Hawaii House advances minimum wage; GMO, drone bills unlikely to pass, progressives endorse Schatz, schools improve, Honolulu mayor's big budget, AG says geothermal revenues go to Hawaiians, Kaua's nude beaches, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii grocery clerks (c) 2014 All Hawaii News

Lawmakers in the state House of Representatives have advanced a proposal to raise the minimum wage more slowly than what the state Senate had suggested. The House Labor Committee approved the bill unanimously Tuesday. It advances next to the Finance Committee before facing a final House vote to be sent to the governor's desk. Associated Press.

Legislation to increase Hawaii's minimum wage continues to evolve at the 2014 Legislature. The latest version emerged Tuesday, when the House Committee on Labor and Public Employment approved a Senate measure that raises the minimum hourly earning from $7.25 an hour to $10.10. Civil Beat.

U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan on Tuesday lauded Hawaii's public school system for progress made in the third year of its four-year $75 million Race to the Top grant, calling Hawaii a model for other states. The praise marks a sharp turnaround from a year ago, when Hawaii's grant was still partially flagged for the state's slow progress in achieving goals in its aggressive reform plan. Star-Advertiser.

Bills to require labeling of GMO ingredients are unlikely to pass during this legislative session. But a growing demand from consumers to know what’s in their food suggests the conversation is far from over. Hawaii Public Radio.

Slower State Revenue Growth Threatens Efforts to Reform Hawaii Prisons. Civil Beat.

A bill aimed at protecting Hawaii residents’ privacy rights from the potential abuse of unmanned aircrafts, or drones, is dead. The House committees on Transportation and Public Safety did not schedule a hearing for Senate Bill 2608, resulting in it missing the deadline last week to stay alive. Tribune-Herald.

Schatz, Hanabusa

A progressive group based in Washington has endorsed U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz in his U.S. Senate race in Hawaii. The Progressive Change Campaign Committee said Tuesday Schatz was one of the first lawmakers to support expanding social security benefits. Associated Press.

U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa of Hawaii says the way her competitor’s allies made age an issue in her bid for the U.S. Senate is insulting to voters. Hanabusa is running against Sen. Brian Schatz for the seat that opened when Sen. Daniel Inouye died in 2012. Schatz was appointed to the seat by Gov. Neil Abercrombie, and the Democrats will face off in a primary in August. The election will likely be decided then in the heavily Democratic state. Associated Press.

On Tap at the Hawaii Legislature: March 19. A selective list of bills, resolutions, hearings, briefings and events for Wednesday at the state Capitol. Civil Beat.

Oahu

At a time when Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell is asking for more money from taxpayers and increased fiscal restraint, he is seeking to boost his own budget by nearly 70 percent. Caldwell’s proposed fiscal year 2015 budget, which was released Feb. 28, includes $709,752 in expenditures for his six-person office, which is $283,803 more than what was allocated for the current year. Civil Beat.

A City Council committee Tuesday gave a preliminary OK for the city to use condemnation powers to get land for a 3-mile route of the $175 million Kaneohe-Kailua Sewer Tunnel despite objections by property owners of the Aikahi Gardens townhouse complex. Star-Advertiser.

Despite receiving more than 5,600 signed petitions favoring Bill 16, a Honolulu City Council committee Tuesday deferred the measure, which establishes permitting and notification requirements for hotel owners that want to convert rooms into condominiums or time shares. Star-Advertiser.

A school for Kaka‘ako. HCDA redevelopment plan must include considerations like schools and other healthy neighborhood features. Hawaii Independent.

It has been ten years since Bowl-O-Drome closed for business. And the building has remained vacant ever since. KHON2.

Hawaii

Hawaii Attorney General David Louie on Tuesday announced 100 percent of royalties derived from geothermal development on Hawaiian home lands must be used to benefit Native Hawaiians. Tribune-Herald.

A 3rd Circuit Court judge heard arguments Tuesday on a motion to dismiss a lawsuit against the county’s environmental management director. Judge Ronald Ibarra did not rule on the motion, filed by Bobby Jean Leithead Todd’s attorney, Robert Kim, but took the arguments under advisement, according to online court records. West Hawaii Today.

The long-awaited Mamalahoa bypass is going to take a month longer to get started. County Department of Public Works Director Warren Lee said Tuesday that the bid opening originally scheduled for Thursday is being postponed until April 24 to give bidders time to work out their proposals. West Hawaii Today.

A bill seeking funding to launch an international flight training program in Hilo cleared the state House’s Committee on Higher Education on Tuesday. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

A Maui County Council committee on Monday recommended allotting $50,000 to hire outside legal counsel to defend against a lawsuit alleging the county violated the First Amendment rights of a member of the county Liquor Commission, who also is a part-time assistant to Council Member Don Guzman. Maui News.

As a Senate bill to transfer Hawaii's public hospitals to a private nonprofit circulates the Legislature, nearly 150 Maui doctors and other health care providers envision its passage as the only means of incorporating teaching medical centers across the islands. Maui News.

Kauai

Au naturel on Kauai beaches. Some say nudity is freedom of expression, while for others, it’s indecent exposure. Garden Island.

Voters say raise minimum wage, don't legalize marijuana; plane crash kills Maui County planners, Health Connector ailing, Hawaii County asks for waste-to-energy bids, oysters making a comeback, Hawaii tops in nursing home care, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hotel workers rally in Waikiki file photo (c) 2014 All Hawaii News

A large majority of people in the state are in favor of a substantial increase in the minimum wage, a new Civil Beat Poll shows. But the state should not legalize marijuana for recreational use. Increasing the wage from $7.25 an hour to at least $9.25 is something that 68 percent of statewide registered voters agree on. But 59 percent of respondents said they do not want the Aloha State to follow Washington and Colorado in allowing residents to smoke marijuana.

Hawaii has the highest percentage of nursing homes that earned a five-star rating in a new U.S. News & Word Report report, which ranked Hawaii as the No. 1 state in long-term care for best nursing home facilities. Pacific Business News.

The head of the Hawaii Health Connector acknowledged for the first time Wednesday that the state-based insurance exchange won't be sustainable beyond this year. The Connector, the online health insurance marketplace created by the federal Affordable Care Act, needs $15 million a year to operate but expects to earn only $1 million this year from fees. Star-Advertiser.

The head of Hawaii's online health insurance marketplace told state lawmakers Tuesday that it isn't earning enough to pay its bills beyond 2014. Tom Matsuda, the interim executive director of the Hawaii Health Connector, told the House Finance Committee that because so few people have used it, the Health Connector won't break even after this year. About 4,500 people have enrolled in individual insurance plans since the Health Connector launched in October. Associated Press.

