Abercrombie launches re-election bid, UPW contract inked, elections, solar credit, ag bills die, beach-born baby rescued, Maui councilor proposes no-new taxes budget, DLNR tackles Native Hawaiian protesters, Tesoro postpones layoffs, Caldwell staff get pay hikes, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

UPW Director Nakanelua, Hawaii Gov Abercrombie courtesy photo

More than 9,000 blue-collar workers for the state and counties have a new four-year contract that their union says acknowledges the sacrifices they made during tough budgeting times. Star-Advertiser.

The state inked another union contract Monday, the latest deal to come down before the legislative session comes to a close this week. Gov. Neil Abercrombie and county mayors signed a four-year agreement with United Public Workers Unit 1, which represents some 8,000 blue-collar employees. Civil Beat.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie has formally launched his campaign to win a second term in 2014, saying Hawaii has built momentum coming out of recession and he wants it to continue. Associated Press.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie formally launched his re-election campaign Monday, citing the state's financial rebound and progress toward his "New Day" agenda as reasons voters should give him a second four-year term. Star-Advertiser.

Joined by Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui, Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell and dozens of friends and supporters at Ward Warehouse Monday, Neil Abercrombie formally kicked off his 2014 re-election. Civil Beat.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie launched his re-election campaign Monday, as the Republican Party searched for an opponent to run against him in 2014. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie launched his 2014 campaign for re-election on Monday, promising to keep the state’s economy strong and to improve the educational system. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii lawmakers are preparing to vote on the final bills of the legislative session after a heated week of negotiations, but some advocates are disappointed several initiatives failed in the final hours after gaining momentum earlier. Associated Press.

Hawaii Lawmakers Set to Debate and Pass About 150 Bills in Final Hours of the 2013 Session. Hawaii Reporter.

A bill that would have required an evaluation of the chief election officer after each general election died because of a procedural gaffe in a legislative conference committee last week. Star-Advertiser.

A bill that would have changed the state tax credits for solar photovoltaic systems in Hawaii has failed to progress, leaving in place the administrative rules set by the state Department of Taxation that went into effect in November. Pacific Business News.

A contentious but at times comical scrap between Rep. Jessica Wooley and Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz has left in limbo $175 million in revenue bonds to preserve agricultural land. Star-Advertiser.

The Pacific Rim International Conference on Disability and Diversity is underway in Honolulu this week, and one thing they will be looking at is the connection between disabilities and prison incarceration. Hawaii Public Radio.

As a younger member of the Hawaii Supreme Court at age 46, Steven Levinson wrote the landmark opinion issued nearly 20 years ago that launched the debate over same-sex marriage that still reverberates today across the country and in the nation's highest court. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Electric said on Monday that a record 13.9 percent of energy came from renewable sources last year. KITV4.

Hawaii Teacher: New Teacher Evaluation System Will Damage Education. Civil Beat.

State roundup for April 30. Associated Press.

Oahu

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell is taking a pay cut, but those closest to him are already making more than their predecessors in the Carlisle administration. Civil Beat.

Whoever abandoned a newborn girl at Sandy Beach late Sunday night could have avoided prosecution by turning the baby over to the proper authorities, state officials said. Star-Advertiser.

A shocking discovery was made on a south shore beach overnight. A baby just hours old was found abandoned on the sand. KHON2.

There are about 4,000 bus stops on Oahu, and right now there are no restrictions on where people who are waiting for the bus can smoke. Hawaii News Now.

The owner of a local wheel boot company may lose his business if a bill is approved this week at the Hawaii Legislature. Civil Beat.

Tesoro Hawaii Corp. now says that it will hold off on laying off about 210 of its employees while the Texas-based refiner and marketer of petroleum products remains in discussions with potential buyers for its Kapolei refinery. Pacific Business News.

On Monday, as Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell led a walking caravan of local officials through downtown, traffic consultant Dan Burden challenged the group to make the streets there safer for pedestrians. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Sovereignty activists who planted a garden twice without permission near the King Kamehameha the Great statue in Hilo will be billed for the cost of removing their crops, William Aila, state Department of Land and Natural Resources chair, said Monday. Tribune-Herald.

Abel Simeona Lui, the colorful and controversial figure behind recent acts of Hawaiian sovereignty protests and civil disobedience around the island, will spend his 70th birthday in jail Wednesday. West Hawaii Today.

Real estate agents and appraisers agree — West Hawaii’s real estate market is hot again. West Hawaii Today.

A Fire Department hazardous materials team was unable to determine what caused people in the District courtroom at the Kona Courthouse in Kealakekua to begin coughing Monday morning. West Hawaii Today.

On Friday, state legislators approved $100,000 to fund early efforts to launch an international flight training center and advanced aviation degree program at the University of Hawaii at Hilo. Tribune-Herald.

Safeway has settled a lawsuit filed by a customer over the labeling of its “Kona Blend” coffee. Big Island Now.

Maui

Maui County Council Budget and Finance Committee Chairman Mike White is seeking to cut Mayor Alan Arakawa's proposed county budget for next fiscal year by $23 million and is proposing to not raise any real property taxes. Maui News.

Council Member Mike White today proposed the stabilization of real property tax rates in fiscal year 2014. Maui Now.

Hale Makua Health Services is accepting applications for financial assistance to its Adult Day Health program in Kahului, thanks to a $25,000 grant from The Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation. Maui News.

Results of a remedial investigation of the ‘Āhihi Kīna‘u Natural Area Reserve in South Maui will be discussed during an upcoming public meeting, officials said. Maui Now.

Kauai

Seed crop producer Syngenta will move its Hawaii research operations from Oahu to Kauai in June, a company official said Monday. Star-Advertiser.

