Voters favor green tourist fee in survey, 'audacious' tax relief plan advances, state population continues to decline, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Survey finds 63% of Hawaiʻi voters support $50 annual ‘green fee’ for visitors. A new survey found 63 percent of Hawaiʻi voters back a proposal that would require visitors to pay a $50 per person annual fee to use state and county beaches, parks and trails in the state. Big Island Now. Garden Island. Kauai Now.

‘Audacious’ tax relief plan advances at Hawaii Legislature.  Several bills that would cut household taxes in Hawaii are advancing at the Legislature, including one promising to save a family of four around $2,000 or more in 2024 and beyond. Star-Advertiser.

Push to legalize Marijuana growing. The push to legalize recreational use of marijuana continues with two bills (SB 669 & SB 375) moving through the legislature. KHON2.

Hawaii lawmakers push flavor bans and higher taxes to fight teen vaping. Lawmakers are expected to pass substantial legislation after a ban on flavored vape products passed last year but was vetoed because of flaws. Hawaii News Now.

State agency accused of covering up for high-level training officer now facing trial for perjury. The 58-page ruling by the panel found that the previous leaders of the state Department of Public Safety were protecting J. Marte Martinez, the agency’s top trainer. Hawaii News Now.

The state's chief economist said Hawaii's population has decreased for the past seven years with 15,000 people moving away in 2022. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, on average almost 20 people left the state every day last year. KITV4.

Hawaiian Airlines’ COVID vaccine mandate challenge set for trial. Eight current and former Hawaiian Airlines employees suing the company for allegedly violating their right to refuse the COVID-19 vaccine for medical or religious reasons were given a trial date Tuesday and asked to organize with related cases making similar claims. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii rolls out rebate program for e-bikes, electric mopeds. Rebates of up to $500 or 20% of the retail price — whichever is less – are now available for eligible purchases due to Act 306, which was signed into law Opens in a new tab last summer to help reduce the cost of transportation. Star-Advertiser. KHON2.

Oahu

Gov. Green puts cost of new Aloha Stadium at ‘under $500M’. A new Aloha Stadium surrounded by housing and an entertainment district can now be had for “under $500 million,” Gov. Josh Green said Monday. Star-Advertiser.

Senate Committee Mistakenly Passes Honolulu Rail Tax Extension. A bill that would allow Honolulu to extend the excise tax surcharge for rail to raise more money for the cash-strapped project was approved Monday in the powerful Senate Ways and Means Committee. But barely an hour later, Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz said in an interview that the handling of Senate Bill 176 was an “oversight.” Civil Beat.

CDC to review medical records of military patients sickened by Red Hill fuel spills. Experts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are in Hawaii looking at medical records of military families who got sick from the Red Hill fuel spills. Hawaii News Now.

Peter Savio’s New Farming Development Is Unconventional But Locals Still Want In. Future capital gains would be locked into local income levels as part of the plan. Civil Beat.

HECO has 'significant concerns' about adding another waste-to-energy facility. Senate Bill 1247, introduced by Sen. Kurt Fevella, would require the Hawaiʻi State Energy Office to enter into a public-private partnership to develop a new waste-to-energy generating facility.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Island

Boy Scouts, Aloha Council deny liability for boy’s death. Lawyers for the Boy Scouts of America and its Aloha Council have filed a response to a wrongful death lawsuit brought by the family of an 11-year-old Scout killed last August when an AK-47 was accidentally discharged at a shooting range. Tribune-Herald.

Mayor Roth, county focus of new lawsuit. A tour operator is suing the county, Mayor Mitch Roth and Public Works Director Steve Pause, claiming restrictions placed on the company’s Waipi‘o Valley tours by the mayor’s emergency rules regarding Waipi‘o Valley Road amount to a “taking” of the company without due compensation. Tribune-Herald.

Hōlualoa Elementary School Issues Gain Attention. The Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association says state school officials “began making concrete steps toward some short-term fixes” at Hōlualoa Elementary, after the HSTA held a news conference describing mold, rat and maintenance problems at the Kona school. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now.

