RIMPAC brings controversy, currency, to Hawaii; Honolulu City Council shuffle; Hawaiian Electric Co.'s stock falls after Public Utilities Commission change; plastic bag ban increases shoplifting; Supreme Court: Kauai mayor can't suspend police chief; Crabbe kept at OHA; zika battle renewed; more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Fire Controlman 2nd Class Michael Klimek mans the rails aboard the guided-missile cruiser USS Mobile Bay on June 28, 2016 at Pearl Harbor, courtesy Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ryan J. Batchelder, U.S. Navy

Twenty-six nations, 45 ships, five submarines, more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel will participate in the biennial  Rim of the Pacific  exercise, which got underway Thursday and wraps up Aug. 4, mostly in and around the Hawaiian Islands but also in Southern California. Ships from participating nations are flooding into Pearl Harbor this week. Expect noise, risk to marine life, garage door glitches and $52.5M from RIMPAC. Star-Advertiser.

This summer’s Rim of the Pacific military drills in Hawaii will bring an initial $52.5 million to the Aloha State with tens of millions of more coming to the state by the end, according to a study from the state Department of Business and Economic Development. Pacific Business News.

Dozens of ships from 26 nations are arriving in Pearl Harbor this week for the biennial Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise. RIMPAC 2016 will be held in and around the Hawaiian islands and off the coast of Southern California through Aug. 4. It officially began Thursday. Associated Press.

Starting today, the largest international maritime exercise begins in Hawai‘i. The Rim of the Pacific, also known as RIMPAC, is in its 25th year since the military training exercise begin in 1971. Parts of it involve explosives and underwater sonar -- a point of concern for environmental groups. Hawaii Public Radio.

A tale of two navies is emerging from this year’s Rim of the Pacific exercises: Chinese and U.S. cooperation in Hawaii, and Chinese and U.S. suspicion in the South China Sea. Star-Advertiser.

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Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc. saw its stock price tumble nearly 5 percent, or about $1.70 per share, on Thursday, the day after Hawaii's governor named a new member to the the state regulatory commission expected to issue on the $4.3 billion sale of HEI subsidiary Hawaiian Electric Co. to Florida's NextEra Energy Inc. Pacific Business News.

The Attorney General’s Office said Gov. David Ige had the right to make an interim appointment to the state Public Utilities Commission before Ige exercised that right Wednesday. The governor announced he had selected Tom Gorak, the commission’s chief legal counsel, to replace Commissioner Mike Champley, whose term expired Thursday. Civil Beat.

State lawmakers are firing back and threatening legal action against Gov. David Ige after he decided to replace a utility commissioner before the panel decides whether or not to allow the Hawaiian Electric-NextEra Energy merger. KHON2.

The state Thursday filed an appeal of a court decision requiring the state to sufficiently fund administrative and operating expenses for the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Attorney General Doug Chin said the state would appeal a ruling regarding funding of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. Three Native Hawaiian beneficiaries sued the state in 2007, alleging that it had inadequately funded DHHL. The department is tasked with placing qualified Hawaiians on their own land. Civil Beat.

Kamanaʻopono Crabbe, the CEO of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, received a new three-year contract Thursday. Civil Beat.

The state and counties are ramping up efforts to prevent the mosquito-borne Zika virus from taking hold in Hawaii in spite of a congressional impasse over $1.1 billion in emergency funding to combat the virus, which can cause devastating birth defects, including microcephaly, a condition in which babies are born with abnormally small heads. Star-Advertiser.

In a move that Gov. David Ige described as unprecedented, the mayors of four islands and other key staff flanked the state’s top executive on Thursday at a news conference in Honolulu, pledging to take mosquito control to the community with a relaunch of education efforts as Hawaii Island’s dengue outbreak disappears in the rear view mirror but the state faces the possibility of new diseases and outbreaks. West Hawaii Today.

Despite rising homelessness in Hawaii, a bill that’s on track to become law may force emergency homeless shelters to cut more than 200 beds and turn away people who want to get off the streets. Civil Beat.

KHON2 found out the state lawmakers who had the most full-day absences during the session of 60 days: Rep. Sam Kong, D, Aiea, with 12 days; Rep. Cynthia Thielen, R, Kailua, Kaneohe Bay with 11; and Rep. Marcus Oshiro, D, Wahiawa, Whitmore Village with nine. We asked all of them about their absences.

The state Department of Education is expected to spend nearly $1 billion on electricity by 2035, but can save hundreds of millions through progress toward clean energy goals established by House Bill 2569, signed by Governor David Ige today. Maui Now.

Oahu

Ikaika Anderson will be leaving his post as vice chair of the Honolulu City Council. Council members are scheduled to vote next week on a resolution that would replace him with Councilman Joey Manahan from Kalihi. Civil Beat.

A senior couple filed a federal civil rights lawsuit Thursday seeking to invalidate state laws that prevent them from living together in the same licensed care home. State licensing laws and related administrative rules prohibit community care foster family homes from having more than one private-pay client, like the Kawamotos. Spouses on Medicaid, however, may live in the same home. Star-Advertiser.