County building applications are set to go paperless this week. Effective Wednesday, building applications submitted electronically will receive priority over paper-based applications. Garden Island.

Kaua‘i’s unique topology and weather allows some of the best star gazing conditions at sea level, said Dr. James Dire. Garden Island.

Hanabusa to challenge Schatz for U.S. Senate, labor contracts take bite out of Hawaii budget, Abercrombie signs emergency contraception bill, PLDC is pau, state pays $5.75M for sex abuse at Deaf and Blind School, petroglyphs vandalized, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Brian Schatz, Colleen Hanabusa vie for U.S. Senate

U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa has decided to challenge U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz in the Democratic primary next year, according to a source close to her campaign. Star-Advertiser.

A national Democratic source told Civil Beat this morning that Rep. Colleen Hanabusa informed the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee in Washington D.C. that she will be challenging Sen. Brian Schatz in next year’s special election.

U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa will challenge U.S. Senator Brian Schatz in the 2014 Democratic primary, Hawaii News Now has learned.

She hasn’t filed the papers, but sources close to Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa’s camp say it’s official.  She will go head-to-head with Senator Brian Schatz in next years Democratic primary. KHON2.

Sen. Mazie Hirono will be breaking bread with President Barack Obama over at his place tonight. Civil Beat.

State House and Senate budget negotiators said Monday that new contracts for public-sector labor unions would likely limit their options for spending on tax incentives and new state programs. Star-Advertiser.

The latest draft of the Hawaii state budget removes funding for about 200 vacant positions in state agencies and sets aside about $15 million to compensate for federal budget cuts. Associated Press.

House and Senate leaders have made significant policy decisions, unveiling them during the fifth conference committee hearing on the state budget Monday evening at the Capitol. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie signed a bill Monday that repeals the Public Land Development Corp., satisfying persistent public outcry over the land agency, which has been overwhelmingly criticized for its broad power to develop state land. Associated Press.

Nearly two years after signing Act 55, which created the Public Lands Development Corporation, Gov. Neil Abercrombie signed a repeal of the controversial law Monday. Garden Island.

Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie has signed a new law requiring hospital emergency rooms to offer emergency contraception to female victims of sexual assault. Associated Press.

Legislators and activists were all smiles Monday as they packed into Gov. Neil Abercrombie's ceremony room at the state Capitol to watch him sign into law a bill that ensures sexually assaulted women will have access to emergency contraception anywhere they seek emergency care. Star-Advertiser.

The occasion on Monday was the signing of House Bill 411, which ensures that female sexual assault victims are provided "accurate, unbiased information" about and access to emergency contraception when receiving care at hospitals. Civil Beat.

Lawmakers are considering a proposal that would effectively change the way developments are planned throughout the state, by no longer requiring developers to complete archaeological studies prior to beginning construction. Hawaii News Now.

Time is running out for Hawaii lawmakers to negotiate a bill that would make the state shield law permanent before it expires June 30. Civil Beat.

A federal judge gave final approval Monday to a $5.75 million settlement to a class-action lawsuit that claims students at the Hawaii School for the Deaf and Blind physically and sexually assaulted other students. Star-Advertiser.

A former U.S. defense contractor’s Chinese girlfriend might have coaxed top secret national security information from him, according to documents filed in federal court Monday. Civil Beat.

The number of youth locked up in the state's Juvenile Detention Facility while their cases are handled in Family Court has plummeted 43 percent in the last three years, reflecting a drop in youth arrests and a concerted effort to reduce unnecessary detention. Star-Advertiser.

About 55 percent of the youth in the Hawaii Youth Correctional Facility are from the neighbor islands, even though those islands account for 30 percent of the state's population. Star-Advertiser.

Visitor traffic from two of the larger business meetings of the year has given Waikiki hoteliers an opportunity this month to carry strong rates into the start of the slower "shoulder" season and bolster neighbor island traffic. Star-Advertiser.

More than one billion people in 192 countries were expected to participate in Earth Day activities today… marking the 43rd year of focusing on environmental awareness. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell said this week that he won’t accept a raise proposed by the city’s salary commission, but he didn’t mention that he has a side job as a member of Territorial Bancorp’s board of directors that pays more than some city workers make in a year. Pacific Business News.

Landscape planter boxes may soon prevent the tents of (de)Occupy Honolulu members from returning along the Beretania and King street sidewalks at Thomas Square. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell, City Council Chairman Ernie Martin and Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation officials are in Washington, D.C. this week to update federal officials about the progress of the $5.16 billion elevated-rail mass-transit project, the mayor’s office said in a statement. Pacific Business News.

Construction on the city’s $5.2 billion Honolulu rail project ground to a halt last August after attorneys from the Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation representing Paulette Kalekini convinced Hawaii Supreme Court justices that the city violated environmental laws. Hawaii Reporter.

Many hikers still not deterred despite posted violations at Mariner's Ridge trail. KITV4.

Zero to Three Court focuses on children neglected or abused during their most vulnerable years, from birth until age 3. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Vandals have damaged 26 of 167 petroglyphs in a lava field located off trail in the Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park’s Kaloko area. West Hawaii Today.

The University of Hawaii’s Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy came up short this week, when the school’s lack of permanent facilities cost it points in an accreditation evaluation. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii Island hunters are again expressing concerns over the state’s aerial sheep eradication. West Hawaii Today.

A fight is brewing for control of Hawaii Nui Brewing LLC about a week after the Hilo beer maker filed for bankruptcy. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

The Fairmont Kea Lani resort on Maui sponsored a community reef clean-up event recently in celebration of Earth Day, hotel administrators said. Maui Now.

Maui attorney Steven Songstad has been disbarred from practicing law, based on multiple ethical violations in 14 cases, according to a Hawaii Supreme Court order. Maui News.