Ex-DOE employee who allegedly falsified documents charged with 3 felony theft counts. Officers arrested former Department of Education official Karie Luana Klein last Thursday for falsifying DOE documents to steal money. She is set to be arraigned in Hilo Circuit Court on Monday. Hawaii Public Radio. Hawaii News Now.

Without emergency funding, key Hawaii Island pharmacy that serves cancer patients could close. Scores of cancer patients on Hawaii Island are at risk of losing access to the chemotherapy drugs keeping them alive. That’s because the pharmacy at Kona Community Hospital could be forced to close if it doesn’t meet new regulations set to go in effect later this year. Hawaii News Now.

Maui

Committee to review Hale Mahaolu Ke Kahua housing project. A Maui County council committee will review the Hale Mahaolu Ke Kahua Residential Workforce Rental Housing project Tuesday, which proposes 120 affordable rental units in Waiehu.  Maui News.

Suit claims Grand Wailea owners avoided pay, benefits for hundreds in ‘fraudulent scheme’. A worker at one of Maui’s largest private employers, Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort, filed a class-action lawsuit Friday alleging owners of the luxury hotel giant misclassified hundreds of spa and salon workers, groundskeepers, facilities maintenance personnel and window washers as independent contractors in a “fraudulent scheme” to avoid pay and benefits at two of its landmark hotels, the Grand Wailea and Beverly Hills Waldorf Astoria. Maui Now.

Yacht Fuel Spill In Maui’s Honolua Bay Prompts Calls For Reform. The grounding of the 94-foot luxury vessel has sparked calls to change the way commercial activity is handled in sensitive coastal waters. Civil Beat. Maui Now. Maui News.

Kauai

Celebrating heritage in Waimea. Thousands of people flowed through Waimea town during the 46th Waimea Town Celebration that wrapped up with the ho‘olaule‘a on Saturday at the park in the shadow of the Waimea sugar mill relic. Garden Island.

State mulls reclaiming military lease land, cannabis bills advance, first segment of Honolulu rail could open soon, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Proposed task force would plan environmental restoration of former military land. A proposal to establish a Surplus Military Land Task Force is making its way through the state Legislature. Senate Bill 521 would help the state determine and plan for the future use of land currently under military lease. Hawaii Public Radio.

Cannabis bills move forward despite mixed signals from Green’s team. Gov. Josh Green says he supports legalizing cannabis for adults 21 and older, but his newly installed department heads haven’t backed two bills advanced by the Senate on Thursday that would accomplish that goal. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Tribune-Herald.

Attorneys volunteering to help TMT, Kahuku wind turbine protesters clear arrest records. About 250 people were arrested during non-violent protests involving Native Hawaiian issues over recent years, such as the movements to stop the construction of telescopes on Mauna Kea and Haleakala, as well as protests against erecting wind turbines in Kahuku and development at Hunananiho in Waimanalo. KITV4.

Reverse Vending Machines Proposed In Hawaii Legislature. A pilot program to encourage the machines, House Bill 1410, is being discussed as a way to improve the state’s current redemption rate of 60%. The goal is to raise the percentage of eligible containers being redeemed at redemption centers.  Civil Beat.

Bill at state legislature would ban disposable wipes in all of Hawaii.  The purpose of House Bill 268 is to protect the plumbing. If passed, it would prohibit the sale or distribution of disposable wipes in the state. KITV4.

Kaiser reaches tentative deal with striking mental health workers. If ratified by union members, it will end a nearly six-month strike that the union says is the longest work stoppage by mental health care workers in U.S. history. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.

An Arizona Jury Fails To Agree On Death Sentence For A Hawaii Inmate. An Arizona jury has been dismissed after the jurors reported they could not reach a unanimous decision on whether a Hawaii prisoner should be executed for a 2010 murder in that state. Civil Beat.

Oahu

The Honolulu City Council Members Are More Like You Than You Might Think. Earning $69,000 a year means even the Honolulu City Council feels pressed by high housing costs and taxes. Civil Beat.

Some HART leaders see Ala Moana Center and UH as end points.  Despite budget constraints, some at the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation expressed their desire this week to see the rail project extended to its original end point of Ala Moana Center — and, if future funding were to become available, see the line move closer to the campus at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.