A year after Oahu’s single-use plastic bag ban took effect July 1, 2015, prices have increased, and shoplifting is on the rise as thieves find more ways to walk out of stores without paying for their goods. Star-Advertiser.

A major real estate deal in Windward Oahu could have ramifications for Downtown Honolulu. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii

Jen Ruggles, a candidate for Hawaii County Council, says she paid a delinquent $379.44 property tax bill Thursday after a reporter inquired about missed payments during the past two years. Tribune-Herald.

Lava Spectacle Filmed From Above. Incredible views of lava rushing down the Pulama pali in bright orange channels were recorded during an overflight on Thursday morning. Big Island Video News.

Maui

The State Attorney General Doug Chin and the United Public Workers union today announced that the parties are discussing settlement of the union’s appeal regarding the transfer of Maui Memorial Medical Center, Kula Hospital and the Lānaʻi Community Hospital to a new Kaiser Permanente entity. Maui Now.

Water development and sewer fees and water rates will be going up Friday, the first day of the new Maui County fiscal year, two county departments said. Maui News.

A professor who was one of 20 people arrested during a protest over the construction of a solar telescope on Maui last year has been ordered to pay a $200 fine for disorderly conduct. Associated Press.

A University of Hawaii Maui College assistant professor would not apologize Wednesday to a Wailuku District Court judge for protesting last July against the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope being built at the Haleakala summit. Maui News.

County-manager idea shelved, for now. On a slim 5-4 vote, council members believed proposal not ready for voters. Maui News.

Kauai

Only the Kauai Police Commission and not the mayor can suspend that county’s police chief, according to a long-awaited ruling from the Hawaii Supreme Court. The case stems from a bitter 2012 dispute in which Kauai Mayor Bernard Carvalho suspended Police Chief Darryl Perry for his handling of a hostile workplace complaint. Civil Beat.

Human activities can impact reef health, making it less resilient, according to a recent study conducted by researchers with The Nature Conservancy, and Kauai-based marine biologist Katie Muzik thinks that’s the case on the island. Garden Island.

Ige signs renewable energy bills, monk seal pups rescued, telescope 'bullet hole' that wasn't, Honolulu council beefs up staff, Oahu solar farms pending before PUC, parachute fails during NASA test on Kauai, layoffs coming to Kona hospital, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Gov. David Ige signs energy bills, courtesy Governor's Office

Hawaii would be the first state to wean itself off of all fossil fuels by 2045 under legislation signed by Gov. David Ige and praised by advocates as groundbreaking for the state and the rest of the world. Star-Advertiser.

The Governor signed four energy-related bills into law today, establishing the state as a leader in renewable sources for power. Hawaii Public Radio.

Press release: Gov. David Ige today signed into law four energy bills, including one that strengthens Hawaii’s commitment to clean energy by directing the state’s utilities to generate 100 percent of their electricity sales from renewable energy resources by 2045. Governor's Office.

Two malnourished monk seal pups were rescued during the latest mission to the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands by the research ship Hi‘ialakai in its efforts to protect the endangered species. The ship and crew working for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration docked in Pearl Harbor on Monday after a 21-day voyage. Star-Advertiser.

Ocean wildlife officials recently started a 21-day mission to the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. So far 14 researchers picked up approximately 5,000 pounds of marine debris. KHON2.

Oahu
The Honolulu City Council, which refused to fund seven new affordable housing positions, has doubled the number of staff that report to Chair Ernie Martin since he took the helm five years ago. Hawaii News Now.

The Honolulu Board of Water Supply is taking steps to close down the controversial hiking trail known as the Stairway to Heaven. The BWS plans to spends $500,000 on an environmental assessment and other studies to figure out the best way to remove the Haiku Stairs, a 3,922-step trail in Kaneohe that goes up into the Koolau mountain range. Civil Beat.

The seven major solar energy projects on Oahu total more than 200-megawatts and which have been put on hold are not dead just yet, the head of the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission told Pacific Business News.

The bulk of solar farms pending before the Public Utilities Commission are in Central Oahu, so the delay on a decision on the projects caught the firms by surprise. KITV4.

A federal agency says workplace safety violations led to the deaths of two workers at Pearl Harbor last December. Associated Press.

Hawaii

By no later than Aug. 1, 34 positions at Kona Community Hospital will be eliminated, and the hospital will shut down its 18-bed skilled nursing unit. Administrators at the 94-bed hospital in Kealakekua announced the cuts Monday morning as part of a plan to patch a $6 million hole in the budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1. West Hawaii Today.

No, the Subaru Telescope didn’t take a bullet. Saeko Hayashi, a spokeswoman for the Mauna Kea observatory, said Monday morning that an approximately 9 mm hole in a metal door at the telescope was caused by it hitting a bolt sticking out from an intake manifold next to the side entrance. Tribune-Herald.

Turns out what appeared to be a bullet hole in the door of the Subaru Observatory on Mauna Kea is not a bullet hole after all. Star-Advertiser.