Beginning on Monday, April 22, some bus stops in West Maui will be out of service due to Honokōwai road repairs and related road closures. Maui Now.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie and a cast of executive-level supporting players came to Maui on Wednesday, April 10, for a session billed as "Cabinet in Your Community." Maui Weekly.

Kauai

A project aimed at revitalizing an ailing watershed got a big boost Sunday from volunteers who braved flash flood advisories to battle a silent but deadly enemy. Garden Island.

The Kaua‘i Police Department is supporting the statewide and national campaign for “Distracted Driving Awareness Month.” Garden Island.


Molokai

For 28 years, the Native Hawaiian Library has quietly served Molokai, offering programs and resources to children and adults while enduring as a place of learning and discovery. Molokai Dispatch.

Hawaii teachers vote today on contract, Democrats to sue to close primaries, DOE debates buses, Caldwell declines raise until union contracts inked, state ranks high on solar power, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii teachers' rally, HSTA courtesy photo

Hawaii's public school teachers will be voting today on a tentative agreement reached with the state. Associated Press.

Hawaii Democrats intend to file a lawsuit challenging the state's open primary system, arguing that the process undermines the party's ability to select nominees for political office. Star-Advertiser.

Legislators are aiming to expand the state's partial public financing law this session by providing a means for House of Representative candidates to run completely taxpayer-funded campaigns. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Sen. Brian Schatz raised more than $1 million in the past three months but nearly $300,000 of that won't do him any good in the primary, campaign finance records released Tuesday show. Civil Beat.

House Bill 642 — “successive owner” legislation — would force people purchasing a business to retain all employees. Hawaii Reporter.

After months of waiting, the Hawaii State Board of Education at its Tuesday meeting finally got an update from the education department on how it's moving forward with plans to clean up its student transportation system and rein in the costs of what had become a $75 million operation. Civil Beat.

It was a February to love for Hawaii hoteliers, who saw their properties break several records. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Tourism Authority is forecasting visitor arrivals will hit 8.5 million and visitor spending will total $15.8 billion in 2013. To reach that lofty goal or even surpass it, the state agency is focusing on improving the distribution to the neighbor islands, said David Uchiyama, HTA vice president of brand management. West Hawaii Today.

Two years after a state report raised a host of organizational and systemic issues with the delivery of special-education services at Hawaii public schools, the Department of Education says it has a blueprint to revamp the program that serves 19,700 students with disabilities. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Food Map comprises information on 100 fruits, vegetables and spices grown by farms statewide. It also offers a listing of Hawaii farms. Star-Advertiser.

Braz Transfers Inc., a Massachusetts-based money-transfer company licensed in Hawaii since 2009, has surrendered its state money transmitter license and has stopped doing business in Hawaii, the Hawaii Division of Financial Institutions said Tuesday. Pacific Business News.

State roundup for April 17. Associated Press.

Oahu

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell said he'll personally forgo a raise proposed by the city Salary Commission and will hold off on pay raises for his department heads until contracts are reached with union employees. Star-Advertiser.

A Queen's Health Systems administrator Tuesday made it clear to Ewa Beach lawmakers that the state's largest private hospital system will not be able to open emergency room operations before the scheduled opening of the new Queen's Medical Center West Oahu in spring 2014. Star-Advertiser.

The closure of a west Oahu hospital has led to longer ambulance transport times as remaining emergency rooms become overcrowded and ambulances have to take patients farther away. Associated Press.

The Honolulu City Administration is in the process of developing what it hopes will be a comprehensive plan to ease homelessness on O’ahu. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kahala landowner Genshiro Kawamoto has been released from a Tokyo jail after posting a bail of about $5 million. Hawaii News Now.

Former Honolulu Symphony pops conductor Matt Catingub is forming the state’s first independent pops orchestra. Associated Press.

Hawaii
A debate over whether the County Council or the administration should have final say on planned unit developments will be taken up again in July, after the council Planning Committee on Tuesday postponed a bill by former Kohala Councilman Pete Hoffmann and an alternative posed by the current planning director. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii Electric Light Co. ranked 12th highest in the country for the number of watts of electrical power provided by solar electricity, a solar industry group said Tuesday. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii Electric Light Co. has begun installing new meters that transmit readings via radio transmission. The new meters aren’t exactly “smart,” but they’re more intelligent than the electromechanical meters that now measure electricity used in most Hawaii Island homes. Tribune-Herald.

While Friday’s approval by the state Board of Land and Natural Resources marked an enormous milestone in the effort to build the Thirty Meter Telescope on Mauna Kea, many additional hurdles must be cleared before the $1.3 billion facility can become a reality. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

The mayor won't be the only one getting a raise. On Friday, the Maui County Salary Commission voted to increase the salaries of County Council members, Fire and Liquor Control department heads and the new county auditor. Maui News.

The budget for the staff and operation of the Mayor's Office is proposed to rise 15 percent next fiscal year - including two new administrative assistant positions - according to presentations made before the County Council's Budget and Finance Committee on Monday. Maui News.

Kauai

Kauai Police Chief Darryl Perry wants a clean department. But like the other police chiefs in the state he’s bound by a political and legal system that often allows officer misconduct to go unchecked and remain hidden from public view. Civil Beat.

The County Auditor’s Office is proposing an operational budget for fiscal year 2014, which starts July 1, lower than their budget for the current fiscal year. But County Auditor Ernesto Pasion would like to restore a position left vacant by internal auditor Ron Rawls’ departure. Garden Island.

To the surprise of Kaua‘i County Council members, the Kaua‘i Humane Society did not present a detailed budget for Fiscal Year 2014, which starts July 1, during its scheduled budget hearing Thursday. Garden Island.

