compared to the same month last year, while several East Oahu communities scored double-digit gains in prices in June, according to the local market report from the Honolulu Board of Realtors. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

2 arrested as manhunt continues for man accused of killing officer. Hawaii News Now.

As of 11 p.m. Thursday, authorities confirmed a male and female were taken into custody in South Kona during search efforts for a suspect accused of shooting and killing a Puna patrol officer earlier this week. West Hawaii Today.

Law expert questions why accused police officer killer was free in the first place. In 2013, Waiki was found with drugs and a loaded firearm in his car, court records note. He was sentenced to 18 months in jail with 4 years probation. In 2016, he violated probation. Police issued a warrant for his arrest. KHON2.

Incumbent County Council members held tight to the money lead in the most recent campaign finance reports, with most accepting large contributions from unions and other special interest groups, compared to smaller donations from individuals. West Hawaii Today.

Last Time Hawaii Had Lava Refugees, It Built A Ghost Town. After Kalapana was devastated in the 1980s, the state laid out a new subdivision complete with utilities. But only now are a few people moving in. Civil Beat.

Number of evacuees staying in shelters down. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

A six-month moratorium on sand mining on Maui expires today. Lance Collin is an attorney who represents the community group Malama Kakanilua, which seeks to stop sand mining and development on Hawaiian burial grounds. Hawaii Public Radio.

Portions of the seven-story hotel that was once the Maui Prince and Makena Beach & Golf Resort are coming down. Maui News.

Jury awards Maui couple $1.7M in suit against their condo association. A jury has awarded a Maui couple more than $1.7 million in a disability discrimination lawsuit against a Kihei condominium association. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

Haena repairs to begin soon. The state Department of Land and Natural Resources has let contracts totaling more than $2.9 million for repairs and new construction at Haena State Park that will set in motion a long-term plan to substantially redo facilities in the Ke‘e Beach area. Garden Island.

The Hawaii Island police officer shot and killed during a traffic stop Tuesday was a 1990 Waimea High School graduate with family on Kauai. Garden Island.

Absentee mail ballots offered to North Shore flood victims. The Office of the County Clerk, Elections Division is reminding voters who reside in the Wainiha-Haena area that Elections Division staff will be at the Hanalei Colony Resort today between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. to distribute absentee ballots to area residents who submitted applications by July 6. Garden Island.

Federal aid iffy in Kilauea volcano response, alternate road planned as cracks emerge in main thoroughfare, cancellations concern tourism officials -- lots more volcano news. Plus, homelessness drops, rail costs rise, more top news from all the Hawaiian Islands

A local pokes fun at federal volcano responders in this Facebook photo illustration PC: Gayln Williams

Federal disaster declaration iffy, governor says. The ongoing volcanic eruption does not yet appear to reach the financial threshold for a federal disaster declaration, but Gov. David Ige is exploring whether a disaster can be declared for presenting “an imminent danger to the community.” Star-Advertiser.

'Open for business': Tourism leaders say misinformation is driving spike in cancellations. Hawaii News Now.


Volcanic activity has paused at all 12 fissures although they continue to emit hazardous fumes, according to the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. Star-Advertiser.

As eruptions subside on Big Island, residents warned: 'This is not over'. Hawaii News Now.

Volcanic activity calms for now, but officials 'don't believe this is the end of it'. KHON2.

Hawaii County Civil Defense officials said Monday that a total of 35 structures, most of those homes, have been destroyed by lava flowing from the eruptions from 10 fissures on Kilauea’s east rift zone, while officials with the U.S. Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said the dropoff in activity from the eruption is “likely only a pause in activity.” Pacific Business News.

Hawaii County's Department of Public Works reports steam and lava emissions from a crack in Leilani Subdivision in the area of Mohala Street late Thursday afternoon. Since then, earthquakes have shook the island, and more fissures have appeared. Hawaii Public Radio.