Reports of a “bullet hole” found in the door of the Subaru Telescope on the summit of Mauna Kea have been dispelled. The observatory has “confirmed a match between this hole and an intake manifold cover on the wall”, which indicates no guns or bullets were involved in creating the hole. Big Island Video News.

Ohia Disease on Big Island Poses Threat to Native Forests Statewide. Foresters are scrambling to figure out how the disease is spreading and how to stop it. Civil Beat.

Tourism is once again expected to be the main economic driver on the Big Island over the next few years, with hotel rooms plentiful and bargain-priced, compared to Oahu. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Gov. David Ige is expected to sign a bill Wednesday authorizing the Maui region state hospitals to begin discussion on implementing a private-public partnership. Pacific Business News.

It should surprise no one that County of Maui Managing Director Keith Regan is running for office. MauiTime.

The Maui AIDS Foundation has been awarded $1.4 million in federal funds to provide rental assistance to lower-income people who are suffering from HIV/AIDS and their families. Maui News.

Kauai

A parachute failed during a NASA test of new technology for landing larger spacecraft — and eventually astronauts — on Mars, the agency said Monday. The parachute deployed but failed to inflate, Kimberly Newton, a spokeswoman for NASA, said in an email. The agency plans to provide more details during a news conference on Tuesday, she said. The parachute appeared to disintegrate in a video of the test. Associated Press.

NASA and Pacific Missile Range Facility employees raised their eyes to the sky and smiled Monday as they watched the successful launch of NASA’s new “flying saucer.” Garden Island.

Michele Davis and her family have cruised on Hanalei’s Black Pot Beach every summer for the past decade, but the Kilauea native said the atmosphere at Black Pot has “definitely changed” in the past five years. Garden Island.

Molokai
A California energy firm hopes to make Molokai the first Hawaiian island to achieve the state's clean energy goals of 100 percent renewable energy. Maui News.

Record low temps chill Hawaii, climate change studied, Ige plans belt tightening, Kauai police run over pedestrian they were sent to help, Obama has left the islands, $90M wind farm cleared for Oahu, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Snow-topped Mauna Kea on Saturday © 2015 All Hawaii News

Temperatures in Hawaii dropped into the 50s, setting records on three islands and tying a record in Honolulu Sunday morning. Star-Advertiser.

Snow blanketed the summit areas of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa on the Big Island of Hawaii while morning temperatures dipped into the 50's Sunday. Hawaii News Now.

Last month, as he submitted his budget for the next two-year cycle, Gov. David Ige noted that government spending would grow over the next two fiscal years due primarily to nondiscretionary spending requirements such as health benefits and raises negotiated by the previous administration. To him, that means one thing: The state will have to live within its means. Star-Advertiser.

New rules regarding dentists and sedatives were put into place shortly after her daughter's death, But Ashley Boyle has started a web site, finleys-law.org. She's pushing for a law allowing parents to be in the treatment room with their children during dental procedures, or at least to have a window available so they can observe. She also wants a law that says any drug must be administered by the dentist or an equally-certified staff member. Hawaii News Now.

President Barack Obama and family left Honolulu Saturday evening following a two-week vacation. Star-Advertiser.

President Obama and his family departed from Oahu’s Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam at 9:43 p.m., marking the end of their annual Hawaiian winter vacation to the islands. The President and the First Lady arrived to the take-off zone at 9:27 p.m. on Saturday and were greeted by state dignitaries, including Gov. David Ige, Senator Mazie Hirono, Mayor Kirk Caldwell, and General Vincent Keith Brooks. KHON2.

The U.S. Department of the Interior announced that its Pacific Islands Climate Science Center will award universities and other partners over $600K for studies that will assess the potential effects of climate change in and around Hawai‘i. Maui Now.

A University of Hawaii researcher has received a $104,477 grant to see whether resources from Hawaii waters can be used to ward off sepsis, an often fatal complication of infection. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Honolulu City Council Chair Ernie Martin has made no secret of his aspirations to be mayor and political insiders say he’s worked to undermine Caldwell’s political agenda — something Martin denies — as he positions himself to challenge Caldwell in the 2016 mayoral race. Civil Beat.

The $90 million Na Pua Makani wind farm being built by California's Champlin Hawaii Holdings LLC on public and private lands on Oahu's North Shore has been approved by Hawaii regulators this week, according to a public filing. Pacific Business News.

Diamond Head, the extinct volcano that has become synonymous with Waikiki Beach, isn’t going anywhere, but much of the sand that both locals and visitors enjoy has vanished. Associated Press.

Opinion: Urban Hawaii: What Does the Future Hold for Honolulu — and Us? It is time to explore what the transformation of Kakaako says about the evolution of our city. Civil Beat.

Hawaii

One of the three bond rating firms has reaffirmed Hawaii County’s solid financial status, even as the County Council is poised Wednesday to add $20 million to the debt to  pay for lava-impacted Puna roads. West Hawaii Today.