A series of blog posts alleging several illegal transient vacation rentals have been granted permits by the county Planning Department caught the attention of Kaua‘i County Council members, who slammed Planning Director Michael Dahilig Tuesday for not keeping up with enforcement of zoning laws. Garden Island.

The Washington D.C.-based nonprofit Solar Electric Power Association on Tuesday ranked the Garden Isle’s Kauai Island Utility Cooperative as second in the nation for integrating and delivering solar energy to its customers. Pacific Business News.

According to a report issued today by Kaua'i Film Commissioner Art Umezu, the first three months of 2013 brought a flurry of film activities to the Garden Isle. Hawaii Reporter.

Kauai lighthouse named for Inouye, ag inspectors face cuts, another blow to PLDC, fed court tosses Hawaii County aerial hunting ban, Hawaii Gas can't recoup upgrade costs from customers, Caldwell looks to campaigners for appointees, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Kilauea Point Lighthouse, U.S. Coast Guard photo

The Kilauea Point Lighthouse on Kauai has been renamed the Daniel K. Inouye Kilauea Point Lighthouse. A formal ceremony to rename the lighthouse is scheduled for May 4. Star-Advertiser.

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar said Tuesday his department had renamed the Kilauea Point Lighthouse on Kauai in honor of the late Sen. Daniel Inouye. Associated Press.

The Kilauea Point Lighthouse on Kaua‘i’s North Shore will soon be renamed in honor of the late Sen. Daniel Inouye. Garden Island.

State House and Senate leaders said Tuesday they are confident they have the money for a robust two-year state budget, but they are increasingly tentative about spending on tax incentives and new state programs because of the financial uncertainty in future years. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii senators have voted to move forward a slew of bills including budgets for the judiciary and Office of Hawaiian Affairs, election reforms and a more restricted shield law for journalists. Associated Press.

State House Majority Leader Scott Saiki says it is highly likely that his chamber will agree to a bill that would dissolve the state's Public Land Development Corp., bringing the widely disliked agency one step closer to its demise. Associated Press.

State agriculture inspectors are worried about a move by State House leaders to stop the restoration of two dozen inspectors' positions. The Agriculture Department has been trying to recover from layoffs four years ago that cut the number of inspectors in half. Hawaii News Now.

The legitimate historical grievances of Native Hawaiians have become a fertile soil for frauds perpetrated on Hawaiians and non-Hawaiians alike. Civil Beat.

Board of Regents members told an advisory task group conducting a study of accountability in the University of Hawaii system that there may be a disconnect between their role and the public's perception of that role, but that they understand they have to improve efforts to be more transparent. Star-Advertiser.

A Washington, D.C. tea ceremony honors the late Sen. Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii. Civil Beat.

The head of the U.S. Pacific Command told the Senate Armed Services Committee Tuesday that the military could intercept missiles fired from North Korea at Hawaii or the United States. Civil Beat.

On the 71st anniversary of the Bataan Death March, U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz introduced legislation that would restore full veterans benefits to Filipinos who volunteered to serve with U.S. armed forces and allied soldiers during World War II. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii regulators this week denied a request from Hawaii Gas to recoup from its customers through a future rate hike about $2 million in costs for upgrades the utility has already completed to portions of its gas transmission pipeline as part of the federally-mandated Gas Transmission Integrity Management program. Pacific Business News.

The US Department of Justice is threatening to take criminal action against the State Department of Transportation. It has to do with street lights, and their effect on wedge-tailed shearwaters. KHON2.

This is the second of a two-part series looking at dyslexia services in Hawaii's public schools. Civil Beat.

State roundup for April 10. Associated Press.

Oahu

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell appears to be helping out those who have helped him. Caldwell wants to appoint his campaign chairman Lex Smith to the Honolulu Zoning Board of Appeals. Civil Beat.

A group that helps prevent the spread of coqui frogs and other invasive species on Oahu will be forced to lay off staff if additional funding is not secured by the end of October. KITV4.

A 43-story condominium will be a new addition in Kakaako as part of a development plan that also includes townhomes, a couple of restaurants and retail on the former site of a Comp­USA store. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii
A U.S. District Court in Honolulu ruled Monday Hawaii County’s aerial hunting ban cannot overrule the Department of Land and Natural Resources’ federal mandate to reduce grazing animals in palila habitat on Mauna Kea. West Hawaii Today.

Attorneys hired by former County Council Chairman Dominic Yagong in what became a high-stakes lawsuit will not be paid for their work after action Tuesday by the new County Council. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii’s Food Basket is getting bigger, and that’s a great thing for the families who struggle to put food on their tables, say the nonprofit’s organizers. Tribune-Herald.

For the last time in the foreseeable future, the Social Security Administration offered satellite office hours in Kona Tuesday morning. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

A new 150-room, four-story, “select-services” hotel is part of a planned development proposed for construction along Piʻikea Avenue in South Maui. Maui Now.

The numbers for residential and condominium sales were down in first quarter of 2013 compared to the same quarter last year - but median sale prices and total dollar value of the sales were up. Maui News.

Kauai

A former state representative pleaded no contest to illegally receiving rocks from a historic preserve and heiau site in 2011. Garden Island.

About 2,500 gallons of sewage overflowed Tuesday morning from a manhole in Hanama‘ulu. This is the second sewage spill reported in the area in less than a week. Garden Island.

Geothermal sneaks into Hawaiian Roll Commission bill, gays no longer excluded from health bill, FBI gets new field office, smoking banned at some Oahu beaches, HMSA seeks 8.5% rate hike, Hawaii council won't bet on bingo, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

The Nesjavellir Geothermal Power Plant in Þingvellir, Iceland, courtesy photo

State senators, fretting over transparency, want to give the public more time to digest a bill that was supposed to be about the Native Hawaiian Roll Commission but was radically altered to also apply to geothermal development. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii legislative leaders have decided who will serve on a conference committee to hash out the differences between the House and Senate versions of the state budget over the next few weeks. Civil Beat.