Office of Hawaiian Affairs Kakaako Makai bill advances.  The state Office of Hawaiian Affairs succeeded in advancing a bill to permit residential development on 31 acres it owns in Kakaako Makai past a pair of Senate committees Thursday after a contentious public hearing last week. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Island

UH President Gives Maunakea Chemical Spill Update. At a Thursday Board of Regents meeting, President David Lassner talked about the recent coolant leak at the UH 88-inch observatory.  Big Island Video News.

New playground equipment for Waikōloa Village park sits in storage container for months. Since late September, new playground equipment for Pu‘u Nui Park in Waikōloa Village has been sitting in a locked 40-foot Matson storage container taking up a big chunk of the parking lot. When it will be installed, nobody knows. Big Island Now.

‘Forever in our hearts’: Kona icon Norman Sakata dies at 96. West Hawaii mourned the passing of a local icon this week at the news of the passing of Norman Sakata, founder of the Kona Coffee Festival, Lions Club member and scoutmaster.  West Hawaii Today.

Maui

500 UPW workers vote to strike in dispute over pay; Maui Health hopes for agreement. Nearly 500 frontline healthcare workers at Kaiser’s Maui Health System have voted to strike in a dispute over pay, but Maui Health is hopes an agreement can still be reached.  Maui Now. Hawaii News Now.

The median sales price for a Maui County home is only one in state to top $1 million.  Although some counties saw a drop in home prices at the start of the new year, Maui County was the only one in the state to exceed a $1 million median for single-family homes. Maui Now.

Kauai

Anahola students call for statewide Hawaiian Honeycreeper Day. A class of fourth grade students in Anahola are campaigning for members of Hawai‘i’s Legislature to create a statewide day recognizing and celebrating Hawai‘i’s threatened and endangered honeycreepers. Garden Island.

Missing romance novelist, actress traced to Kaua’i after leaving Wyoming jail. Romance novelist and actress Faleena Hopkins — who wrote the “Cocker Brothers” and “Werewolves of New York” series and starred in the 2020 drama “Just One More Kiss” — went missing 16 days ago and now Wyoming police officers believe she is on Kaua’i after tracing pings of her new phone to the island. Kauai Now. Hawaii News Now.

Mountains topped with snow make a winter wonderland, federal money flows to Red Hill, Honolulu rail, teachers unsure how to take bonus holiday leave, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

It’s a Winter Wonderland on Big Island’s Maunakea; but roads are unsafe. The University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo Center for Maunakea Stewardship expects the road to the summit will remain closed for at least the next couple of days.  Big Island Video News.

Video shows snow atop Haleakalā; Summit remains closed to the public. An accumulation of snow was observed along the roadsides near the summit of Haleakalā Tuesday.  Maui Now.

Feds Ramp Up Efforts To Save Hawaii’s Endangered Forest Birds In A Race Against Time. Federal wildlife officials aim to direct some $14 million from the new Bipartisan Infrastructure Law toward the urgent, ongoing effort to save 12 native Hawaiian forest bird species battered by avian malaria and headed toward extinction. Civil Beat.

Gov. Josh Green’s offer of 2 extra days off confuses Hawaii teachers. While Gov. Josh Green has gifted state employees with two extra days of paid time off work for the holidays, Hawaii’s 12,600 public school teachers are still unsure how they’ll benefit since contractually they are already on vacation during the schools’ winter break. Star-Advertiser.

Good news for your budget: Economists predict a rapid drop in inflation for Hawaii next year. Carl Bonham, of the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization, said the global war on recession is already having traction in the islands. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii hotels offering local deals during slow holiday season.  Typically, Christmas to New Year’s is oversold at Hawaii hotels with occupancy above 100% and sky-high room rates. This year Hawaii’s festive season, especially on Oahu, is not delivering, with a few hotels even reporting occupancy as low as 40% in the days leading up to Christmas. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Congress set to give another $1 billion for Red Hill.  Congress is poised to allocate another $1 billion to shutting down the Navy’s Red Hill fuel facility. The funding is expected to cover major repairs to the facility’s pipelines and other infrastructure that will facilitate the safe draining of approximately 104 million gallons of fuel from aging underground tanks, as well as remediating the soil and groundwater that’s been polluted by past fuel spills. Star-Advertiser.