Governor David Ige visited community members and volunteers in Pahoa Monday at Puuhonua O Puna, an information center established by Big Island Civil Defense at Sacred Hearts Church. KITV.

Hawaii Island leaders addressed the crowd Monday night at the public meeting on the ongoing Puna eruption, held at the Pahoa cafeteria. Big Island Video News.

The state and Hawaii County are preparing an alternate route to Puna in case Kilauea eruptions cut off Highway 130. Hawaii News Now.

The Hawaii Department of Transportation is working with the County of Hawaii to prepare an alternative route in Puna should Highway 130 be cut off by the Kilauea Volcano East Rift Zone Eruption. Big Island Now.

Officials work on contingency plan should current eruption cut off highway. KHON2.

Science explains Kilauea, a volcano oozing hot lava for decades. Kilauea is not your typical blow-the-top-off kind of volcano. Associated Press.

Despite Risks, Volcano Offers Affordable Piece Of Paradise. The people here are largely self-sufficient and understand the hazards of their location. Associated Press.

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reports volcanic activity has subsided at all 12 fissures, but hazardous fumes remain. Star-Advertiser.

Some Leilani Estates residents stay put despite evacuation order. Star-Advertiser.

Volcanic activity in Leilani impacts water supply of surrounding neighborhoods. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii island residents whose homes were destroyed by lava should be able to recover money for fire damage from their homeowners insurance policies. Star-Advertiser.

‘Business as usual’ in Lanipuna. With daily updates of more volcanic fissures opening and lava destroying homes in Leilani Estates, it’s easy to forget that Lanipuna Gardens, a smaller neighboring subdivision, also remains under evacuation order by Hawaii County Civil Defense. Tribune-Herald.

Two lava-related arrests made in Leilani Estates. Tribune-Herald.

In just the past week, people on the Big Island have felt over 1,200 earthquakes. Hawaii News Now.

The Latest: Lava update from Hawaii Island. KITV.

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Count shows big decline in homelessness, but some doubt its accuracy. Hawaii News Now.

The statewide Point-in-Time Count, a census of Hawaii’s homeless population, decreased across all islands, indicating that the state is making progress in reducing the country’s highest per capita rate of homelessness. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii saw a 9.6 percent decrease in its homeless population as compared to a year ago, according to a survey released Monday. Civil Beat.

Homelessness in Hawaii has taken a nosedive for the second consecutive year, according to the 2018 statewide Point In Time Count Report conducted in January and released Monday morning. West Hawaii Today.

Homeless Point-In-Time Count Down For 2nd Consecutive Year. Hawaii Public Radio.

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Neighbor island housing markets were mainly positive last month with mostly higher sale volume and prices on Hawaii island, Maui County and Kauai, according to data from local real estate agent trade associations. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Airlines tops $100M in baggage, change fees. Hawaiian Airlines has given no indication of changing its baggage and change-fee policies even with Southwest Airlines lurking in the distance. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

A one-day census of Oahu’s homeless population decreased for the first time in nine years and resulted in the statewide Point in Time Count decreasing for the second year in a row. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu’s rail agency has awarded the project’s next major contract: a work package valued at as much as $400 million to relocate utilities along the route’s last four miles into town. Civil Beat.

The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation has awarded Nan Inc. a contract worth a maximum $400 million to relocate utilities along the proposed rail transit route through Honolulu’s city center. Pacific Business News.

Councilmember Kobayashi plans to prevent another Manoa stream flood. KITV.

Trump signs bill to add Pacific War memorial to Honolulu WWII sites. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

The county Board of Ethics made quick work Monday agreeing that Kohala Councilman Tim Richards doesn’t have a conflict of interest voting on a vacation rental bill, even though he and his wife operate a vacation rental themselves. West Hawaii Today.

Mayor Harry Kim inched his annual spending plan up another $2.3 million in his proposed budget delivered Monday to the County Council. West Hawaii Today.

Naalehu residents raise concern after wastewater treatment facility preliminary design puts it next to school. West Hawaii Today.