Hawaii lawmakers are deciding whether to give teachers, school librarians and counselors a tax credit for buying classroom supplies. Associated Press.

The question of who or what is a journalist will take center stage with the full Senate scheduled to vote on House Bill 622 Tuesday. Civil Beat.

A state Senate panel on Friday killed a proposed fee on cesspool and septic tank owners after Hawaii Island residents raised a stink about it. West Hawaii Today.

Holding fundraisers during session is not illegal in Hawaii. It's a very a common practice — one that freshmen lawmakers appear to be adopting quickly, starting this week. Civil Beat.

The nonprofit Hawaii Health Connector has won $128 million in federal funds to implement the state's first health insurance exchange, designed to provide residents access to affordable medical coverage. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Medical Service Association has asked to increase health insurance premiums on small businesses July 1 by an average 8.5 percent, its largest rate increase in four years. Star-Advertiser.

State lawmakers have amended a bill so that it no longer excludes homosexuals from a treatment option for certain sexually transmitted diseases. Civil Beat.

The first of a two-part series looking at whether Hawaii's public schools are doing enough to help students with dyslexia and other struggling readers. Civil Beat.

Homeless handyman and Congressional candidate's American flag burned. Hawaii News Now.

State roundup for April 9. Associated Press.

Oahu

Smoking is no longer legal at major East Honolulu beaches and parks under a bill signed Monday by Mayor Kirk Caldwell. But a glitch in the language means enforcement must wait at six of the seven locales. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell on Monday signed into a law a bill that bans smoking at Waikiki Beach and other popular Oahu beaches. Pacific Business News.

It’s battle that has been waged for years, but now the Honolulu City Council is finally drawing a line when it comes to funding vacant positions that cost taxpayers millions of dollars every year. KITV4.

Traffic signal adjustments at two of Waikiki's most congested intersections might make life easier for local drivers who cringe at navigating through the tourist-heavy district amid throngs of pedestrians. Star-Advertiser.

The FBI has a new field office in Hawaii. A ribbon-cutting ceremony is being held Tuesday for the new building in the Honolulu suburb of Kapolei.Associated Press.

Waimanalo residents are concerned a planned road that would run through a new subdivision will increase traffic safety issues in an already congested area. KHON2.

Plants aren't the only thing growing in the garden at the Women's Community Correctional Center. Inmates are blossoming as they build self-confidence and learn new skills while planting and harvesting vegetables and herbs for the prison kitchen. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Hawaii County Council members indicated Monday they’re not ready to gamble on high-stakes bingo as a way to raise revenues in a tight budget year. West Hawaii Today.

Property tax assessors across the country are applying a new technology to crack down on this old crime — comparing aerial photographs and satellite images to existing house plans. Hawaii County began using that process about a year ago, Real Property Division Chief Stanley Sitko said. West Hawaii Today.

What a difference (almost) a week makes. After a record low temperature was set in Hilo on April 2, a record high temperature was set there on Sunday. Big Island Now.

Maui

Maui state Sen. J. Kalani English was one of several Hawaii policymakers who attended the "Waves of Change" conference on Oahu that focuses on the environmental, social, cultural, political, economic and legal impacts of climate change on Pacific Islands, including Hawaii. Maui News.

Ask the Mayor: Building Permits; Homeowner Exemptions. Maui Now.

Kauai

The Pacific Missile Range Facility’s Security Department will conduct live small arms fire training starting today and lasting through April 30, between the hours of 1 and 9 p.m. at Kekaha Rifle Range. Garden Island.

Hawaii House kills marijuana decriminalization, Senate panel guts shield law, feds threaten state over lights, sea creatures' futures mulled, Kaiser Permanente workers stop work, Hawaii worst state to make a living, senator supports pot minister, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii state Capitol (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

The state House on Wednesday discarded a bill that would have decriminalized the possession of small amounts of marijuana after House leaders concluded they lacked the votes to advance the legislation. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii House has killed a bill that would have decriminalized small amounts of marijuana. Hawaii News Now.

The Hawaii House has killed a bill that would have decriminalized small amounts of marijuana. Associated Press.

The state Senate Judiciary and Labor Committee on Wednesday made substantial revisions to a media shield law, removing bloggers and other nontraditional journalists and deleting the protection for unpublished information, like notes, unless it would lead to the identity of confidential sources. Star-Advertiser.

Media: Shield Law Bill 'Worthless' After Senate Committee Amendments. Civil Beat.

The state Senate Judiciary Committee voted Wednesday to remove protections for online news media in Hawaii and limit a journalists' ability to protect confidential sources. KITV4.

The state House Finance Committee advanced a bill Tuesday that would give teachers a state tax credit for their out-of-pocket classroom expenses. Star-Advertiser.

The U.S. Department of Justice says that Hawaii's street lights are killing endangered birds, turtles and moths — and it's threatening criminal action to get the state to fix the problem. Civil Beat.

Scientists say they are months away from finishing a report that could help determine whether green sea turtles in the state retain their threatened status. Tribune-Herald.

Efforts to protect marine mammals from death and injury caused by Navy training exercises in Hawaii and Southern California have gotten a boost from the California Coastal Commission, which recently rejected the plan. Honolulu Weekly.

For the third year in a row, the website MoneyRates.com ranked Hawaii the "Worst State in the Nation to Make a Living." KITV4.