Motorists fuming about changes to the acceleration lanes on Queen Kaahumanu Highway may only have to drop it in neutral and wait a bit; things could change yet again. State Department of Transportation engineers are returning to the drawing board on a restriping project between Makala Boulevard and Henry Street — a redesign of traffic flow that eliminated acceleration lanes and drew protest from not just motorists but also some cyclists. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

In his third and final term as mayor of Maui County, Alan Arakawa hopes to work with the state to expand airport facilities in Kahului, to create a facility for the mentally disabled and drug and substance abusers at the Old Maui High School in Hamakuapoko and to work with the Maui County Council amicably over the next four years. Maui News.

Doug McLeod has stepped down as Maui County's energy commissioner and appears to be on the verge of working as a consultant to Florida-based NextEra Energy, which announced plans last month to absorb Hawaiian Electric in a multibillion-dollar merger deal. Maui News.

The Maui County Council on Friday welcomed the new year with new leadership. Maui News.

Kauai

A pedestrian who was struck by a vehicle, then struck again by the police officer responding to the accident, died Saturday night. Garden Island.

Commercial businesses operating in the ocean are now required to have a permit. But some Kauai companies lost money when they were forced to close unnecessarily during the holidays. Hawaii News Now.

A Westside company is suing the Office of Hawaiian Affairs for breach of contract and fraud in its operation of the former Makaweli Poi Mill that it purchased and operated from 2008 until it ceased operations in 2012. Garden Island.

With the first phase of the Rice Camp Senior Apartments set for completion in March, rental applications are now being accepted by the project’s management company, EAH Housing. Garden Island.

New faces lead GOPs in Hawaii Legislature, governor's administration, Honolulu City Hall, Obama library competition intensifies as Obama Hawaii vacation nears end, Puna senator seeks lava relief, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii state Capitol © 2015 All Hawaii News

House Republicans have organized behind Rep. Beth Fukumoto Chang as minority leader for the upcoming legislative session. New Rep. Andria Tupola was chosen as minority floor leader, the caucus announced Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Just in time for 2015, Gov. David Ige has announced seven new members of his Cabinet. The governor named Col. Arthur “Joe” Logan from the Hawaii Army National Guard as adjutant general. Nolan Espinda, the warden at the Halawa Correctional Facility, is the new director for the Department of Public Safety. Carty Chang, an engineer from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, will serve as the acting director for department. Civil Beat.

Snorkeling and shave ice filled the first family's 13th day of their holiday vacation Thursday. President Barack Obama and his family began the New Year under mostly sunny skies as they left their rental home in Kailua for a snorkeling excursion. Star-Advertiser.

In the contest to host his presidential library, two public universities that serve needy communities are pitted against a pair of elite, private schools with seemingly endless money. Associated Press.

Two Chicago universities competing to host President Barack Obama’s presidential library are scrambling to address major concerns raised by the foundation picking the future site, with Chicago’s mayor stepping in to ensure his city stays competitive. Associated Press.

Medical marijuana production centers and dispensaries could become part of the Hawaii landscape as soon as 2017, under recommendations a task force is sending to the state Legislature. West Hawaii Today.

The Affordable Care Act's temporary payment-increase program for Medicaid physicians is set to expire nationwide on Jan. 1, but Hawaii plans to extend the primary care rate beyond Dec. 31, according a study released by the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. Pacific Business News.

Bigeye Tuna Remains on Hawaii’s Menu — But for How Long? There's been a lot of talk among power players about dangerously declining fish stocks in the Pacific, but action has been insubstantial. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Incoming Honolulu City Councilman Trevor Ozawa will head the Executive Matters and Legal Affairs Committee, and fellow freshman Councilman Brandon Elefante will lead the remixed Business, Economic Development and Tourism Committee under new committee leadership assignments announced in a memorandum this week by Council Chairman Ernie Martin. Star-Advertiser.

A longtime city refuse worker alleges that employees at the Pearl City baseyard were allowed to drink at the workplace during holiday events. Hawaii News Now.

Mayor Kirk Caldwell has released a request for proposals for a contractor to replace approximately 52,000 low pressure sodium (LPS) city streetlights with light-emitting diode (LED) streetlights.  A 2013 pilot project by the city demonstrated that retrofitting streetlights to LEDs provides significant cost savings, greater efficiency and increased visibility. Hawaii Independent.

Hawaii

Legislation to provide insurance relief for Puna homeowners and emergency funds for Puna Community Medical Center and two charter schools are among the lava-related bills state Sen. Russell Ruderman says he will pursue this session. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

A judge Wednesday dismissed all claims except one brought by a group of Maui Lani homeowners who sued over development of the Central Maui Regional Sports Complex. Maui News.

This was a year of great storms, both political and climatic. Maui Time.


Kauai

The calendar has turned to 2015, and County of Kauai officials are looking at the new year with a list of fresh — and sometimes ongoing — goals. Tackling drug use, citing a new landfill, creating more job opportunities, funding sustainable transportation alternatives and reforming the county’s real property tax system are just a few that individual officials say they want to tackle over the next year. Garden Island.