Heavy vog expected in West Hawaii through this week. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Statewide survey finds a slight decrease in Maui homeless people. Valley Isle’s decline lowest in state, which had overall 9.6% drop in homeless population. Maui News.

With the median sales price hitting $725,000 for a single-family home and $508,513 for a condominium, the Realtors Association of Maui statistics for April provide the latest evidence of how tough it is for working-class residents to buy homes here. Maui News.

Maui Community Correctional Center Gets 3 New Adult Correctional Officers. Maui Now.

An 11.3-acre photovoltaic solar project located in Haleakala Ranch pastures came online over the weekend. Maui Now.

Maui's first large-scale solar project goes online. On Saturday, Kenyon Energy, in partnership with Maui Electric Co., flipped the switch on its new 2.87-megawatt solar farm on the Valley Isle south side. Pacific Business News.

With help from the Small Business Development Center, Maui resident Jenna Davis created Raw Love Sunscreen, an FDA approved, water proof and coral-safe sunscreen with no harmful chemicals, preservatives or fillers. Maui Now.

Kauai

Flood relief efforts ongoing. It’s been nearly a month since historic rainfall caused catastrophic flooding on Kauai, destroying homes and cars, killing livestock and initially leaving three North Shore communities isolated. Garden Island.

Felicia Cowden has filed to run for the Kauai County Council. Garden Island.

The Department of Public Works is announcing that one lane of alternating traffic will be open for portions of Koloa Road to allow for the performance of pavement survey work today. Garden Island.

Honolulu rail funding disagreement, vendors to be ousted from lava viewing area, congressional candidate exaggerates education, Maui ex-policeman pleads guilty to theft, jobless rate remains low, Carvalho surveys Kauai's damaged North Shore, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Rail through Waipahu PC: HART

Auditor disagrees with HART on rail reimbursements. As work gets underway on a far-reaching audit of the multibillion-dollar rail project, state Auditor Les Kondo warned officials that his office has already identified potential red flags. Star-Advertiser.

How Will Honolulu Pay To Run Rail Once It’s Built? The City Still Doesn’t Know. Many other rail transit systems rely on special sales taxes to pay what passenger fares don’t cover. Civil Beat.

Congressional candidate didn't finish master's degree his LinkedIn page said he had. For years, congressional candidate Kaniela Ing's LinkedIn page said he received a master's degree in public administration from the University of Hawaii. Hawaii News Now.

Isle jobless rate steady at 2.1% for sixth month. Hawaii’s unemployment rate, the lowest in the nation, held firm in March at 2.1 percent for the sixth month in a row as employers added 200 jobs. Star-Advertiser.

Lawmakers could ban sunscreens with toxic chemicals that are damaging reefs. KHON2.

Scientists Warn Plastic Could Soon Out-Weigh Fish in the Ocean. Maui Now.

Businesses are tightening policies on emotional support dogs. KHON2.

Hawaiian Electric Cos. on Thursday released its 11th annual Sustainability Report for 2017-2018 describing the utility's efforts to address climate change and contribute to community sustainability. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

The Honolulu City Council is attempting to close loopholes in some of the city’s ordinances. And, they’re targeting sidewalk vendors and golfers. Hawaii Public Radio.

E-bus struggles to make the grade. The city is restating its characterization of how an electric bus on loan performed in February tests around Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

Tension High Over Airport Rideshare Pilot Program. Long simmering tensions between the local taxi companies and transportation network companies, Uber and Lyft, erupted again. Hawaii Public Radio.

Erosion taking toll at Haleiwa Beach Park. Severe erosion is forcing the closure of makai entrances to the bathrooms and removal of outdoor showers at Haleiwa Beach Park, safety precautions announced Thursday by city park officials. Star-Advertiser.

Gaping sinkhole growing with each wave makes for dangerous situation in Haleiwa. Hawaii News Now.