Hawaii has the support of key members of the U.S. Senate to continue federal funding for a host of initiatives championed by the late Sen. Dan Inouye, ranging from the Honolulu rail project to Native Hawaiian education and health care, U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz said Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Many people in Hawaii are expressing concern about increasing threats from North Korea, but so far, those threats haven't pushed residents to take action, such as stocking up on supplies. Hawaii News Now.

North Korea has moved a missile with "considerable range" to its east coast, South Korea's defense minister said Thursday (Wednesday in Hawaii), but he added that there are no signs that the North is preparing for a full-scale conflict. Associated Press.

The union representing 1,900 Kaiser Permanente Hawaii workers has called for a one-day work stoppage Thursday to protest increased employee workloads and other impacts from last month’s closure of the Honolulu Clinic Urgent Care Center. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Much of Mayor Kirk Caldwell's first State of the City speech was devoted to reiterating goals he had announced during the first three months of this administration, but two relatively unpublicized ideas were also highlighted Wednesday: a plan to push a "housing-first" initiative to battle homelessness and a proposal to make Honolulu an "age-friendly city" to help the island's growing elderly population. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell hopes to accomplish something no one else before him has been able to do. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii Department of Transportation is finally moving ahead with its long-awaited redevelopment of the 90-acre Kapalama Military Reservation at Honolulu Harbor, which is currently home to roughly 100 businesses. Pacific Business News.

The College of Education at the University of Hawaii at Manoa has been ranked 65th out of 177 graduate schools of education by U.S. News & World Report. Star-Advertiser.

A long awaited renovation project at the University of Hawaii's Hamilton Library is expected to provide much needed climate control. KHON2.

Hawaii

Improving the county’s technology to make government more efficient topped the list of priorities for two County Council members interviewed Wednesday as they tackle another tight budget year. West Hawaii Today.

The way the federal government is treating a Big Island man who has been in federal custody for three years is outrageous, a Hawaii Island senator says. West Hawaii Today.

Maui
Ocean safety officials reopened waters off Kaanapali at noon Wednesday after the area was ordered off limits to swimmers and surfers because of a shark attack Tuesday morning. Maui News.

The National Weather Service in Honolulu has issued a high surf advisory for north- and west-facing shores of Molokai and north-facing shores of Maui, in effect until 6 p.m. Saturday. Maui Now.

Kauai

The proposed AT&T cell phone tower in Kilauea should be reconsidered to another possible location, said nearly 70 residents at the Kilauea Neighborhood Association meeting Tuesday. Garden Island.

The public is invited to comment on the proposed Local Area Plan for July 1, 2013, to June 30, 2017, that was developed by the Kaua’i Workforce Investment Board. Garden Island.

A blocked sewer line was the culprit of a sewage spill in Hanama‘ulu Wednesday, which resulted in a partial closure of the Kuhio Highway and slowed traffic in the area. Garden Island.

Feds delay Hawaii historic review, monk seal relocations, Honolulu mayor wants more taxes, 6.5% budget hike, lawmaker's racist comments still reverberate, busy week ahead for state Legislature, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaiian petroglyphs (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

Sequestration has given the State Historic Preservation Division a reprieve from a long-awaited federal review. SHPD, which is battling to retain its federal certification and funding, was supposed to face its day of reckoning this week. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie said Friday his budget planners have penciled in $25 million for a contingency fund to help state programs that are expected to lose millions of dollars in federal funding. Associated Press.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie wants state lawmakers to establish a $25 million fund to help pay for local shortages in federal funding due to the sequester, which went into effect Friday after President Barack Obama and Republicans in Congress could not agree on a deficit reduction plan. Pacific Business News.

Federal officials on Friday said they’re temporarily giving up a plan to boost survival rates for juvenile Hawaiian monk seals by moving a few of them from the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands to the main Hawaiian Islands each year. Associated Press.

The Hawaii Legislature is anticipating a marathon of votes this week as state lawmakers race to meet Thursday’s first crossover deadline. Associated Press.

A battle has waged at the state Capitol for years between corporations, some farmers and businesses that stand behind the Food and Drug Administration's determination that genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, do not need cautionary labeling, and environmental groups, organic farmers and community members who strongly believe biologically engineered food is harmful for people and the environment. Sen. Clarence Nishihara (D, Waipahu-Crestview-Pearl City), chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, said he is not planning on hearing the labeling bill because he believes it would violate federal interstate commerce laws. Star-Advertiser.

A number of measures making their way through the current Legislative session aim to decrease Hawaii’s dependence on the mainland when it comes to food. Tribune-Herald.

After years of cuts, the state is gradually restoring adult mental health services and looking to streamline operations in an effort to rebuild a safety net that advocates say is failing too many. Star-Advertiser.

Faye Hanohano

Inflammatory remarks attributed to Rep. Faye Hanohano regarding the artwork in her Capitol office are the talk of the islands. But has Hanohano raised an important point? That art by Hawaii's indigenous people should be celebrated? Civil Beat.

State Representative Faye Hanohano, a Democrat from Puna who chairs the House Committee on Ocean, Marine Resources, & Hawaiian Affairs, has apologized for racial slurs she made to state exhibition experts from the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts as they hung artwork her office manager requested in her capitol office on Monday. Hawaii Reporter.

Hawaii state Rep. Faye Hanohano certainly struck a chord with the wrong crowd at the Capitol building this week, firing off ethnic slang with the same fearless abandon as an ‘80s action hero spraying bullets. Big Island Now.

A scripted apology on the House floor might not be enough to get Rep. Faye Hanohano out of hot water. Workers complained that she went off on a racist rant about artwork in her office, managing to offend multiple ethnic groups in one tirade. KITV4.

Two state Senate committees plan to hold confirmation hearings next week to consider candidates for various Hawaii agencies nominated by Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie. Associated Press.