Hawaii’s political and military leaders are worried proposed cuts to the military will affect the state’s economy and national security. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel this week announced the Obama administration’s plans to cut the U.S. Army to its smallest size since before World War II. Hawaii Reporter.

Hawaii lawmakers want to carve out an exception in the state Ethics Code so public schools can continue raising money for nonprofit organizations — if it’s educational. Teachers were advised in December to stop encouraging students from participating in the Macy’s “A Million Reasons to Believe” promotion because state employees aren’t allowed to use public resources for private business activities, which generally includes supporting or promoting charities. Civil Beat.

A bill that would mandate the use of “Made in Hawaii” labeling for local agricultural products was approved today during a joint meeting of three state Senate committees. Big Island Now.

Seven of the truly worst things about Hawaii. No, really. Hawaii Independent.

Hawaiian Airlines is suspending daily service to Fukuoka, Japan, due to low demand, the second Asian city it has dropped within the past year after an aggressive international expansion. Star-Advertiser.

On Tap at the Hawaii Legislature: Feb. 27. Civil Beat.

Oahu

City Council leaders said they are generally supportive of Mayor Kirk Caldwell's plan to eliminate roughly 600 vacant job positions and cut the funding for additional slots, a plan projected to save $37 million annually for the money-strapped city budget. Caldwell made the announcement Wednesday, one of several new initiatives unveiled during his second State of the City address. Star-Advertiser.

A plan by Mayor Kirk Caldwell to start charging Oahu property owners $10 a month for trash pickup was shot down by the Honolulu City Council Budget Committee Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

The Mayor of Honolulu delivered his annual State of the City address today…his second since taking office last year. Hawaii Public Radio.

More than one out of every five public schools on Oahu failed to comply with federal school food safety regulations in one or more of the three past academic years, according to data from the state Department of Health. Specifically, the schools were not inspected by state health officials twice annually in at least one of those years — the minimum number of checks required by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which oversees the national school lunch and breakfast programs. Civil Beat.

Trevor Ozawa, a Hawaii Kai resident and attorney, will run to replace Honolulu City Councilman Stanley Chang who is leaving his position to run for U.S. Congress, according to a media release. Civil Beat.

Kamehameha Schools added details to another piece of its Kakaako development master plan Wednesday, announcing a project called 400 Keawe expected to add 183 homes in two midrise buildings in early 2016. The roughly $60 million project is made up of a six-story condominium with 95 units developed by Castle & Cooke Homes Hawai‘i Inc., and a seven-story apartment building with 88 rentals developed by Kamehameha Schools. Star-Advertiser.

Oysters grown in a nutrient-rich ancient Hawaiian fishpond for about seven months, hit the local market Monday afternoon as the first state-certified commercial harvest in decades. Star-Advertiser.

Developing Agriculture: HCDA Helps Restore Kalo Fields in Windward Oahu. Civil Beat.

Hawaii

Mayor Billy Kenoi on Wednesday laid out an aggressive time line to locate a waste-to-energy facility — by far the county’s largest public works project — at the site of the Hilo landfill before he leaves office in 2016. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii County could receive $306,237 to evict the little fire ant from its parks. The Senate Committee on Ways and Means will consider a bill today to provide the funds to the county Parks and Recreation Department as part of a pilot project. Tribune-Herald.

An amendment going before the county’s planning commissions will bring the county’s zoning code into line with the state Land Use Commission rules. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

A chartered plane carrying five Maui County employees crashed moments after attempting to take off from the Lanai airport Wednesday night, killing three, critically injuring two and seriously injuring a sixth person, county officials say. Hawaii News Now.

Three people killed and three injured in a fiery plane crash on Lanai Wednesday night were Maui County employees returning on a chartered plane after attending a Lanai Planning Commission Meeting. A Maui County news release said the three people killed were the pilot of the plane and two Department of Planning employees. Two other planning employees were in critical condition and a deputy attorney for the Corporation Counsel was in serious condition. Star-Advertiser.

Three people are dead, and three others are injured after a plane chartered by the County of Maui crashed about a mile outside of the Lānaʻi on Wednesday night. County officials have since confirmed that the pilot and two Department of Planning employees suffered fatal injuries in the crash. Maui Now.

A plane crashed about a half-mile from Lanai Airport on Wednesday night, according to police and a witness near the crash site. Maui News.

Lifeguard Tamara Paltin has launched a campaign for Maui County mayor that's short on money and election paraphernalia, but, she says, long on her concern for addressing community issues. Maui News.

Kauai

At least one county councilman wants the public to know the whole story. Kauai County Councilman Mel Rapozo said Wednesday he will make a motion, at a later time, to release executive session minutes to the public dealing with the civil suit filed by Councilman Tim Bynum against the county. Garden Island.

Kauai County is paying more than $250,000 to settle a wrongful prosecution lawsuit by County Councilman Tim Bynum, Hawaii News Now has learned. Bynum's suit accused former Prosecutor Shaylene Iseri-Carvalho of retaliating against him by filing criminal charges after he questioned the financial activities of the prosecutor's office.

‘Every time it rains, we flood’ Kamalu Road resident has been battling culvert issue for 7 years. Garden Island.

Abercrombie, Ige tied in poll for governor, Hawaii ranked high in shark attacks, Hanohano on the hot seat, Maui group wants GMO regs, no new taxes for Hawaii County, HECO execs get raises, Caldwell to deliver state of the city, more news from all the Hawaian Islands

Abercrombie vs. Ige

A new Civil Beat Poll suggests that state Sen. David Ige has a shot at unseating Hawaii's incumbent governor, Neil Abercrombie. Ige and Abercrombie are tied at 37 percent apiece among likely Democratic primary voters, the poll shows. And more than a quarter of those voters, or 26 percent, say they are unsure of who they'll vote for.

Hawaii tallied the second-highest count of shark attacks of any place on Earth last year, according to the University of Florida's annual International Shark Attack File report released last week. Only Florida had more shark attacks, with 23. Star-Advertiser.

Dozens of Hawaii legislators have written Gov. Neil Abercrombie urging him to reappoint their former House colleague to lead the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission. As Civil Beat reported Wednesday, the governor could be disappointed that PUC Commissioner Mina Morita has not helped advance aspects of his energy agenda and that the PUC has been slow in issuing opinions. Morita may have raised the governor's ire due to the PUC's rejection of a Big Island biofuel contract and the commission's ongoing delays in letting an inter-island cable plan go forward.

The top thing to watch for this week in the Hawaii state Legislature is what didn't notably happen last week: a promised meeting among House leadership to discuss possible censure of Rep. Faye Hanohano. Associated Press.