Nanakuli Village Center: Big Plans But Few Results So Far. After more than a decade of planning, construction could begin this month on a commercial center — or it might not. Civil Beat.

State seeks to cancel lease with Olomana Golf Club. Fears of vandalism and homeless squatters are among the new concerns for former staff at a Kailua golf course. KITV.

Elite Pacific Properties has acquired a vacation rental management company that manages 29 Ocean Villas at Turtle Bay Resort on Oahu's North Shore. Pacific Business News.

Power restored to entire UH-Manoa campus after large transformer fire. Hawaii News Now.

Transformer fire at UH Manoa causes widespread power outage. Honolulu Fire Department personnel battled a large fire at the University of Hawaii at Manoa’s lower campus this evening. Star-Advertiser.

A Florida man was sentenced today to two months in jail and four months home confinement for his role in scamming the University of Hawaii out of $200,000 for Stevie Wonder concert that never happened. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Vendors face relocation: County responding to safety concerns near lava viewing area in Kalapana. Hawaii County is clamping down on vendors near its designated lava viewing area at the end of Highway 130 in Kalapana. Tribune-Herald.

County Explains Kalapana Vendor Crack-Down. Civil Defense administrator Talmadge Magno told the council Thursday that the county will "strictly enforce" the law beginning July 1st. Big Island Video News.

The Kohala Swimming Pool and a room in the North Kohala Senior Center are closed following a set of recent mishaps. Big Island Video News.

A second lieutenant will soon join the ranks of the Kona unit of the Department of Public Safety’s Sheriff Division, pending the governor’s approval of the state’s budget. West Hawaii Today.

Logistics of cesspool conversion bring financial burden. Last year, legislators passed a law requiring Hawaii homeowners do away with the state’s estimated 88,000 cesspools by 2050. West Hawaii Today.

Peter Kema Sr. must serve a minimum of 18 years in prison for the killing of his son, Peter Kema Jr., aka “Peter Boy,” the Hawaii Paroling Authority announced today. Tribune-Herald.

The Hawaii Department of Health recently identified several cases of ciguatera fish poisoning from ingestion of the giant trevally (ulua) recreationally caught off the northwest coast of Hawaii Island. Big Island Now.

Maui

Former Maui Police Officer Pleads Guilty to Theft, Witness Tampering. Former Maui police officer Anthony Maldonado, of Kahului, pleaded guilty today in federal court to one count of Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law and one count of Conspiracy to Commit Witness Tampering. Maui Now.

Former Maui police officer pleads guilty to traffic-stop theft. He also is charged with bribery, faces up to 21 years in prison, $350,000 in fines. Maui News.

Maui vegetable farmers fighting Mother Nature. Recent heavy rains, flooding ruin crops, breed pests. Maui News.

Kauai

Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. completed a site visit Thursday to communities in Lumahai, Wainiha and Haena. Garden Island.

Lifeline To Kauai’s North Shore Must Be Rebuilt Now, Relocated Later. Officials don’t know when the Kuhio Highway, smothered by mud and debris, will be completely reopened. Meanwhile, the state will speed up a $33 million plan to rebuild a series of old bridges. Civil Beat.

More and more respond to need for help on North Shore. Garden Island.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources conducted a helicopter survey of its lands, and found most of the vast acreage of lands it manages to have relatively less damage than originally thought due to last weekend’s historical flooding. Star-Advertiser.

In flood-devastated Hanalei, a beloved cemetery is covered under a mountain of mud. Hawaii News Now.

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, are donating $1 million to assist flood-relief efforts on Kauai. Star-Advertiser.

Ocean Safety personnel on Kauai have closed Keoneloa Bay to swimming after a 29-year-old male visitor was apparently bitten by a shark while body boarding at around 8 a.m. on Thursday, April 19, 2018. Maui Now.

State may divert rail money, Hee as gubernatorial spoiler, Sandwich Island Communications plans to close and layoff 62 workers, students plan walkout, Kauai County sues for Secret Beach access, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Honolulu rail project PC: HART

State May Divert $500,000 A Year To Cover Its Own Rail Project Costs. A House bill could take a total of $6.5 million out of rail’s recovery plan, which is already stretched thin. Civil Beat.