For the first time, the state will participate in National Invasive Species Awareness Week, observed from Monday to March 10. Tribune-Herald.

The Kaiser Foundation Health Plan's Hawaii region is reporting an operating loss of $600,000 in the fourth quarter of last year and a $1.6 million deficit for all of 2012. Pacific Business News.

It’s Your Money: Faulty Hose Sends Taxpayers' Dollars Down the Drain. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell's proposed budget includes a 6 1/2 percent increase over last year, but Caldwell says he's paying for promises he made on the campaign trail, even if those promises aren't cheap. KITV4.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs and the Aina Haina Community Association are asking the city to stop grading work on property in Aina Haina owned by developer Jeff Stone until an archaeological inventory survey is conducted. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu Board of Water Supply plans to spend an estimated $9.5 million on a 30-year master plan that will include an investigation of how climate change could affect the island's water resources and delivery system. Star-Advertiser.

A lot of people have been buying guns recently and that's putting a strain on Oahu's only public firing range. KHON2.

A marine mammal response team received a call on Sunday morning about a stranded humpback whale, but the calf was already dead by the time volunteers arrived in Waianae. Hawaii News Now.

Byron’s, bye-bye. Hawaii celebrates 47 years of fried Oreos, shrimp burgers, and late nights. Hawaii Independent.

Hawaii

The University of Hawaii at Hilo’s long-sought-after student housing complex, which is currently under construction and scheduled to be completed in August, is falling under intense scrutiny. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii County could manage but not own the Banyan Drive area and two state parks under legislation amended last week. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

The governor has released $50 million for highway construction and improvements that will dramatically change how people maneuver around Kahului Airport. Maui News.

The relocation of the Harbors Maui District Office from the waterfront at Kahului Harbor to the historic Old Kahului Railroad Building along Kaahumanu Avenue has received $600,000 in funding. Maui News.

More than three dozen South Maui residents heard Saturday that the proposed Kihei high school is not having smooth sailing through the state Legislature. Maui News.

A public hearing is planned on Monday, March 4, 2013, for the Draft Habitat Conservation Plan proposed by Honuaula Partners LLC for the project formerly known as Wailea 670. Maui Now.

Selling $50 million worth of condominiums in a year isn't as astounding as $425 million in two months, but the sales team at a luxury Maui condo project is celebrating what one analyst said represents a leading edge of a broader recovery. Honua Kai, a 700-unit condo complex that opened its initial phase in the wake of the recession four years ago, reported $50 million in sales last year. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai

A letter from the publisher: Change is inevitable, sometimes necessary and often a good thing. That is certainly the case with recent and ongoing changes here at The Garden Island.

After hours of testimony and questioning Wednesday afternoon, the council deferred for seven months a six-page resolution endorsing some 6,000 Kaua‘i ocean users who oppose to the expansion of the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Garden Island

Manhunt on for Hilo man who shot two cops, Obama vacation cost up $3.2M, kids grade teaachers, Hawaii congressional delegation to be sworn in today, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Kilauea Volcano thermal image, courtesy USGS

The ongoing eruption of Kilauea's East Rift Zone has lasted longer — and spewed out more lava — than any other in at least the last half-century of the volcano's history. Star-Advertiser.

President Barack Obama's decision to rejoin his family on their Hawaii vacation will cost taxpayers another $3.2 million for an already pricey holiday stay. Hawaii Reporter.

President Barack Obama not only returned to Hawaii Wednesday but also was back on the golf course. Associated Press.

How President Barack Obama spent the first day of his holiday vacation in Hawaii on Wednesday. Hawaii News Now.

A renewed Hawai‘i congressional delegation is hitting the ground running this week in Washington, D.C., in the aftermath of Congress’ last-minute bi-partisan compromise on New Year’s Day to avert the fiscal cliff. Garden Island.

Hawaii's first woman senator is being sworn in with the new Congress today. Associated Press.

The new session of the U. S. Congress gets underway tomorrow. Among those being sworn in is the new representative of Hawaii's second congressional district. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii's teachers are worried that kids may be allowed to say some pretty damaging things about them as part of a new evaluation process that lets students as young as kindergarten rate their teachers. Civil Beat.

Getting state ID card takes 2- to 3-hour wait. With the counties now issuing identification, driver’s licensing sites become quite crowded. Star-Advertiser.

Rep. Gil Keith-Agaran, who is in line to become the House majority leader in the next Legislature, plans to seek the state Senate seat made vacant by the promotion of former Senate President Shan Tsu­tsui to lieutenant governor. Star-Advertiser.

Nearly every employee in Hawaii will see their take-home pay take a 2 percent cut, thanks to the payroll tax reductions that expired on Tuesday. Pacific Business News.

Defense contractors in Hawaii are bracing for a one-two punch: federal budget cuts as a result of the fiscal cliff and the potential for fewer federal contracts awarded to island companies because of the death of U.S. Sen. Dan Inouye. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii's lone commercial producer of biodiesel says it won't have to raise its prices for the alternative fuel thanks to the decision by Congress to extend a tax credit for the industry. Star-Advertiser.

Officials from the state Department of Agriculture say a live raccoon was captured aboard a Matson cargo ship after it arrived in Honolulu from Long Beach, Calif. on Monday. Hawaii News Now.

State roundup for January 3. Associated Press.

Oahu

Restoring bus routes, ensuring rail is done right, repaving and maintaining roads and improving park maintenance top the priority list for Mayor Kirk Caldwell, who was sworn in Wednesday as the 14th mayor of the City and County of Honolulu in a ceremony that also included the new members of the City Council. Star-Advertiser.