In drafting legislation to regulate the budding unmanned aerial vehicle industry, legislators nearly excluded all uses of the devices, except by law enforcement — the opposite of their intent. Star-Advertiser.

After an informational briefing highlighted the medicinal values and outlined the path and roadblocks to implementation of marijuana dispensaries, Rep. Della Au Belatti calls for "steady, measured and reasonable dialogue" on the subject. Hawaii Independent.

Measure regulating dietary supplements gets little attention. Star-Advertiser.

The League of Women Voters of Hawaii is urging taxpayers to support the state's election campaign fund. The league asked last week that taxpayers indicate on their income tax returns that $3 for individuals, or $6 for joint filers, should go to the fund. Associated Press.

University of Hawaii Board of Regents Vice Chairman James Lee has been passed up by Gov. Neil Abercrombie for another term on the board. Star-Advertiser.

The state Department of Education has convened a working group to review an experimental sex-education program in public schools that has been criticized by Republican lawmakers. The program entitled Pono Choices was developed by the University of Hawaii for seventh-graders. Big Island Now.

Hawaii’s online health insurance exchange hopes to boost enrollment by targeting younger adults. The Hawaii Health Connector is making an aggressive push this weekend aimed at so-called “invincibles,” those who see insurance as an unnecessary expense. Associated Press.

The president and the executive staff of Hawaiian Electric Co., the state’s largest electric utility, received higher base salaries in 2013, but their total compensation for the year was lower compared to the year before, according an annual report for parent Hawaiian Electric Industries. Pacific Business News.

In her keynote address at Sunday's opening of the 17th biennial Ocean Sciences Meeting, National Geographic explorer Elizabeth Kapuuwailanui Lindsey shared a memory about her late mentor, Pius "Mau" Piai­lug, the esteemed Micronesian navigator whose work to preserve traditional way-finding practices influenced generations of modern Polynesian voyagers. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

When Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell delivers his second State of the City address this week, it won't be at Honolulu Hale, or even Kapolei Hale in the  "Second City." For the first time, it will be delivered at McCoy Pavilion at Ala Moana Park. Hawaii News Now.

Thousands of ocean scientists are in Hawaii this week for a conference at the Hawaii Convention center. Their goal is to address major marine issues around the world. Organizers feel hawaii is the perfect place to begin the discussion. KHON2.

Beginning Monday, February 24, a tree care company hired by the city will begin the removal of two mature monkeypod trees growing along Kapiolani Boulevard. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii

Increases in property values coupled with an improving economy should provide enough revenue to balance the county budget without having to raise property taxes this year, despite across-the-board salary hikes for county employees covered by collective bargaining agreements. West Hawaii Today.

State Rep. Faye Hanohano's recent remarks and actions have roiled the state Capitol, but in her home district of Puna her constituents remain divided about the alleged misconduct. In Pahoa, a once-sleepy town that has mushroomed into a bustling gathering place for people living in the region's many sprawling subdivisions, there are those who still support Hanohano and those who shake their heads at the mention of her name. Star-Advertiser.

The University of Hawaii Center at West Hawaii has a new director. The University of Hawaii Board of Regents Thursday night hired Kenneth “Marty” Fletcher to helm the community college, which will become the University of Hawaii at Palamanui. West Hawaii Today.

A former president of Hilo Little League has pleaded guilty in federal court to embezzling tens of thousands of dollars in league funds, plus money from two youth soccer teams, a pageant organization and a car repair and alignment shop. Tribune-Herald.

Maui
Five Maui County residents are looking to gather at least 8,500 signatures for a ballot initiative that would force genetically engineered food growers, such as Monsanto, to "prove that their crops are safe," supporters said. Maui News.

As the state Public Utilities Commission continues to gather public testimony to determine whether a Maui-Oahu undersea power cable would be in the public interest, Upcountry residents were able to ask energy officials and experts questions about the proposal during the Kula Community Association meeting Wednesday night. Maui News.

A total of 1,331 humpback whale sightings were recorded during the Pacific Whale Foundation’s annual Great Whale Count held on Saturday. Maui Now.

A workshop that will include officials from Google, who will help small businesses take advantage of online opportunities, will be held March 19 at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center. Maui News.

Kauai

Four Kauai charter schools will continue to operate thanks to a shot of emergency financial support. The Board of Trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs approved $1.5 million in emergency funding to 17 Hawaiian-focused public charter schools for the 2013-2014 school year to address the budgetary shortfalls the schools have faced over the past five years. Garden Island.

Several teachers at Kilauea Elementary School are feeling such pressure to implement a new pilot program called the Educator Effectiveness System, they’ve sent a letter protesting the measure to the Hawaii Board of Education and the Hawaii Department of Education. Garden Island.

They know about birthing babies, judge says police must release records, stiff e-cig tax mulled, hospital privatization advances, state picks up $5M baggage screening tab, Waikiki tile rainbow to be restored, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaiian family man (c) 2014 All Hawaii News

Dozens of mothers and their children crowded a hallway at the Hawaii State Capitol on Monday afternoon hoping to shoot down a proposal to increase government oversight of home births. The measure, Senate Bill 2569, creates a regulatory framework for people who help women give birth at home. Home births currently aren't regulated in Hawaii and advocates for the bill say that it would make such births safer for women and their babies. Civil Beat.

Legislation proposing to establish a home birth safety board to regulate midwives and providers drew passionate testimony Monday from both sides of the spectrum. Star-Advertiser.

A new bill in the senate aims at making licensing a requirement for home birth providers. Supporters say educational mandates for those who practice mid-wifery are long overdue, but opponents fear the bill will put an end to the practice. KITV4.

For nearly 20 years, Hawaii police officers who were suspended for misconduct have been able to hide behind an exemption in the state’s public records law that prevents officials from releasing their names and details of disciplinary actions. But on Monday, in a case brought by Civil Beat, Hawaii Circuit Court Judge Karl Sakamoto ruled that police cannot be above the law when it comes to disclosure of their misconduct.

State lawmakers on Monday advanced bills that could heavily tax electronic smoking devices in Hawaii. People who sell the devices, also called vaporizers or e-cigs, turned out to hearings Friday and Monday to oppose the bills (SB2495 and SB2496). They said the devices help people stop smoking cigarettes and that high taxes could put their shops out of business. Star-Advertiser.

A bill that would clear the way for public-private hospital partnerships in Hawaii is getting across-the-board support. Testimony for Senate Bill 3064, which was scheduled for a Senate Health Committee hearing Monday afternoon, shows representatives from a number of Hawaii Health Systems Corp. hospitals are in favor of the measure, which would allow nonprofit hospitals already operating in Hawaii to partner with the state-supported facilities. West Hawaii Today.