At private and public schools across the state, students are planning to walk out of class for 17 minutes on March 14 in solidarity with the 17 victims of the Florida high school shooting. Star-Advertiser.

Feds Say Hawaii Falls Short In Dealing With School Bullying. The Hawaii Department of Education says improvements have already been made, but the federal findings are bleak. Civil Beat.

Nearly 1 in 3 Hawaii public school students said they've been the victims of bullying or harassment, according to a survey conducted as part of a years-long federal compliance review of the state Education Department's handling of bullying and harassment complaints. Hawaii News Now.

Sandwich Isles Communications Inc. submitted a letter to the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations on Jan. 3 announcing it could close as early as March 4 and lay off its 62 employees. Star-Advertiser.

The House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on the medical aid in dying measure today. Hawaii Public Radio.

As popularity of electric cars grows, lawmakers want to require more charging stations. Hawaii News Now.

Cyclists urge Hawaii lawmakers to adopt 'safe passing' bill. Hawaii News Now.

Spying On Injured Workers Often Adds To Their Pain. Surveillance is accepted practice in workers’ comp cases. It can lead to a cutoff of benefits, but things are not always as they appear. Civil Beat.

Meet the Detective Who Tails Injured Workers. George Copeland’s tricks of the trade include cameras hidden in a key fob or shirt button, or hours spent staring at an apartment door. Civil Beat.

Hawaii’s state epidemiologist says she’s hopeful the mumps outbreak might be slowing. The state’s tally of confirmed mumps cases reached 902 as of March 1, the anniversary of the outbreak’s first diagnosis, including 719 people in the City and County of Honolulu, 131 in Hawaii County, 49 in Kauai County and three in Maui County. Tribune-Herald.

Gov. David Ige made it clear Monday he disagrees with with proposals to arm teachers, or have armed guards at schools. Garden Island.

Commentary: Guns Suddenly Become An Issue In Governor’s Race. Challenger Clayton Hee demonstrates that he has not lost his ability to shake things up, politically and policy-wise. Civil Beat.

Commentary: Hee poised to roil gubernatorial race with ideas to legalize gambling and marijuana. Star-Advertiser.

Commentary: Back in mid-January, a political “hit” piece was quietly making the email rounds. Among other things, it accused a cabal of Governor David Ige’s campaign insiders of soliciting former senator Clayton Hee to enter the governor’s race in order to “siphon off Hawaiian Votes from Colleen Hanabusa.” Ian Lind blog.

Oahu

City starts citing ride-hailing drivers; taxis bear brunt. A few ride-hailing drivers have been caught violating city regulations since March 2017, when restrictions on ride-hailing companies such as Uber and Lyft were brought more closely in line with taxicab companies. Star-Advertiser.

Rideshare driver's confrontation with city inspectors reveals communication breakdowns. Hawaii News Now.

The civil lawyer of former Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha and his deputy prosecutor wife, Katherine Kealoha, is asking a federal judge to allow the Kealohas to sell their Hawaii Kai home so he can collect the attorney fees the Kealohas owe him. Star-Advertiser.

Lienholder On Ex-Police Chief’s Home Wants It Sold. Attorney Kevin Sumida wants to recoup money he says he’s owed by Louis and Katherine Kealoha. Civil Beat.

City looks to convert barely-used safe house for abused women into homeless shelter. Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell and the city prosecutor are in discussions over the future of a $5.5 million shelter for abuse victims that's been barely used since it opened in 2016. Hawaii News Now.

Black-Footed Albatross Chicks Take Refuge From Climate Change On Oahu. The North Shore’s James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge now hosts 23 birds that faced threats in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Civil Beat.

A federal bankruptcy judge approved a business divorce between The Filipino Community Center and a prominent local catering company Monday, though the two will share custody of some clients through the end of the year. Star-Advertiser.