Kauai will host 900 of the world’s leading information technology specialists this week as they converge for the Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences. Garden Island.

Hawaii tourism hot, audit finds University of Hawaii funds lacking, Obama meets with school chums, task force recommends medical marijuana dispensaries, $100M for Oahu roads, shopkeepers want to return to Pahoa despite lava threat, gaming company sues Honolulu prosecutor, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Girls at Waikiki surfboard rental © 2014 All Hawaii News

Hawaii's tourism industry is on track to reach another record number of visitors and spending in 2014, for the third year in a row. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s tourism industry is on track to contribute nearly $300 million more to the state’s economy compared with last year, according to data from the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Civil Beat.

More than a quarter of the so-called special funds and revolving funds maintained by the University of Hawaii — including the Manoa athletics special fund — do not meet legislative criteria and should be repealed or reclassified, a state audit released Tuesday concluded. Star-Advertiser.

The state auditor’s office, led by Jan Yamane, has found that 17 of 65 funding sources for the University of Hawaii have at least one thing wrong with them and some should be repealed altogether because they no longer serve their original purpose. Civil Beat.

Since returning to his childhood home this month on vacation, President Barack Obama has spent a good part of most days cloistered with three people whose company puts him at ease. They're not his wife and daughters, who came with him, but a trio of pals whose friendship dates back to Obama's high school days in Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

The Medical Marijuana Dispensary Task Force has finished its work and recommended that the state establish dispensaries to make it easier for patients with certain conditions like cancer, glaucoma and HIV, among others, to get the drug legally. KHON2.

Management of individually owned vacation units is handled differently statewide, but their spread has created similar controversy across the islands. The one exception is Hawaii island, where officials say creating extra places for visitors to stay is mostly welcomed. Star-Advertiser.

Blake Oshiro is rejoining the law firm of Alston Hunt Floyd & Ing to work on its government relations team. Oshiro spent the past three years as deputy chief of staff to Gov. Neil Abercrombie. Civil Beat.

2014 in review: Top news was Ige's election and No. 2, Pele's projection. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu

City officials are spending more than $100 million annually to dig out from years of road-repair neglect, and new data show that paving crews are sustaining their scheduled pace to fix the worst of the island's city-owned roads. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu City Council will inaugurate new members this week. Hawaii Supreme Court Associate Justice Sabrina McKenna is scheduled to administer the oath of office on Friday. Associated Press.

Honolulu's controversial $5.16 billion elevated rail project saw some highs and lows in 2014, the former when courts cleared the way for the project, the latter as the agency charged with overseeing the project reveals mounting costs beyond what was budgeted. Pacific Business News.

The lead defendant in a state case regarding gambling machines is suing the city, Honolulu Prosecutor Keith Kaneshiro, the two deputies Kaneshiro assigned to the case and a department investigator for allegedly knowingly presenting false information to the grand jury that returned an indictment against him. Star-Advertiser.

It was one of the largest white-collar crime cases in Hawaii history. But one month after a state judge tossed the case, the main defendant is suing. In a Circuit Court lawsuit filed today, Tracy Yoshimura accuses Honolulu Prosecutor Keith Kaneshiro of malicious prosecution. Hawaii News Now.

Neighbors of the 7000 Hawaii Kai Drive project by Avalon are beginning to get a sense of what they have to look forward to by the summer of 2016. Civil Beat.

Hawaii

Lava continues to close in on Pahoa Marketplace, but some businesses that fled earlier this month already inquired with Hawaii County Civil Defense about returning. Tuesday morning’s overflight of the June 27 lava flow revealed the leading edge crept 40 yards further downslope within 24 hours, bringing it to within a half-mile of Highway 130 and 660 yards from the rear of the marketplace. Tribune-Herald.

The only Hawaii-owned and operated large-scale dairy left in the state is in the process of being sold to Ulupono Initiative, Hawaii News Now has learned. Ed Boteilho, whose family has owned and operated Cloverleaf Dairy in the Big Island's Kohala district since 1962, said he's in the process of selling his nearly 900-acre dairy to Ulupono Initiative, the investment company financed by eBay founder, billionaire Pierre Omidyar.

The Nature Conservancy has purchased a 222-acre property at the southern end of Hawaii Island. The conservation organization announced the purchase of the parcel, known as Kahuku Iki, in a Tuesday afternoon news release. West Hawaii Today.

The number of people visiting Hawaii Island rose 4.8 percent and spending climbed 6.8 percent in November compared to the same month in 2013, the Hawaii Tourism Authority reported Tuesday. West Hawaii Today.

The average statewide price of gas has declined 43 cents from New Year’s Eve a year ago. Still, paying an average $3.51 a gallon for regular while the national average stands at $2.27 may have Hawaii drivers wondering why prices here haven’t fallen more quickly than they have. And West Hawaii drivers may be wondering why they’re still having to pony up an average of $3.78 a gallon for regular. West Hawaii Today.