Previous measures have failed to get very far at the Legislature, but now that Washington and Colorado have changed their laws on marijuana, Hawaii lawmakers are given the idea another look. Civil Beat.

A bill that would remove the state’s general excise tax from groceries and medical services has stalled in the Legislature. Introduced by Sen. Sam Slom, Senate Bill 2169 would also make seeds and garden plants, as well as meals prepared for those age 60 and above, exempt from the GET. Big Island Now.

Of all the ants in all the world, Hawaii had to get bitten by this one. Hawaii lawmakers on Monday advanced a bill aiming to study and kill the little fire ant, a hard-stinging pipsqueak that threatens the state's economy and ecology. Associated Press.

On Tap at the Hawaii Legislature: Feb. 11. Civil Beat.

State Land Board Chairman William Aila said he will seek fines against two people who damaged a front door of Iolani Palace and made their way into the historic building Sunday morning. Star-Advertiser.

KHON2 has exclusive video of two suspects arrested for vandalizing Iolani Palace over the weekend.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie is currently considering his third appointment to the Hawaii Supreme Court. He received a list of six candidates from the Judicial Selection Commission on Jan. 27. Under the state Constitution a governor must make the judicial appointment within 30 days of receiving the commission's list. That deadline falls on Feb. 26. Star-Advertiser.

The state Department of Health will temporarily be without a director. Gary Gill, who Gov. Neil Abercrombie named as interim director after Loretta Fuddy died in a plane crash off Molokai in December, returned to his deputy director for environmental health administration post on Monday after the interim appointment expired. Star-Advertiser.

The number of discrimination complaints filed statewide increased in 2013, with retaliation as the most common suit against employers. Garden Island.

Scientists are using crittercams and crowdsourcing to bust myths about Hawaiian monk seals.  The incredible footage they're gathering from little cameras mounted onto the seals' backs are dispelling misconceptions many have had about the endangered species. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu
The state Department of Transportation is paying $5 million for a baggage screening contract at Honolulu International Airport that airlines used to pay for, Hawaii News Now has learned.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell is visiting the Philippines. Caldwell's office says the purpose of the visit is to strengthen ties, promote business opportunities and renew sister-city relationships. Associated Press.

Come rain or shine, a rainbow always will grace the Waikiki skyline thanks to Hilton Hawaiian Village's $4.25 million commitment to restore the colorful ceramic-tile bands around the sides of its Rainbow Tower. Star-Advertiser.

There’s a proposal to install a zipline above an Aiea neighborhood, but not everyone is happy about it. The Aiea Neighborhood Board will take up the issue at its monthly meeting. KHON2.

Shares of Cardax Pharmaceuticals rose sharply on the first day of public trading for the Honolulu-based biotech firm. Cardax opened at $1.50 a share and rose as high as $3.25 a share before closing at $3.05 in the over-the-counter market. Trading volume was 5,200 shares. Star-Advertiser.

Sir Russell Coutts, CEO of Larry Ellison’s Oracle Team USA, which won the 2013 America’s Cup in one of the greatest comebacks in sports history, will be the keynote speaker at a Hawaii Coast Guard Foundation event in April. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

Legislation seeking an environmental study of Keauhou Bay, the creation of an ocean management recreation area and a moratorium on new commercial vessels permits in the area is likely dead. House Bill 2226 was considered Friday during a joint hearing with the Committee on Land &Water and Committee on Ocean, Marine Resources & Hawaiian Affairs at the state Capitol. West Hawaii Today.

The state House Committee on Higher Education will hear a bill today proposing funding for the Hawaii Island Family Medicine Residency program. The program, administered by Hilo Medical Center and Hawaii Health Systems Corp., is viewed as an important tool to help address the Big Island’s growing doctor shortage. Tribune-Herald.

The Environmental Protection Agency has ordered the state’s Clean Air Branch to modify or reissue an air pollution permit for the proposed Hu Honua Bioenergy facility in Pepeekeo. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Home Birth Bill in Senate Prompts Demonstration on Maui. Maui Now.

Kauai

Authorities are investigating the poisoning deaths of five pets in a Kauai subdivision but say it's unclear whether they were intentional. The four dogs and one cat were poisoned Jan. 25 in Kalaheo using paraquat, a highly toxic pesticide used to kill unwanted plants, state Department of Agriculture spokeswoman Janelle Saneishi said. Associated Press.

The Anianiau is one of six Kauai forest birds found nowhere else on Earth, restricted to the high elevations of Kokee and the Alakai Swamp. Garden Island.

Rising for justice. Red flags aim to raise awareness for domestic violence. Garden Island.

Don't do this to Hawaii's coral reefs, health exchange lagging, auditor sues Kauai County, state Rep. Coffman resigns, Honolulu mayor, council bicker over homeless plan, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii tourists trampling snorkel reef (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

The Department of Land and Natural Resources will hold statewide public hearings to amend Hawaii Administrative Rules relating to stony coral and live rock. The proposed amendments would clarify what activities constitute “damage” to stony coral and live rock, and establish a formula for calculating administrative penalties for such violations.

Just 574 people have signed up for the Hawaii Health Connector, about one half of one percent of the state’s 1.4 million people. So far, the federal government allocation for each successful sign-up comes to about $348,000 — each. Hawaii Reporter.

As of the close of business on Friday, Hawaii’s online health care exchange had registered a total of 574 enrollments for new health care insurance plans, according to Hawaii Health Connector spokesman Bobby Lambrix. Much like the national online marketplace, the state site has experienced delays and technical glitches that have served to impede individuals looking to purchase health plans before the Dec. 23 federally mandated deadline under the Affordable Care Act. Tribune-Herald.

Tom Matsuda has resigned from his post as Hawaii’s Affordable Care Act implementation manager to take the post as interim executive director of the Hawaii Health Connector, replacing Coral Andrews, who announced her resignation in November. Pacific Business News.

Former Sen. Daniel Akaka will be delivering the keynote address at an annual meeting on the state of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. About 500 people are expected to attend the meeting at Central Union Church in Honolulu on Tuesday. Hawaii News Now.

Installations of solar photovoltaic systems in Hawaii dropped for the third consecutive quarter, according to a report from the Solar Energy Industry Associated that attributed the decline to new utility guidelines for connecting to the grid and stricter rules for claiming renewable energy tax credits. Homes and businesses installed a total of 24.7 megawatts of PV generating capacity in the third quarter, down 17 percent from 29.7 megawatts installed during the previous three-month period, the SEIA said in a report to be released today. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie is expected to attend a meeting Tuesday in Washington focusing on climate change and preparation and recovery from natural disasters. Hawaii News Now.

State roundup for December 10. Associated Press.