Schatz Snags Another $64 Million For Honolulu Rail Project. Hawaii’s senior senator, who sits on the Appropriations Committee, says he’s secured more money for the beleaguered project, which is years behind schedule and massively over budget. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now.

Graveyard Shift: Honolulu Pays Police $1 Million In Overtime To Guard Morgue Trailers. The city is paying up to five times the cost of private security but says it’s worth it. Civil Beat.

Oʻahu's free COVID testing program ends Dec. 30.  For nearly two years, the City and County of Honolulu, in partnership with the National Kidney Foundation of Hawaiʻi, operated a testing site at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu. Then came other sites, such as at Honolulu Hale and Kapolei Hale. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu nonprofit aims to build $25M ‘resilient’ hurricane community shelter. Oahu’s storm shelters, which are mostly Hawaii schools, are not built to withstand a powerful hurricane. Hawaii News Now.

HPU researching types of limu to clean up effluent from fish ponds. Hawai‘i Pacific University is using a federal grant for research on seaweed — or limu — that could potentially lead to commercial-scale cultivation. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Island

Kudos for KOA: Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport takes No. 2 spot in analysis of 100 busiest airports.  Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole was ranked by Forbes Advisor as the second-best airport for holiday travel in the nation, the financial media outlet announced last week. West Hawaii Today.

Delay sought in affordable housing trial. A co-defendant in a federal criminal case involving alleged fraudulent use of Hawaii County affordable housing credits is seeking a postponement of the trial. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui nearshore water initiative seeks ocean advocates for new team.  The Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources has launched a first-of-its-kind community effort to manage Maui’s marine resources. DLNR’s Division of Aquatic Resources is looking for about 20 Maui residents to join its navigation team. Hawaii Public Radio.

Plane crash victim loved adventures and travel. A nurse aboard a Hawaii Life Flight plane that went missing off Maui was remembered as funny and passionate about her job, as a private search was underway for the medical transport aircraft. Maui News. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

Kauai

Kaua‘i will break ground on 400 new affordable housing units in 2023.  Over the course of 2023, the County of Kaua‘i and its private development partners expect to break ground on 400 new affordable apartments and homes that will eventually house more than 1,000 people. Garden Island.

Hawaii tackles nursing shortage, Kahele must return $48k in campaign contributions, Honolulu rail delayed again, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii’s shortage of health care workers worsens. The shortage of health care workers has dramatically worsened over the past three years, according to a new report released Tuesday by the Healthcare Association of Hawaii, with job vacancies jumping 76% — from 2,200 job openings in 2019 to 3,873 this year. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. KHON2.

FEC says Kahele congressional campaign must return $48K. The Federal Election Commission says U.S. Rep. Kai Kahele’s congressional committee must refund more than $48,000 to its political donors. That’s because the contributors donated for the November 2022 general election, which Kahele didn’t run in. Hawaii News Now.

Tokuda Says She’s Ready To Take On A Divided Washington. The newly elected Hawaii congresswoman will be in the minority party for the first time in her career. Civil Beat.

Interest Rates are Up, So Number of New Mortgages is Down. The total of home loans issued in Hawai‘i through the end of October dropped 38% from the same period last year. Hawaii Business Magazine.

State sees spike in road fatalities compared to last year. All four counties in Hawaii have seen an increase in fatal road accidents compared to the same time last year, according to state transportation officials, who are warning of a spike in traffic deaths heading into November. Maui News.

Oahu

‘Hammerhead’ crack fixes in limbo, delaying Oahu’s rail service. Eight of 21 cracked rail “hammerheads” along the city’s rail route appear to require more extensive — but undetermined — repairs, likely delaying Honolulu Authority of Rapid Transportation’s transfer of the transit system to the city for paid passenger service deeper into 2023. Star-Advertiser.

Change underway to tackle Oahu building permit backlog. An initial overhaul stage is underway to reduce a chronic building permit application backlog on Oahu at the city’s troubled Department of Planning and Permitting. Star-Advertiser.