Sales of condominiums on Oahu rose 5 percent in February, as prices rose by the same percentage point, while single-family home sales recorded a slight decline in sales and a slight increase in prices, according to a report from Hawaii real estate firm Locations. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

Hu Honua says outfall issue now moot. The project, which would burn wood from eucalyptus trees to generate electricity, has faced numerous fits and starts because of legal disputes, including with a contractor and Hawaii Electric Light Co. Tribune-Herald.

New mass transit administrator hits the ground running. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii Island’s lone sheriff’s lieutenant publicly opposed a bill that would allot money to fund a second lieutenant on the island, despite strong support for the measure by his superiors. West Hawaii Today.

The Royal Order of Kamehameha I received a building permit to construct an annex at the back of Kamehameha Hall in Keaukaha. Tribune-Herald.

Former Big Island coffee farmer among 300 people suing agribusiness giant Monsanto. KITV.

Sales of single-family homes on Hawaii’s Big Island declined last month, compared to February last year, along with median prices, according to statistics from Hawaii Information Service on behalf of Hawaii Island Realtors. Pacific Business News.

Maui

A bill that would’ve raised rental car taxes at the Kahului Airport to pay for Maui bypass projects has morphed into a proposed statewide rental car tax to fund projects most likely on Oahu, frustrating the Maui lawmakers who originally introduced it. Maui News.

While Alexander & Baldwin continues work to diversify its Maui agricultural lands, redeploying 4,500 acres of former sugar cane lands last year, the company sees progress as slow, difficult and unlikely to turn a profit, A&B President and Chief Executive Officer Chris Benjamin told investors. Maui News.

Kauai

For decades, a legal public trail to the eastern side of Kauapea Beach has been closed. Now, the county is taking legal action to reopen access to the area known as Secrets Beach. Garden Island.

Kauai County filed a lawsuit seeking public access to East Kauapea Beach, also known as Secret Beach. KITV.

The County of Kauai Housing Agency announces a public meeting to present the draft Environmental Assessment for the Pua Loke Affordable Housing Development project. Garden Island.

Democratic Party of Hawaii precinct meetings set. Garden Island.

Home sales on Kauai rose in February, along with the median price of a single-family home, while the median price of a Garden Isle condominium fell by 28 percent, according to statistics from Hawaii Information Service on behalf of Kauai Island Realtors. Pacific Business News.

Honolulu rail progressing, Coco Palms occupiers to be evicted, Honolulu council bans 'monster homes,' Schatz plans false missile alarm hearing, Ige teased over Twitter, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Rail construction Sept. 15, 2017 PC:HART

Redevelopment opportunities abound for state land near rail line. Ideas and objectives for making better use of roughly 1,900 acres owned by the state near 21 planned city rail stations on Oahu have been laid out in a new report by a council formed a little over a year ago. Star-Advertiser.

Is Honolulu Rail Agency Too Quick To Condemn Property? Landowners argue HART jumps the gun when it starts condemnation proceedings before negotiations are finished. Civil Beat.

Rail officials still don't know how to get the route to UH Manoa. Officials with the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) say they are focused on building the 20-mile rail system from West Oahu to Ala Moana, and they don't have the ability to develop plans for extensions of the rail line. Hawaii News Now.

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US Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) will convene a Senate field hearing in Honolulu on the state’s emergency alert system to look into the false emergency missile alert that went out across the state on Jan. 13, 2018. Maui Now.

The false ballistic missile alert earlier this month put much of Hawaii in a state of fear and panic, but it didn’t seem to have much of a mental health impact overall, according to the state Department of Health. Hawaii News Now.

National press roasts Ige after he blamed Twitter login troubles for missile alert response. Hawaii News Now.

Three Bills Aim To Clear Obstacles For Injured Workers. Giving injured workers a say in which doctor is used to examine them is one of the key issues on the table this year. Civil Beat.