A strong ahi catch late in the year should help East Hawaii residents ring in 2015 with plenty of sashimi and poke on their plates and perhaps a few extra dollars in their pocket. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Based on the 30 or so private Lear, Gulfstream and Falcon jets parked earlier this week on the Haleakala side of Kahului Airport, there are quite a few of the rich and famous spending their holiday season on Maui. Maui News.

Kauai

A bill relating to additional dwelling units recently passed by the Kauai County Council, was signed into law by Mayor Bernard Carvalho, Jr. The new law, Ordinance 981, extends the deadline for obtaining a building permit from Dec. 15, 2014, to Dec. 15, 2024, for property owners that obtained an ADU facilities clearance form before June 16, 2007. Garden Island.

Molokai

After a nearly yearlong closure, Kaunakakai's main hub will reopen Tuesday with new renovations completed. Maui News.

Honolulu affordable housing plans mulled, Schatz rakes in campaign funds, Ellison plans Lanai wine and food fest, no tuition hike for University of Hawaii, dead fish litter Oahu beach, starving monk seals hospitalized in Kona, gubernatorial candidates to debate tonight, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Honolulu Hale © 2014 All Hawaii News

Honolulu City Council leaders say they now want to seriously consider scrapping plans to sell off the city's rental housing stock and instead resurrecting a full-fledged housing department that would oversee buildings and programs that assist the homeless and others who need affordable housing. Star-Advertiser.

When Gov. Neil Abercrombie appointed Brian Schatz in December 2012 to replace the late U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye, the rationale was that Schatz was the best choice for Hawaii's political future. Star-Advertiser.

As the race for Hawaii's U.S. Senate seat heats up, the big money is beginning to pour in. Preliminary figures show that Sen. Brian Schatz has raised more than $820,000 during the second quarter 2014, it's best quarter in a year. Hawaii News Now.

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz raised about $822,000 during the past quarter in the Democratic primary for Senate, sending his fundraising total over $4.8 million for the campaign. Star-Advertiser.

Several U.S. Senate Democrats are fast-tracking a bill,  the Protect Women’s Health from Corporate Interference Act, they say will counter the U.S. Supreme Court's  Hobby Lobby decision. Those senators include Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, Patty Murray, D-Wash., and Mark Udall, D-Colo. Hawaii Reporter.

This may be the last chance for Hawaii television viewers to see the two major Democratic candidates for Governor face-off in an hour-long, live prime-time debate. It's at 7 pm Thursday on all three Hawaii News Now stations -- KGMB, KHNL and KFVE.

University of Hawaii campuses will need to assume flat tuition rates — not the previously approved annual 7 percent hikes — when planning their operating budgets for the next two fiscal years. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii State Ethics Commission will be without its longest-serving member and chair for the last two years when it meets July 23 to tackle the implementation of a public financial disclosure law that has so far prompted the resignations of 18 board members. Leolani Abdul was denied her request to serve another four-year term on the commission. Civil Beat.

Resignations over a new law requiring public disclosure of financial interests for members of various state boards and commission have forced the cancellation of at least three board meetings this week. The number of resignations is now up to a total of 18. Star-Advertiser.

Sheila Weinberg, founder and CEO of the Chicago-based fiscal watchdog Truth in Accounting, said Hawaii can’t claim it's being fiscally prudent because the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund is “drowning in debt.” Hawaii Reporter.

Living Hawaii: The Surprising Price Tag for New Car Buyers in the Islands. Long-distance shipping affects the cost of many goods in Hawaii, but that's not the case for our vehicles. Civil Beat.

Oahu

The $54.6 million the University of Hawaii at Manoa is slated to spend on basic repair and maintenance work this year will hardly make a dent in the school’s notorious backlog, officials say. Civil Beat.

It’s a sight not often seen on the shores of Oahu — dead fish, by the thousands, washing up on the south and west shores. KHON2.

Thousands of people jammed the new Downtown Honolulu Walmart on Wednesday, the first day of business for Hawaii's 10th Walmart store, to buy everything from art supplies, to slippers to DVDs. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

Four malnourished Hawaiian monk seals from remote atolls northwest of Hawaii's main islands arrived Wednesday for emergency care at a new seal hospital in Kailua-Kona. Associated Press.

For the last 50 years, the Big Island Substance Abuse Council has served Hawaii residents by treating individuals who abuse alcohol and drugs. Tribune-Herald.

North Hawaii Community Hospital will participate in the Rim of the Pacific maritime drills on Friday. West Hawaii Today.

Commentary: Six Myths About County’s Waste Incineration Plan. Big Island Now.

Maui

AARP Hawaii will sponsor a gubernatorial debate between Governor Neil Abercrombie and state Senator David Ige at the Maui Beach Hotel in Kahului on Friday, July 18. Maui Now.

On Maui, activists are trying to create a temporary moratorium on GMOS. An organization called The Shaka Movement has put together a ballot initiative for a temporary moratorium on growing genetically modified crops. Hawaii Pubic Radio.

The Westin Maui Resort & Spa plans to triple the size of its ballroom, enlarge its spa and build a three- to four-story parking garage. The Kaanapali resort is seeking permits for the $55 million project. Associated Press.