Riders say the Handi-Van is failing them. And the city agrees. The Handi-Van is a federally-required service for the disabled citizens who can’t ride traditional buses. Hawaii News Now.

Researchers use drones to understand how waves are shifting Waikiki beach. One study, based on weekly drone surveys between 2018 to 2020, found the sand appears to move from one end of the beach to the other — not to and from offshore, as previously believed.  Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Bill to help reduce backlog of building permit applications deferred. A bill that would temporarily suspend the requirement that the Department of Public Works review plans submitted for building permit applications was met with mixed reactions Tuesday. Tribune-Herald.

Water Department contingency plans cleared by auditor. The Department of Water Supply has successfully addressed three issues identified in a 2020 audit that found the department lacked sufficient contingency plans to ensure the public had dependable access to water when equipment breaks down, the county auditor told the County Council Finance Committee on Tuesday. West Hawaii Today.

Lawsuit: Hawaii County, cops culpable in shooting death. Trial has been set in a civil lawsuit brought against Hawaii County, two Hawaii Police Department officers, and the man who allegedly shot and killed a 59-year-old Volcano resident in 2021. Tribune-Herald.

Grant Helps Hawaiʻi Island Fruit Producers, Food Basket. USDA funds will help the Olohana Foundation collaborate with local fruit producers to create new products, which will be dispersed into the local food system via The Food Basket. Big Island Video News.

Maui

Zoning change for Maui Ocean Center Marine Institute’s proposed marine conservation center. The Planning and Sustainable Land Use Committee will discuss a proposed resolution and bill for a zoning change for construction of a marine conservation and research center by the Maui Ocean Center Marine Institute in Mā‘alaea, Maui. Maui Now.

Mauka-to-makai efforts aim to protect critical Maui reef. Groups work to carry out restoration projects in along the coastline. Maui News. KITV4.

Maui summer update of destination management action plan now available. The Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority published the Maui Summer 2022 progress report that provides updates on the progress toward fulfilling the Maui Destination Management Action Plan that is part of the Maui Nui action plan. Maui Now.

At a Maui school, a tradition revived offers new opportunities for the future. Lahainaluna High School is reviving its agriculture program to help grow Maui’s next generation of farmers. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

Recount confirms County Council outcome. An automatically triggered recount conducted Thursday evening confirmed the previously reported results of the Kaua‘i County Council race. Garden Island.

Kauai mayor gears up for second-term priorities after re-election. Mayor Derek Kawakami has been Kauai’s mayor for four years and just won another four with last week’s re-election. KHON2.

Lihu‘e runway project gets Kaua‘i planning commission approval. The Lihu‘e Airport runway has been out of compliance with federal law since 2006. Garden Island.

Meth runner for ex-Kauai Council member gets 3-year term. A 41-year-old Kauai man who agreed to run drugs and collect money for a drug trafficking organization headed by a former Kauai County Council member and supplied by Samoan gang members, was sentenced Tuesday to three years in federal prison. Star-Advertiser.

Kauaʻi putting together reentry transition packs for those leaving prison. The transition back into everyday life after being incarcerated can be difficult. For some, finding a place to stay or a ride to meet with a probation officer can be a barrier to successful reintegration. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii tries to balance public access and safety, two vacancies on state Supreme Court, most elementary schools test positive for lead, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Outside looking in ©2022 All Hawaii News

Hawaii’s public offices are not so public. Visiting state government offices can be hard these days in Hawaii, where security guards, discouraging signs, locked doors and cordoned-off public parking are impeding access to services and information. Star-Advertiser.

‘We are not immune’: Pelosi attack prompts talk of political violence in Hawaii. Hawaii political leaders and experts say we are not immune to the rhetoric that can lead to violence. Hawaii News Now.

Majority of Hawaii elementary schools test positive for lead in drinking water. Three-quarters of Hawaii’s public elementary schools have tested positive for high lead levels in at least one sink or drinking water fountain, according to extensive testing recently completed by state health officials as part of a nationwide push to reduce childhood exposure to the heavy metal that can cause permanent developmental disabilities. Star-Advertiser.