Oahu

Mayor Kirk Caldwell says his entire homelessness initiative could be at risk if the Honolulu City Council decides to kill a $142 million affordable housing deal that’s been in the works for more than a year. Civil Beat.

Mayor Kirk Caldwell and the Honolulu City Council are locked in a dispute that could end up costing the city as much as $121 million if a proposed sale of 12 city-owned housing projects to a private contractor doesn't go through. At a news conference Monday, Caldwell accused the Council of putting the $143 million project in jeopardy last week when it introduced a proposal to rescind the sale. He said the project could be lost altogether if the Council follows through with spiking the sale at a meeting Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Given the Internet's tabloid soul, Mayor Kirk Caldwell's first Twitter town hall at the Department of Information Technology's computer lab on Monday had a promising start. Civil Beat.

You can usually count on certain things at Waikiki Beach -- there will be tourists, surfers, and the public restrooms will be open. But one of the main restrooms has been closed for several weeks with little explanation as to why. KHON2.

Hawaii

State Rep. Denny Coffman announced Monday he’s resigning from representing the West Hawaii district he’s served for three terms, an action that sets off a chain of events to ensure District 5 has representation in the state House when the annual legislative session convenes Jan. 15. West Hawaii Today.

Coffman

State Rep. Denny Coffman will be taking a lot of love, support and respect with him after he resigns Dec. 20, according to his colleagues at the Legislature. The Big Island lawmaker announced Monday that he will be stepping down next week for personal reasons. Civil Beat.

Oral arguments begin Friday in the case of six petitioners challenging the state’s decision to grant a permit for the construction of the world’s largest telescopes on Mauna Kea. Tribune-Herald.

In many ways, the future of Mauna Kea on Hawai’i island could be shaped this week .  This Friday, a court in Hilo will hear an appeal of the conservation use permit awarded to the planned Thirty Meter Telescope project.  On the same day in Honolulu, the Board of Land and Natural Resources is scheduled to vote on whether to extend the University’s leases on Mauna Kea for another 65 years.  Hawaii Public Radio.

The Naniloa Volcanoes Resort is not out of rough waters yet. On Monday, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources filed an appeal against the sale of the troubled Hilo hotel while the approved buyer is struggling to come up with funds to complete the purchase. Tribune-Herald.

A proposed plan to clean up contaminated soil at a former Kohala Sugar Co. pesticide mixing site in Hawi calls for on-island landfill disposal. West Hawaii Today.

The state is moving forward with road and waterline system improvements at the Kawaihae Small Boat Harbor in South Kohala. West Hawaii Today.

A Hungarian lunar rover is walking about on the powdery flanks of Mauna Kea with its stereoscopic cameras focused on terrain ahead, a 2015 mission to the moon and the $40 million Google Lunar XPRIZE. More than 20 teams from around the world are competing for the XPRIZE, a global competition to land a robotic spacecraft on the moon. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

The Maui County Council has announced the passage of a resolution in a 6-1 vote, authorizing the appointment of Danny Mateo as County Clerk. Maui Now.

A member of the Maui County Council has introduced a bill that would mandate commercial agricultural entities disclose pesticides and use of genetically modified organisms. Member Elle Cochran introduced the bill on Friday that also would establish pesticide buffer zones and require the county to complete an environmental and public health impact study about pesticides and GMOs. Associated Press.

The deadline for Maui County property owners to file claims for property tax exemptions, condominium-use classification declarations and requests for agricultural-use valuations for the 2014-15 fiscal year is Dec. 31. Maui News.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources is seeking ownership of Haleakala Trail this week, after filing a motion in conjunction with Public Access Trails Hawaii. Maui News.

Kauai

The Kauai County Auditor filed a civil suit against the county alleging retaliation. The complaint, filed by Ernesto Pasion against the County of Kauai, County Council Chair Jay Furfaro and others as defendants, was filed in 5th Circuit Court, a clerk confirmed on Monday. Garden Island.

The plan was to limit testimony to the proposed ballot language for Kauai Island Utility Cooperative’s upcoming special election related to smart meters. In other words, Monday’s public meeting — which packed KIUC’s board room — was not about discussing whether smart meters are good or bad, safe or dangerous. Garden Island.

Community organizations plan to wage a battle against a project with proposed large residential units that they contend will spoil the view of a ridgeline north of Kauai's Hanalei River. Star-Advertiser.

Advisories warning Kauai residents about brown water that may contain hazardous substances should be issued faster and in more detail, according to an environmental group. Associated Press.

Hawaii eyes undersea mining, Honolulu transit deputy worked for winning bidder, Maui preps for GMO fight, state ends year in the black, state struggles with new safety check rules, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

NOAA whale watching ship and humpbacks, courtesy photo

A scientific study says humpback whales in the North Pacific should be looked at as at least five distinct populations, rather than just a single species undergoing recovery. The study, including genetic analysis, goes against the traditional way humpback whales have been counted as one group in evaluating their recovery as an endangered species. The study comes at a time when a Hawaii group is petitioning to remove humpback whales in the North Pacific from the endangered species list. Star-Advertiser.

With the return of the wintering whales to Hawaii, officials from the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary are reminding the public to keep a safe distance from the protected and endangered animals. Maui Now.

An unprecedented era of undersea mining deep in the Pacific Ocean is poised to begin, University of Hawaii researchers say, and they aim to help protect the region's biodiversity once that mining starts. Companies and countries around the world have secured at least 12 mining exploration claims across a vast swath of ocean several hundred miles south of Hawaii called the Clarion Clipperton fracture zone, according to a UH news release. Eventually, they could scrape the sea floor in those areas for manganese, copper, cobalt, nickel and other resources. Star-Advertiser.

Brown Water Advisories following heavy rain are not to be ignored or taken lightly, according to Watson Okubo, the monitoring and analysis section chief of the state Department of Health’s Clean Water Branch. Garden Island.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie said Hawaii ended the most recent fiscal year $844 million in the black. The governor said in a statement Friday the administration has worked diligently to stabilize and grow Hawaii’s economy. Associated Press.

Five weeks into the new program, auto mechanics and vehicle owners are reporting lengthy delays and confusion surrounding the way vehicle inspections are now conducted and documented. The Hawaii Department of Transportation, working with the county motor vehicle departments, rolled out the program Nov. 1 and simultaneously upped the fees for car and truck inspections to help pay for it. Civil Beat.

The two youngest members of the U.S. Senate are co-sponsoring a bill aimed at lowering college costs that includes withholding federal funds from schools that don't meet affordability and quality standards. Democratic Sens. Chris Murphy of Connecticut and Brian Schatz of Hawaii are planning to introduce the legislation this week. The two are still paying off their college loans. Associated Press.