DLNR's drone use may have violated federal rules — on several occasions. A drone that flew over a large crowd at the Onipaa Kakou event at Iolani Palace last week is now the subject of a federal investigation. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii easily remained No. 1 last month for the lowest unemployment rate in the country amid a strong economy and an exodus of work-seeking residents to the mainland. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii unemployment rate drops to record low in December. Pacific Business News.

Young Brothers draws opposition to shipping rate hike. The state consumer advocate is opposing an application by Young Brothers Ltd. to raise interisland shipping rates 13.3 percent after less than a year ago the state Public Utilities Commission rejected a 4.4 percent increase. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Temporary ban on super-size houses advances. In a move designed to keep in check the increasing number of large-scale houses on Oahu, a Honolulu City Council committee Tuesday gave preliminary approval to a temporary ban on building permits for houses with more than 3,500 square feet of living area. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu City Council Committee Advances "Monster Homes" Bill. The Honolulu City Council Planning Committee advanced a measure today calling for a moratorium on so-called Monster Houses. Hawaii Public Radio.

Construction of monster homes could soon come to an end on Oahu. KITV.

Temporary ban on ‘monster’ homes put on fast track at Honolulu Hale. KHON2.

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State Hospital fence could run up to $24M. The state Department of Health says it would cost the state an estimated $17 million to $24 million to erect a fence around the Hawaii State Hospital campus to satisfy a permit condition imposed by the Honolulu City Council that the facility be “fully secure.” Star-Advertiser.

State working with the public to figure out how 'Pillboxes' trail can be managed. Dozens packed the cafeteria at Ka'ohao Elementary School in Kailua Tuesday night to voice concerns over a popular east Oahu hiking trail. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu Is Stuck With Cars Abandoned By Military Personnel. The city has been storing them in golf course parking lots because federal law prohibits them from being auctioned off. Civil Beat.

Massive highway project will require closures through early next year. KHON2.

Robertson Properties plans to spend $85M to turn former Waikiki Niketown into hotel. Pacific Business News.

The Point-In-Time Count survey of Oahu’s homeless population is happening this week. The count is the basis for all homeless policy for the year. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Island

Police chief’s request to use notification system not received after missile alert. The Police Department’s notification service, known as Nixle, wasn’t activated during the incident, Chief Paul Ferreira acknowledged to the Tribune-Herald on Tuesday, though dispatch was informing panicked callers the warning was false within minutes. Tribune-Herald.

The Hawaii County Council Committee On Public Safety & Mass Transit discussed the January 13 false alarm that panicked the entire state. Big Island Video News.

Appellate court sends Hu Honua back to planning commission. A state court ordered Hawaii County’s Windward Planning Commission to address public shoreline impacts with regard to repairing or replacing a damaged outfall for cooling water and storm water from the Hu Honua Bioenergy power plant under construction in Pepeekeo. Tribune-Herald.

Consultant: Hele-On needs buses, personnel, money. West Hawaii Today.

Manager-Chief Engineer Keith Okamoto and Deputy Kawika Uyehara of the Hawaii County Department of Water Supply both received pay raises after what was arguably the department’s most tumultuous year in recent memory. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

A proposed campground in Lahaina for homeless people received a special use permit from the Maui Planning Commission on Tuesday, triggering tearful hugs among supporters who have been trying to push the project forward for almost three years. Maui News.

Soon to fade from Maui’s business landscape is J.S. Kuge & Sons, the longtime custom jewelry and repair shop on Lower Main Street in Wailuku. Maui News.

Kauai

Coco Palms occupiers have 5 days to leave. District Court Judge Michael Soong ruled in favor of development company Coco Palms Hui on Tuesday and ousted a group that has claimed interest in a plot of land in Wailua for nearly a year. Garden Island.