Another Vacancy Posted For Hawaii Supreme Court. Associate Justice Paula Nakayama turns 70 next October, the age by which all Hawaii judges and justices must step down. Earlier this month the Judicial Selection Commission announced another vacancy on the high court. Associate Justice Michael Wilson turns 70 in April. Civil Beat.

Report: State law successfully limited evictions during COVID-19 pandemic. According to a report by the Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice, the vast majority of the mediation sessions that stemmed from the law ended with the tenants remaining in their homes. Tribune-Herald.

Public is invited to give feedback on University of Hawaii tuition hikes. University of Hawaii students, parents, faculty and staff, and the public, are invited to five public meetings to provide feedback on a proposed tuition schedule for 2023 to 2027. Star-Advertiser. Kauai Now.

University of Hawaiʻi project aims to address wage disparity in early education. Low wages are the biggest contributor to the state's early educator shortage. That shortage means fewer children can go to preschool. Hawaii Public Radio.

Respiratory viruses pose triple threat in Hawaii. Health care workers are bracing for a triple threat ahead of winter: with the beginning of flu season, rising cases of respiratory syncytial virus and continuation of COVID-19. Star-Advertiser. KHON2.

Oahu

Report details strategies for receding beaches and the threat of sea level rise. A report released this week by a community working group lays out the growing catastrophe Oahu’s North Shore will face in the coming decades amid accelerated sea level rise, while providing a framework for policymakers to devise immediate and incremental strategies for adapting to environmental realities. Star-Advertiser.

Charter change aims to diversify Planning Commission. Oahu voters now have the chance to decide whether to amend the Honolulu City Charter to require that four of the nine members of the Planning Commission have certain expertise requirements. Star-Advertiser.

Private Security Will Handle Patrols Along Honolulu’s Future Rail Line. The model for how to handle transit security varies from place to place. Honolulu considered using HPD but went a different route. Civil Beat.

Windward community at odds over popular beach park overnight stays. Unlike many beach parks on O’ahu that have limited hours of public access, Kailua Beach Park is open 24/7, except for its parking lot that closes at 10 p.m. Hawaii News Now.

Bill to extend areas for short term rentals in Ko'olina area. Rand Eastwood, property management owner in Ko’olina said this is where the demand is in the vacation industry especially after the city removed 10,000 unpermitted vacation units. KITV4.

Here’s What Happened When Lawyers For A Condo Association Tried To Collect Their Fees. Porter McGuire Kiakona now faces $475,000 in damages for violating debt collection laws in a case that started with a $150 fine against a dog owner. Civil Beat.

Crying Fowl In Downtown Honolulu: ‘Chickens Are Wandering Around Like They Own The Place’. Crowing roosters and squawking chickens are invading urban Honolulu, leaving residents sleepless, exhausted and angry. Civil Beat.

Fishpond predators astonish University of Hawaii researchers. UH scientists conducted a study on fish caught at Heeia Fishpond in Kaneohe. The information was published last month in the journal Aquaculture, Fish and Fisheries. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

TAT sweetens county budget. Hawaii County’s new tax on hotels and short-term rentals helped sweeten county coffers to an extent unseen in previous years. West Hawaii Today.

Council to consider exemptions for Waikoloa affordable housing project. Developers of the proposed Hoomalu at Waikoloa affordable housing project are asking the county to exempt them from three development requirements as a way to help keep the units affordable. West Hawaii Today.

Mortar round, grenades cleared from Waimea area during ordnance search. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has found eight hand grenades and a mortar round in and near Waimea this year while clearing unexploded ordnance from the former Waikoloa Maneuver Area. Tribune-Herald.

'High tensions’ at Hilo jail because of lack of services, overcrowding. Weeks after a scathing report was released about conditions at the Hawaii County Correctional Center, some improvements have been made. Hawaii News Now.

What is the mysterious bright light off Hiloʻs east coast? The bright lights belong to the Norseman II, a former fishing boat that is now a survey vessel. It is carrying field scientists from Region 9 of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency who are conducting monitoring work in a study area that includes an ocean dredged material disposal site several miles offshore of the Hilo coast, according to oceanographer Allan Ota. Kauai Now.