For the first time in Honolulu history, the mayor and City Council on Wednesday morning shared the stage in a joint swearing-in ceremony. Civil Beat.

Caldwell inaugurated as Honolulu mayor. KITV4.

A city pool plagued with problems has not been used for years. KHON2.

Macy’s downtown Honolulu store, long rumored to be on the chopping block, will close in early spring as part of what the company calls  “normal-course adjustments to its portfolio.” Star-Advertiser.

The new year appears likely to usher in a building boom in Honolulu as Kakaako’s two major landowners move ahead with plans to develop a forest of new high-rise condominiums in the area between Ala Moana and downtown. Civil Beat.

Hawaii

Two police officers were shot Wednesday night in Hilo near the site of the former Green Onion Restaurant along the 1200 block of Kilauea Avenue. Hawaii News Now.

Two police officers responding to a report of shots fired near the Wailoa River in Hilo were shot by a man hiding under a parked vehicle Wednesday evening. Star-Advertiser.

Two police officers shot in Hilo. Hawaii Police Department.

Kealakekua Bay closed to kayakers Wednesday morning with little fanfare. West Hawaii Today.

The Hawaii Police Department is adding a hostage negotiation control center to its fleet of vehicles. West Hawaii Today.

The Kealakehe Wastewater Treatment Plant is in need of $12 million to upgrade the North Kona facility’s aeration system and remove sludge from treatment lagoons. West Hawaii Today.

No free rides home for drunks during holidays. Tribune-Herald.

Maui
Kalbert K. Young, the Director of Budget and Finance for the State of Hawai’i, and former finance director for Maui County, delivered the keynote address for the 2013 Maui Council Inauguration today. Maui Now.

More than 100 new applications for the Upcountry water meter list came through in the final days before Monday's deadline to sign up. Maui News.

Kauai

Gov. Neil Abercrombie announced Wednesday the release of more than $70.2 million for several capital improvement projects statewide. At least $2.19 million — with a hefty match from the federal government — will find its way onto Kaua‘i’s highways. Garden Island.

Visitors help Kaua‘i Habitat for holidays. Garden Island.

Obama's back, Hawaii's top political influencers, new state laws taking effect for 2013, Abercrombie's choice of Schatz one of his 'finer moments,' more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Obama visits Hawaii Marines, Christmas Day 2012, White House courtesy photo

President Barack Obama is back in Hawaii for vacation after a tense, end-of-the-new-year standoff with Congress over the fiscal cliff. Associated Press.

President Barak Obama left Washington D.C. Tuesday night and is flying to Hawaii to rejoin his family on vacation. Associated Press.

President Obama landed at Pearl Harbor-Hickam just minutes ago. Hawaii News Now.

It was Abercrombie's call, not Inouye's, so he made it. Star-Advertiser.

There is growing talk of naming something after the late Dan Inouye to honor his contributions to Hawaii. Civil Beat.

Campaigns & Elections Magazine Names Hawaii's Top 10 Political Influencers of 2012. Hawaii Reporter.

Focus on service propelled Gabbard. Star-Advertiser.

The domino effect continues in state politics as the latest move in the wake of Senator Inouye's death appears likely to trigger another succession appointment. KHON2.

Rep. Gil Keith-Agaran, who is in line to become the House majority leader in the next Legislature, plans to seek the state Senate seat made vacant by the promotion of former Senate President Shan Tsutsui to lieutenant governor. Star-Advertiser.

Social services brace for federal cuts. Hawaii News Now.

A handful of new laws will take effect with the new year in Hawaii, affecting a range of things including public records, abandoned vessels and athletic trainers. All or portions of 16 bills will take effect Tuesday. Associated Press.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources has confirmed that boat debris found at Kahana Bay a week after Thanksgiving came from the 2011 Japan tsunami. Star-Advertiser.

Japan Tsunami Debris Threatens Hawaii But Cleanup Money Is Lacking. Civil Beat.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie has ordered that flags be flown at half-staff in remembrance of former Hawaii Board of Education member, the Rev. Canon Darrow Kanakanui Aiona. Associated Press.

Parts of plane found in Midway's lagoon. A prop, motor and landing gear discovered by divers belonged to a World War II fighter. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Hawaii News Now will Live Stream the historic joint inauguration of Mayor-elect Kirk Caldwell and newly elected Honolulu City Councilmembers starting at 10 a.m. Wednesday, January 2. Hawaii News Now.

On Oahu's second New Year's holiday under a fireworks ordinance that bans all but firecrackers, there were six minor fireworks-related blazes and five people taken to hospitals for fireworks-related injuries. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Hawaii County did not solicit bids when it leased a vacant building in Pahoa to three community groups for $1 a year, even as it paid $22,000 a year for a County Council district office in a local shopping center. West Hawaii Today.

Swimmers who frequent the Pahoa Aquatic Center will have to get their fix elsewhere during the next six months. Tribune-Herald.

A Phoenix- and Sacramento-based real estate investment firm affiliated with the Walton family is in the process of buying Hokulia. West Hawaii Today.

A group of investors is hoping to piggy back on a special permit application filed 44 years ago for a resort that never came to be. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

In 2012, Maui County lost current and former island residents, including Hawaiian cultural leaders and musicians, a popular journalist along with a famous restaurateur and community heroes. Maui News.

Kauai

Embattled retired auto dealer James Pflueger, who faces federal tax fraud and state manslaughter trials this year, was dealt a legal setback when the state appeals court recently upheld a $4 million penalty against him after runoff from his property damaged a beach and a pristine coral reef on Kauai's north shore. Star-Advertiser.

Young Brothers and Hawaiian Tug and Barge presented $25,000 in grants to 18 Kaua‘i nonprofits recently at its Nawiliwili Port. Garden Island.