Oahu
The man who is second in command of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation was until earlier this year a vice president with CH2M Hill, the company that recently edged out other bidders for a $46.1 million engineering contract for the Honolulu rail project that HART is overseeing. But HART officials say Deputy Executive Director Brennon Morioka had no involvement with the agency's decision to award the contract to his former employer. Civil Beat.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell has a hefty household income when you factor in his city salary, his paid position on a local bank board of directors, his state pension and the paycheck his wife pulls down. Caldwell earns nearly $130,000 a year as mayor, but also gets paid between $200,000 and $299,999 thousand as a director of Territorial Savings Bank. He also has between $400,000 and $499,999 worth of stock in the company. Civil Beat.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell will be taking questions from the public Monday in a virtual town hall meeting. Hawaii News Now.

A hui of North Shore community members gathered near Laniakea Beach on Sunday to protest the state Department of Transportation's proposal to stop traffic snarls and safety problems in the area by blocking off access to a strip of land along Kame­ha­meha Highway that beachgoers use as a parking lot. Star-Advertiser.

Dozens turned out at Laniakea Beach Sunday to protest the state's plans to barricade the beach's parking lot. And many said the Department of Transportation's proposal to install concrete barriers and shut down the parking lot will worsen the community's already severe traffic problems. Hawaii News Now.

Regardless of what the state eventually decides to do about the volume of visitors stopping to see the turtles basking on the shores of Laniakea Beach on Oahu's North Shore, a group of volunteers continues to watch over the reptiles. Malama na Honu, translated as "care for the turtles," is a nonprofit group created in 2007 to protect Hawaiian green sea turtles, a threatened species protected by federal and state laws. Star-Advertiser.

For the past decade, Waimanalo homeowner Tom Grande has battled the city to try to get a large mound of fill material removed from the hillside just above his residence and in the middle of a dam inundation zone. But Grande, an attorney, thus far has been unsuccessful, and his legal fight has exposed what he says is a troubling gap in the law dealing with dumping of fill on agriculture land. Star-Advertiser.

More wealth shifts to Oahu neighborhoods. Four Oahu ZIP codes crack top 10 wealthiest in Hawaii for the first time. Pacific Business News.

U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, Democrat representing Hawaii's 2nd District, will be the keynote speaker at Hawaii Pacific University's graduation ceremonies Dec. 18. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

The economy hasn’t always cooperated, nor has the County Council, but as he finishes his fifth year in office, Mayor Billy Kenoi sees more in his win column than he’s lost. Kenoi, who first took office Dec. 1, 2008, and entered his second four-year term Dec. 5, 2012, likes to recount a laundry list of accomplishments. West Hawaii Today.

Forest land boasting one of the largest old-growth koa stands is up for grabs in Hamakua. Known as the “Ohana Sanctuary” by its current owners, the land consists of 3,127 acres of largely untouched forest near Akaka Falls. And it fetches a hefty price of $22 million. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

The Maui County Council on Friday may have ruined the county's opportunity to purchase 186 acres in Launiupoko for a long-envisioned coastline parkway by failing to take a vote on the deal as an end-of-the-month deadline loomed. Maui News.

Some environmentalists and farmers on Maui appear poised for a conflict on a bill to add more regulations on those using pesticides commercially, including businesses involved in producing genetically modified organisms. Star-Advertiser.

Maui County could be joining Hawaii and Kauai counties in creating an ordinance to regulate pesticides and genetically modified organisms by commercial agricultural companies. Maui News.

Current executive assistant to the mayor and former Maui County Council Chairman Danny Mateo was appointed by the Maui County Council on Friday to be the county clerk. Maui News.

Maui Economic Opportunity's paratransit system has, again, come under fire for delays in service, said riders at a meeting last week at the nonprofit. Maui News.

Kauai

Seed companies bolster Keiki Toy Ride gifts. Garden Island.

Another Hawaii county limits GMOs, Japanese princess visits, Hannemann may run again, state hospital investigation, monk seal kills, housing upturn and more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

University of Hawaii plant geneticist James Brewbaker courtesy photo

First Kauai, then Hawaii Island and, next, Maui. A wave of dissent against pesticides and genetically modified (GMO) crops is overtaking the Hawaiian Islands. See articles under individual island headings below.

It's been rumored for months that Mufi Hannemann is considering a return to politics, either in a run for his old Honolulu City Council seat or the 1st Congressional District seat being vacated by Colleen Hanabusa. Now the talk is that the former Honolulu mayor may have settled on Congress, a seat that he has sought unsuccessfully three times. Civil Beat.

A Japanese princess is visiting Hawaii for the next week. Princess Akiko is scheduled to watch storytellers tell Japanese and Hawaiian myths at the Hawaii Theater in Honolulu over the weekend. Associated Press.

From 2009 to 2012, humans are suspected of killing at least eight monk seals in the main Hawaiian islands. Rewards of tens of thousands of dollars have been offered and federal officials say they make serious efforts to investigate cases and bring offenders to justice. But do they? Civil Beat.

The feds are looking into workplace violence at the state’s hospital for the criminally insane after allegations of abuse of staff by patients recently surfaced. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating  the Hawaii State Hospital, hospital administrators have confirmed. Hawaii Reporter.

For the past six years, Macy's has run a campaign urging kids to write letters to Santa to raise money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. While some schools on the mainland have joined in the effort by encouraging students to take part, that can't happen here, according to the State Ethics Commission. The commission issued an advisory Thursday, saying that the state ethics code prohibits state employees from using work time and state resources for non-state related business purposes, which generally includes supporting or promoting private charities. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

If all goes as planned, Mayor Kirk Caldwell's "Twitter town hall" on Dec. 9 will be backed by the largest response team for a microblog meeting that Hawaii has seen. Civil Beat.

Kewalo Basin small boat harbor has become a magnet for dining and retail development plans, attracting two bids in recent months for an Italian seafood restaurant and a wedding hall. Now a third proposal, which includes a food hall concept, has been floated. Star-Advertiser.

A ceremony will take place Friday at the Arizona Memorial Visitor Center to commemorate the 72nd anniversary of the Dec. 7 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii

Mayor Billy Kenoi’s decision to sign Bill 113 came as a relief and surprise to some while others contemplated what impact it might have on Big Island farming. Kenoi signed the bill banning open-air use and open-air testing of genetically modified crops, with some exemptions, Thursday. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii Island Mayor Billy Kenoi Thursday afternoon signed a bill designed to limit the future planting of genetically modified crops. Hawaii County is the second county in the state to restrict genetically modified crops. The Kauai County Council voted Nov. 16 to override a veto of a bill requiring large farms to disclose use of genetically modified crops. Star-Advertiser.