The Maui County Council has rejected a resolution for a charter amendment proposal limiting the powers of a public commission that reviews county operations. The measure would have placed the commission under the control of the county auditor. Associated Press.

Maui County received an average 2.6 percent interest rate on 20-year bond sales that netted a total of $75.4 million, county Finance Director Danny Agsalog has announced. Maui News.

Maui’s own voyaging canoe, the Moʻokiha o Piʻilani, is scheduled to launch on Friday, July 11, from Māla Wharf in Lahaina. Maui Now.

Kauai

Kauai Rising’s proposed charter amendment aimed at regulating the island’s genetically modified crop industry may not be a charter amendment after all. And whether it will end up on the November ballot is questionable. Garden Island.

Three of the four candidates vying to be the next mayor of Kauai kept things civil during this election season’s first forum on Wednesday. Garden Island.

The "littoral combat ship" that was to make up one-sixth of the U.S. Navy fleet continues to be a work in progress as one of the vessels heads out from Pearl Harbor to take part in a "sink exercise" off Kauai during Rim of the Pacific war games. Star-Advertiser.

Lanai

Another wine and food festival is being planned for Hawaii, this time on the island of Lanai, which will be spearheaded by Oracle Corp. CEO Larry Ellison, the tech billionaire who owns 98 percent of the island. Pacific Business News.

Group sues for Obama Hawaii vacation records, Oprah's Maui garden spotlighted, GMO ban heard in Hawaii County, $5M for rapid transit art, senator gives lobbyist his parking space, teachers withdraw complaint, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Obama with Hawaii troops, courtesy photo

Aloha, U.S. Secret Service - you've been served. About those vacations to Hawaii, we want to know how much they're costing taxpayers. Watchdog Group files lawsuit to obtain records detailing taxpayers’ cost for Obama Family’s Hawaiian vacation. Hawaii Reporter.

The Hawaii State Teachers Association has officially withdrawn its complaint with the Hawaii Labor Relations Board, but it didn’t go as smoothly as Gov. Neil Abercrombie would have liked. Civil Beat.

The Abercrombie administration’s push to modernize the state’s online services is showing results in two agencies that are keys to assuring accountability in government. Civil Beat.

The hottest item on the University of Hawaii Board of Regents’ agenda Thursday will be discussed behind closed doors. Planned talks about the university’s presidency are scheduled for executive session — the part of the meeting when members of the public are asked to leave the room. Civil Beat.

John Radcliffe, one of Hawaii's biggest lobbyists with 30 clients — including the American Chemistry Council, the Hawaii School Bus Association and Corrections Corporation of America — has an "in" that most members of the public don't: Sen. Josh Green lets Radcliffe park in his Senate-assigned stall. Civil Beat.

Two erroneous mailings to 250,000 Quest health insurance members will cost state taxpayers $176,254. Star-Advertiser.

The baggage fees paid to Hawaiian Airlines last year turned out to be the difference between a profit and loss for the state's largest carrier. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Honolulu City officials, with $5 million to spend, formally launched a search Tuesday for artists to create original, Hawaiian-themed works for display along Honolulu's future rail transit line. Star-Advertiser.

Labor costs are rising for the city of Honolulu, putting Mayor Kirk Caldwell at odds with the City Council over whether to cut costs or raise revenues. Civil Beat.

City Council members are saying “thanks, but no thanks” to a Salary Commission recommendation to raise their pay. Star-Advertiser.

State Department of Education  blames consultant for school building slowdown. Hawaii News Now.

City Council members want the Honolulu Police Department to look at the idea of allowing gun owners to obtain firearm registrations and permits at the Kapolei and Kaneohe police substations to reduce long lines. Star-Advertiser.

The Pentagon said Tuesday that shipyard employees, including several thousand workers at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, are excepted from 11 furlough days that other civilian defense employees must take between July 8 and the end of September. Pacific Business News.

Well-known local musician, Weldon Kekauoha, a Grammy-nominated and Na Hoku Hanohano Award-winning musician, says he and his family were discriminated against at a luxury Waikiki hotel. KHON2.

The Hawaiian Humane Society rescued  Tuesday more than 40 purebred Pomeranian puppies and adults from "extremely filthy" living conditions at a longtime breeder's Halawa house. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Hawaii Island residents are likely to see their property taxes rise more than 10 percent this year, but only seven came out Tuesday evening to voice their opinion at the only public hearing on the issue. West Hawaii Today.

Genetic engineering opponents turned out in force Tuesday before the Hawaii County Council to support a bill that could determine the future of agriculture on the Big Island. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park announced Tuesday that it has adopted a finalized plan to protect the park’s ecosystem from damage by non-native ungulates, or hoofed species. Tribune-Herald.

A second former Department of Environmental Management employee pleaded not guilty Tuesday morning to felony and petty misdemeanor charges for allegedly stealing diesel fuel from pumps at the Waimea baseyard. West Hawaii Today.