Coco Palms at defining moment. This may well be a defining moment in the contemporary history of Kauai and the splintered, often ineffectual, movement for Hawaiian sovereignty. Kauai’s governing establishment — and, most likely, a large majority of regular residents — don’t want this controversy to blow up and bring the island to the center of one of the most vexing issues in Hawaiian history. Garden Island.

Kauai’s Crackdown On Airbnbs Is Backfiring. While one county is mired in disputes, legislators ponder their next moves regarding illegal vacation rentals. Civil Beat.

Stable economy predicted, twin who drove off Maui cliff wants murder charge dismissed, free school bus rides for military kids, rail stations get Hawaiian names, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Waikiki shoppers © 2017 All Hawaii News

The Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism is predicting stable economic growth for the next few years, after releasing its fourth quarter 2017 Statistical and Economic Report. Pacific Business News.

DBEDT predicts stable economic growth. The Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism released its fourth quarter 2017 Statistical and Economic Report Wednesday, which indicated Hawaii’s overall economic condition should remain stable into the next few years and predicted steady economic growth at around 1.5 percent. West Hawaii Today.

E-commerce has been good to Hawaii’s air cargo industry over the last 15 years, but inbound and outbound air freight volumes are still lagging decade-old peaks, a new state report shows. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Tourism Authority will begin publishing monthly Hawaii hotel data starting next week after securing the rights from STR, the analytics firm that gathers the data. Pacific Business News.

Free bus rides considered for military kids. The idea is among possible changes to administrative rules that the Board of Education on Tuesday agreed to offer for consideration by the governor and the public. Star-Advertiser.

Scientific evidence on the pros and cons of medical cannabis is limited, but interest is strong, judging by the sold-out turnout at the first symposium on the subject at the University of Hawaii Medical School. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

The nine rail stations at the Ewa end of the city’s mass-transit line have been given Hawaiian names that experts say are reflective of ancient place names and legendary sites along the rail route. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation announced on Wednesday the Hawaiian names for nine rail stations on the Ewa end of the rail system, as recommended by the Hawaiian Station Naming Working Group. KITV.

Park users are complaining that the Sand Island State Recreation Area has become a haven for illegal dumping. Hawaii News Now.

A state judge has put a freeze on two Oahu properties on which an accountant is accused of paying for mortgages and improvements using money she stole from a nonprofit organization that serves adults and children with physical and developmental disabilities. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

The Sierra Club of Hawaii is asking the County of Hawaii to withdraw and amend the Draft​ ​Environmental​ ​Assessment​ ​​for​ ​the​ ​South​ ​Hilo​ ​Sanitary​ ​Landfill​. The environmental organization wants the draft document ​amended​ ​to​ ​include​ ​the​ ​option​ ​to​ ​capture​ ​and​ ​reuse​ ​methane​ ​gas. Big Island Video News.

Initiative expands scope in hopes of establishing Christmas tree industry on the Big Island. Christmas trees remain scarce and expensive on Hawaii Island, but a stand of fir trees on a remote Maunakea hillside might be the beginning of an island Christmas tree industry. Tribune-Herald.

Community members form new group to care for, improve skate park in Pahoa. Tribune-Herald.

Major commercial center pitched in Kailua-Kona. The Kailua Village Design Commission Tuesday night deferred taking action on a new 14-building commercial center proposed for Kailua-Kona. West Hawaii Today.

Company to expand amphibious tours. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

A murder charge against a woman accused of deliberately driving off a cliff in Hawaii and killing her identical twin sister should be dismissed because prosecutors misled the grand jury that indicted her, a defense attorney said. Associated Press.

Maui police officer busted for stealing on the job. Hawaii News Now.

Maui Managing Director Earns Credentialed Designation. The International Local Government Management Organization recently awarded Maui County Managing Director Keith Regan with the Credentialed Manager designation. MD Regan is now one of 1,400 local government management professionals currently credentialed through the ICMA Voluntary Credentialing Program. Maui News.

Kauai

A former Kauai police detective who relocated to Oahu was issued a temporary restraining order against his neighbors after increasing conflicts. Garden Island.