Mayor Billy Kenoi signed Bill 113 into law on Thursday, prohibiting biotech companies from operating on the Big Island and banning farmers from growing any new genetically altered crops. The bill exempts the island’s GMO papaya industry. HuffPost Hawaii.

Big Island Mayor Billy Kenoi has signed a bill restricting genetically modified crops. The mayor's office says he signed the bill Thursday. Associated Press.

An Ocean View swap meet must control its traffic if it wants to keep its special permit, the Windward Planning Commission said Thursday. In a unanimous vote, the commission gave the farmers market and swap meet, located at the intersection of Mamalahoa Highway and Prince Kuhio Boulevard, three conditions it must meet. West Hawaii Today.

All signs point to a continuing healthy housing market on the Big Island with positive numbers across the board, including double-digit percentage gains in the number of sales for single-family homes and condominiums last month when compared to the same month last year, according to data released Thursday by the Hawaii Information Service. Pacific Business News.

Maui

The fight over genetically engineered crops and pesticides is shifting to Maui. Councilwoman Elle Cochran plans to submit a bill to the Maui County Council on Friday requiring agricultural companies to disclose details about their pesticide use to the county, while farmers would have to report any genetically altered organisms they are growing.  Civil Beat.

A blessing was held on Thursday morning for the new Kīhei Police Station, which houses a detective bureau, a criminal investigation division, a training division, uniform services and executive offices. Maui Now.

Jeffrey Kuwada has retired as Maui County clerk, effective Sunday, and former County Council Chairman Danny Mateo is on deck to replace him. Maui News.

Kauai

Large agribusinesses on Kauai have started following a state Department of Agriculture voluntary program to disclose pesticide use and establish buffer zones for spraying. Companies are setting up meetings with officials of neighboring schools, medical facilities and residential properties to address concerns about pesticide use under the Kauai Agricultural Good Neighbor Program, which took effect Sunday. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai’s housing market saw some nice gains in the median sales prices of single-family homes and condominiums in November, including a 13 percent hike in the median price of a single-family home and a 2 percent increase in the median price of a condominium, when compared to the same month last year, according to statistics released on Thursday by the Hawaii Information Service. Pacific Business News.

It was a historic day at 5th Circuit Court on Thursday, with the first same-sex civil marriage ceremony to be held in the county, and the first double wedding officiated by Judge Kathleen Watanabe. Garden Island.

Molokai

As more Hawaii residents flock toward raising chickens in their backyards, some may not be aware of the state and federal health regulations for selling their eggs to the public. As part of a statewide tour by the Hawaii Departments of Health and Agriculture and the University of Hawaii, a dozen of Molokai’s backyard egg farmers familiarized themselves with these guidelines during an egg workshop last Tuesday. Molokia Dispatch.

Couples wed as Hawaii gay marriage law takes effect, public records priced out of public range, new film commissioner for Maui, new publisher at Big Island media, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii's first gay marriage, courtesy Equality Hawaii

Same-sex couples are taking advantage of Hawaii's new-found aloha for gay weddings. Associated Press.

Forty-five minutes past the stroke of midnight today, six couples became Hawaii’s first same-sex couples to marry. The New Civil Rights Movement.

Same-sex marriage took more than two decades of activism to reach Hawaii, but the first ceremonies only took a few minutes. Forty-five minutes after midnight Monday — the moment state marriage license applications became available online — six same-sex couples began to exchange their vows at a festive, historic celebration on the 30th floor of the Sheraton Waikiki. Civil Beat.

Today the wait is over for local same sex couples looking to get married in the Aloha State. Hawaii recently became the latest to legalize marriage equality and the law will go into effect starting today. Hawaii Public Radio.

Same-sex couples marry on historic first day in Hawaii. Associated Press.

Supporters of gay marriage were set to celebrate their impending midnight unions Sunday afternoon with bouncy castles, food trucks and musical performers, but Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell's Marriage Equality Family Day and Celebration at Thomas Square had to be canceled because of inclement weather. Star-Advertiser.

Pacific Business News reports that a major private corrections company is "very interested" in helping Hawaii solve its prison overcrowding problem by building new prisons here. It's the same company, Corrections Corporation of America, that houses hundreds of Hawaii prisoners in its Arizona facilities. Civil Beat.

One way to keep tabs on the public’s money is to review the governor’s travel records. That’s pretty standard procedure for journalists in most states, especially when an incumbent is up for reelection. But it’s tough to do in Hawaii. The cost of public records effectively invalidates the state public records law in many instances. It’s just too expensive for the public to pay the price the agencies charge to review records that are legally available under the Uniform Information Practices Act, Hawaii’s decades-old public records law. Civil Beat.

On the morning of Dec. 7, 1941, Robert Lee saw the battleship USS Arizona turn red hot and heard it hiss like a tea kettle after it was hit. He shot at Japanese warplanes with a .22 rifle, and joined the Hawaii Territorial Guard the next day for fear the island would be invaded. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Budget talks for Fiscal Year 2015 are already taking place inside Honolulu Hale, and the conversation isn’t pretty. The city is facing a projected $156 million shortfall in the coming year, which has caused Mayor Kirk Caldwell to institute a strict spending cap on all departments. There’s already a $28 million deficit in the current fiscal year, which began July 1, and that has already resulted in some cuts. Civil Beat.

Hawaii

Almost a year after county Legislative Auditor Colleen Schrandt resigned, the position has not yet been filled and it’s unclear how much, if any, auditing has actually gone on. West Hawaii Today.

Work on a Hawaii biomass facility that was expected to generate 10 percent of the Big Island’s electricity needs has been halted until developer, Hu Honua Bioenergy, receives the final regulatory permits and approvals, leaving up to 20 workers, a mix of contract workers and employees, off the job, according to John Sylvia, the company’s CEO. Pacific Business News.

David Bock takes over today as publisher of the Hawaii Tribune-Herald. Bock, 47, succeeds Ted Dixon, who is retiring. Dixon was publisher since 2003. Bock, who is editor of the Tribune-Herald and director of news services for Stephens Media Hawaii, will retain his news-related responsibilities. Stephens Media Hawaii.

Maui

Newly selected Maui County Film Commissioner Tracy Bennett is looking to "really push hard" over the next few months to bring a television series to the island next year. Maui News.

Already burdened with the nation's highest electricity bills, Hawaii residents are paying even more for renewable energy development, and what they pay depends on whether they're among the "haves" or the "have-nots." Maui News.

Kauai

A $12 million energy project is underway  at Kauai schools. In the first phase, four schools will be fitted with 22 photovoltaic energy systems through a $1.2 million state initiative. Garden Island.