Work on Queen Kaahumanu Highway isn’t likely to start until September now, Rep. Denny Coffman said Tuesday. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Some Maui residents have gotten a taste of fresh organic produce from a farm started by Oprah Winfrey. Now a broader audience has gotten a taste (visually) of the operation that Winfrey representatives would say little about six months ago. Star-Advertiser.

Oprah Winfrey enlisted Bio-logical Capital's Hawaii operation to create a sustainable farm on some 16 acres of land she owns in Upcountry Maui last summer, and now she's showing off her harvest in next month's issue of O, the Oprah Magazine. Pacific Business News.

While some public high schools in Maui County have seen significant improvements over the past few years in the number of graduates enrolling in a two- or four-year college, most high schools in the county still fall below the state average, according to a recent study. Maui News.

Kauai

Church building sports center for youth, adults. Garden Island.

Kauai Chamber Directory 2013. Garden Island.

Earmarks hit Honolulu Hale, state twice flubs Quest mailings, douple-dippers pull in the paychecks, Molokai students learn ukulele making, TMT opponents file last-ditch appeal, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Honolulu Hale (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

Millions of dollars in taxpayer funds are being funneled to nonprofits and other special interest groups with little public vetting or oversight through a series of earmarks placed in Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s budget by Honolulu City Council members. Civil Beat.

In a mistake that could prove costly for taxpayers, the state will be forced to send a third mailing to 250,000 Quest health insurance members next month because of problems with two earlier correspondences. Star-Advertiser.

The state Department of Human Services has postponed open enrollment for 250,000 low-income people in the QUEST medical coverage program for a second time, a move that will cost taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars. Hawaii News Now.

Hundreds of people across Hawaii work in state and city government, while collecting a public-sector pension at the same time. It’s called “double-dipping” and it’s legal, but at what cost? KHON2.

A bill sitting on Gov. Neil Abercrombie's desk could increase competition for Hawaii pharmacies and make it easier for some residents to receive their medications. Associated Press.

Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, who may benefit from her ties to the late Sen. Daniel Inouye as she runs for his old seat against Sen. Brian Schatz, invoked Inouye’s name earlier today at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Advocates for Hawaiian sovereignty and other Native Hawaiian causes, the homeless and the (de)Occupy Hono­lulu movement dominated a community forum on the future of Thomas Square at the Hawaii Museum of Art on Monday night. Star-Advertiser.

The downtown park has been the central battleground in debates over free speech and homelessness for nearly two years after protesters set up camp as part of a movement that became known as (de)Occupy Honolulu. Civil Beat.

Mark Wong, who founded Hawaii-based Commercial Data Systems and was CEO for 26 years until selling the company last year, was named director of information technology for the City and County of Honolulu. Pacific Business News.

A Leilehua High teacher accused of distributing methamphetamine was the person designated by her school to turn in confiscated drugs to police, a federal prosecutor said in court Monday. Star-Advertiser.

Lengthy gun registration lines at the Honolulu Police Department on Beretania Street have City Councilman Ron Menor looking for a solution. Civil Beat.

HPD memorial salutes officers who died on duty. For their families, friends and fellow officers, the service is an emotional recollection. Star-Advertiser.

A former newswoman's arduous solo journey around Oahu proves a test for both body and mind. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Despite a tight economic year that could require tax hikes to pay for basic services, the Hawaii County Council’s budget includes an extra $900,000 so each council member can have $100,000 to spread around his or her district. West Hawaii Today.

Opponents of the proposed Thirty Meter Telescope to be built atop Mauna Kea filed a last-minute notice of appeal Monday afternoon with Hawaii’s Third Circuit Court. Tribune-Herald.

The former chief of the county’s Highways Division is suing the county and Public Works Director Warren Lee, alleging defamation of character. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii County previously turned down an opportunity to take over a Kailua-Kona affordable housing complex that is now likely to be transferred from a state agency to a private religious school, a county official said Monday. West Hawaii Today.

Big Island members of the state Legislature say the island will benefit from more than $292 million in capital improvement projects secured during the past legislative session. Big Island Now.

Maui

While occupancies at Maui hotels remained flat in the first quarter of the year and in March, money generated at island accommodations continued its upward climb, according to Hospitality Advisors figures released over the weekend. Maui News.

The Maui Visitor Industry Charity Walk held in Wailuku over the weekend raised $701,716, according to preliminary figures released by event organizers. Maui Now.

Kauai
Kaua‘i has now joined the rest of the island counties in placing the county code online. Garden Island.

A hiker missing for nearly two days with little food and water was found Monday morning off the Kaluapuhi Trail in Koke‘e. Garden Island.

Molokai

Nearly 75 third and fourth graders at Kaunakakai Elementary School took a break from regular classes last week for three days. But far from slacking off, they were engaged in the learning experience of a lifetime — building their own ukulele. Molokai Dispatch.

Award winning writer, storyteller, educator, Makia Malo, was diagnosed with Hansen’s disease at age 12, and exiled to Kalaupapa in 1947.  HPR’s Noe Tanigawa spoke with Malo about experiences included in his new memoir. Hawaii Public Radio.