Maui

Hotel moratorium close to ending. Maui County Council members are one step away from ending the temporary visitor lodging moratorium, but are also seeking to keep the cap on transient vacation rentals at existing levels. Maui News.

Axis deer management is topic of Monday’s council committee meeting. The Infrastructure and Transportation Committee will meet Monday at 9 a.m. to discuss potential solutions and updates regarding axis deer management in Maui County. Maui Now.

Community budget meetings on Lānaʻi and in Lahaina. The last community budget meetings for Fiscal Year 2024, hosted by Mayor Michael Victorino and his administration, are set for Lānaʻi at the Hale Kupuna O’Lānaʻi, on Wednesday, Nov. 2, starting at 3:30 p.m., and at the Lahaina West Maui Kaunoa Senior Center on Thursday, Nov. 3, starting at 5:30 p.m.  Maui Now.

Riot, COVID prompt changes at jail facility in Wailuku. During a media tour of the jail Thursday, Major Manny Labasan and acting Warden Liane Endo discussed changes prompted by the March 11, 2019, riot as well as the COVID-19 pandemic. Maui News.

Maui labor market crisis directly tied to housing . Pamela Tumpap, president of the Maui Chamber of Commerce, said that as of 2017, Maui was 14,000 housing units behind meeting the island’s rental housing needs. Hawaii Public Radio.

1,600 people attend Maui County Senior Fair. The first in-person Maui County Senior Fair since 2019 on Saturday, Oct. 29, drew about 1,600 people to the War Memorial Gym, where they ate local food, met candidates for office, listened to George Kahumoku Jr. and got their flu and COVID-19 boosters. Maui Now.

Kauai

Kaua‘i Community Correctional Center deals with the COVID-19 pandemic. In the first, state-sanctioned tour since the onset of the pandemic, jail representatives Friday led The Garden Island through the facility, which now features an remodeled parking lot and front office, 42 new security cameras and a new sallyport for prisoner intake. Garden Island.

DOW wins national water award. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recognized the county Department of Water with a 2022 WaterSense Excellence Award for their dedication to helping consumers and businesses save water through conservation awareness and educational outreach. Garden Island.

Credit union acquires Otsuka Building. A deeply rooted financial institution plans on expanding its presence on the island following the purchase of a historic building in north Kapa‘a. Garden Island.

Hawaii Island residents advised to pack 'go bag' as volcano rumbles, red light cameras catch drivers, Maui deputy police chief quits, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

 

Snow-capped Mauna Loa in December ©2022 All Hawaii News

Big Island residents advised to pack ‘go’ bag as Mauna Loa rumbles. Hawaii officials are warning residents of the Big Island that the world’s largest active volcano, Mauna Loa, is sending signals that it might erupt. Experts say it would take just a few hours for lava to reach homes closest to vents on the volcano, which last erupted in 1984. Associated Press. Hawaii News Now. KITV4. Big Island Video News.

Mail-in voting still presents obstacles for people with disabilities. The Statewide Voters with Special Needs Advisory Committee began meeting earlier this year to make sure everybody in this group has the opportunity to vote. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaiʻi IT Scores A- In 2022 Digital States Survey. Hawaiʻi ranks among the top performing states with an overall grade of A- in the Center for Digital Government’s 2022 Digital States Survey. Big Island Video News.

Hawaii students outpace most of U.S. in pandemic test scores, study finds. While the COVID-19 pandemic has hurt public-school reading test scores in almost all other states, Hawaii was one of only two states where the reading scores for grades 3 through 8 have stayed relatively stable, according to a new independent analysis called the Education Recovery Scorecard. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Schools Are Struggling To Help English Learners Recover From Pandemic Setbacks. Distance learning had an outsized effect on students learning English. The DOE hopes more qualified teachers will turn things around. Civil Beat.