Kauai Chief of Police Darryl Perry said that with the County Council’s approval of the CrimeNtel intelligence sharing program, the department has an enhanced ability to prevent criminal or terrorist acts by working in conjunction with state and national intelligence and law enforcement networks. Garden Island.

The state Department of Health's Clean Water Branch has issued a brown water advisory for the east-northeast areas of Kauai from Nawiliwili to Hanalei. Star-Advertiser.

Sledgehammer lawmaker defends homeless hunt, Ag Chief Kokubun stepping down to join Hanabusa campaign, Hawaii mulls new prisons, Del Monte settlement first in human trafficking case, alleged embezzlement at Big Island Pop Warner league, Honolulu mayor ethics case heats up, deal reached with firefighter union, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Homeless along the Ala Wai  (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

Despite a firestorm of controversy on Monday, state Rep. Tom Brower once again picked up his sledgehammer and went out to rid his Waikiki-Ala Moana district of shopping carts that homeless people use. He said people have told him that they appreciate the work he has done in the past several weeks to clear the district of stolen and abandoned carts. Institute for Human Services Director Connie Mitchell said Brower's actions could traumatize homeless people and incite street violence. Star-Advertiser.

Tom Brower has found a unique solution to houselessness: he destroys shopping carts with a sledgehammer (and awakens people sleeping at bus stops). Hawaii Independent.

State Rep. Tom Brower has taken a sledgehammer and a novel approach to Hawaii's homeless problem. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii is considering building a new prison on Oahu and new jails statewide to alleviate the state’s overcrowding crisis, including replacing the state’s largest jail, the Oahu Community Correctional Center, with a new facility. Pacific Business News.

A larger replacement for the Oahu Community Correctional Center at a new location is one piece of a possible major overhaul of Hawaii's crowded and old prisons and jails, state officials say. The overhaul could include new or expanded correctional facilities at its seven institutions and adding an eighth facility for a total prison bed space for up to 4,425 inmates. Star-Advertiser.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission reached a $1.2 million settlement with a former Kunia farm in a human trafficking lawsuit involving more than 150 Thai farmworkers. Associated Press.

Kokubon

Russell Kokubun is stepping down as director of the Hawaii Department of Agriculture, in part to help Colleen Hanabusa with her U.S. Senate campaign, according to sources close to the campaign. Civil Beat.

State Rep. Rida Cabanilla has been fined $500 by the state Campaign Spending Commission for filing an inaccurate or false campaign-finance report.Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Fire Fighters Association union has received a tentative deal on a new collective bargaining agreement. According to HFFA President Bobby Lee, a draft arbitration award is now making the rounds throughout the islands. Civil Beat.

Taxpayers have spent $200 million to establish the network for the Affordable Care Act in Hawaii - $53 million on just the Hawaii Health Connector web site development and management alone. However, so far, just 257 individuals have secured healthcare through the exchange. Hawaii Reporter.

The numbers are in and they are low -- just a couple hundred people in Hawaii have signed up for insurance on the new Health Connector website. But it's not for a lack of trying. KHON2 found out the problems people are still having, and how they can be fixed.

The state Department of Health today is dropping off $250,000 worth of voluntarily forfeited OxyELITE Pro products at the HPOWER waste-to-energy plant in Campbell Industrial Park to be destroyed amid an investigation that has linked the dietary supplement to multiple cases of liver damage and acute hepatitis in the isles and around the country. Star-Advertiser.

Tiny Tern Island, a 25-acre strip of land in the middle of the Pacific Ocean that has been inundated with marine debris, could become a Superfund cleanup site if the Center for Biological Diversity gets its way. Civil Beat.

State roundup for November 19. Associated Press.

Oahu
The seven-member Honolulu Ethics Commission voted unanimously Monday to back a request by Executive Director Chuck Totto to fire off a letter to Mayor Kirk Caldwell's administration, essentially urging city officials to retain the agency's budget request despite the objections of the Department of Corporation Counsel. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s top lieutenant reiterated the administration’s commitment to transparency Monday, despite lingering questions about its interference in ongoing ethics investigations. Civil Beat.

Kakaako’s designated central park is Kakaako Waterfront Park and Kakaako Makai and Mauka Gateway parks. But the state agency in charge of Kakaako development is moving full speed ahead with ridiculous proposals to remove large sections of valuable parkland from general public. Civil Beat.

The federal government has agreed to pay $67,500 to settle a lawsuit filed by a woman who says she was raped by a prison employee at the federal detention center. Government lawyer Edric Ming-Kai Ching announced the settlement Monday in U.S. District Court. Star-Advertiser.

The first commercial airline service out of Kalaeloa Airport could become a reality early next year. Mokulele Airlines is seeking state and community support to operate daily service to Lanai, Molokai and Maui, as well as possibly Kona, from the former Barbers Point Naval Air Station. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Following an announcement Monday that Del Monte Fresh Produce Inc. will pay $1.2 million and change its migrant worker policies to settle a discrimination lawsuit, two Big Island farms have less than a month to file their consent decrees in federal court detailing their own settlement agreements. West Hawaii Today.

An alleged embezzlement of possibly more than $100,000 in league funds may prevent a Hilo midget football team from traveling to Florida next month to play in the Pop Warner Super Bowl. Tribune-Herald.

A Big Island football team's trip to the national tournament is in jeopardy because of missing travel funds. As authorities investigate, the players' families are scrambling to come up with about $100,000 to get to Florida in less than three weeks. Hawaii News Now.

The Kona Judiciary Complex has had its proposed home approved, in concept anyway. On Nov. 8, the state Board of Land and Natural Resources granted preliminary approval for building the $90 million facility near the Makalapua Center, mauka of Queen Kaahumanu Highway. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

While Del Monte Fresh Produce has agreed to pay $1.2 million to settle claims in a discrimination lawsuit involving Thai farmworkers, a trial is set for February on the claims against California-based labor contractor Global Horizons and Maui Pineapple Co. Maui News.

Maui Electric Company has formed a partnership with a mainland firm to manage new electric vehicle charging stations on Maui. Maui Now.

Scientists are posting on the Internet the movements of several tiger sharks that have been tagged with satellite and acoustical tracking devices in the ocean near Maui. The tagging is part of a two-year project to study the movement of the sharks and their behavior, including an attempt to determine their mating and pupping areas. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai

It has been nearly 18 years since a 400-square-foot Hurricane Iniki shelter next to Kapaa Beach Park was converted into a Kauai Police Department substation. Garden Island.


Molokai

Molokai residents have noticed a lot of temporary electricity outages lately… and energy researchers have proposed a multi-million dollar project they hope will solve the problem. Hawaii Public Radio.