Fishing For Likes: Has Social Media Affected Ulua Fish Stock In Hawaii? Some experts say giant trevally, a culturally and ecologically important fish, has declined as its popularity has soared online, but better data is needed. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Rail utility work along Dillingham Boulevard to last over 3 years. A three-year slog up and down Dillingham Boulevard with round-the-clock construction taking up one side of the major thoroughfare between Kalihi and Iwilei is set to begin in November. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

Red light cameras catch 126 drivers, warnings issued. The state says 126 drivers have been caught on camera going through a red light. For now, those drivers are only getting a warning. Fines will be handed out next month, and a second camera will be installed by then also. KHON2.

Board of Land and Natural Resources repeals permit rules for Waikiki surf instructors, others. The state Board of Land and Natural Resources voted Thursday to repeal administrative rules requiring surf instructors, outrigger canoe captains and other people who operate commercially in Waikiki waters to obtain a state permit certifying their qualifications, despite objections from some longtime operators who said it would threaten the traditions and legacy of the Waikiki beachboys. Star-Advertiser.

Attorney for alleged Russian spy in Hawaii withdraws following ‘breakdown’ in relationship. Walter Primrose and his wife Gwynn Morrison are accused of stealing the identities of dead babies from Texas in the 1980s. They also were found keeping military maps, coded messages, and kits for invisible ink in their home. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu’s only public shooting range closed indefinitely as probe into possible lead contamination begins. The city has no timeline for when Oahu’s only public shooting range will reopen as an investigation into elevated lead levels in the majority of workers at the facility begins. Hawaii News Now.

HNL airport: Mauka concourse restaurant plans rejected. The mauka concourse at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport opened to travelers more than a year ago, but the new facility is noticeably missing places to eat as the building permit application for a restaurant was recently rejected. KHON2.

KCC receives $1.29M grant for community health worker training. The grant is part of an $11.3 million award to the UH system from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Island

Proposed rules would curtail manta viewing. The Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation has developed a proposed series of rules that would limit the number and activities of permitted commercial manta ray viewing operators in order to mitigate overcrowding, environmental impacts and safety concerns. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News. Maui Now.

Fixes unveiled for Waipio road: Three-year effort would be done in phases. A three-year Hawaii County plan to fully reopen Waipio Valley Road by mitigating its safety hazards was met with little opposition Wednesday. Tribune-Herald.

Aging, overcrowded Hilo correctional center getting some help, but more is needed. Cramped, cluttered and under construction. That’s the current situation at Hawai‘i Community Correctional Center in Hilo. Big Island Now.

Hawaii Island residents who lost their homes to Kilauea eruption receive buyout checks. Hawaii Island property owners who lost their homes in the 2018 Kilauea eruption are finally receiving their buyout checks from the county. Hawaii News Now.

Maui

After just 10 months on the job, Deputy Police Chief Hank retires; Maui’s Wade Maeda promoted. Maui Police Chief John Pelletier selected Hank as his second in command prior to being sworn in last December. Maui Now.

3 years after riot, an inside look into what’s changed at Maui Correctional Center. More than three years after a jailhouse riot caused more than $5 million at Maui Community Correctional Center, the media got an inside look at all the changes. Hawaii News Now.

$8.29 M awarded to Pacific islands region projects. Five funded projects to benefit Maui, Molokai conservation. Maui News.

Kauai

Former JROTC instructor sentenced behind bars for child porn. A former JROTC instructor has been sentenced 14 years in prison for sexually exploiting a student, said the U.S. District Court on Friday. Victor Aguilar, 66, of Kauai pleaded guilty to child pornography offenses in May. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

Kaua‘i tourism numbers surge in September. A post-pandemic bounceback appears to be in full swing on the island of Kaua‘i, as evidenced by strong gains in visitor numbers and tourism spending last month. Garden Island.

Inaugural Operation Rising Star golf tournament on Dec. 18 at Hōkūala on Kauaʻi. Hōkūala will host the inaugural Operation Rising Star golf tournament at its award-winning Jack Nicklaus Signature Ocean Course on Dec. 18 with the proceeds going to Folds of Honor scholarship recipients in Hawaiʻi. Kauai Now.

EPA urges caution on Thirty Meter Telescope, Honolulu mulls tax breaks for businesses on rail line, taxpayers may fund abandoned vehicle removal, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Consider TMT changes to lessen impact on Native Hawaiians, EPA urges. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is urging the National Science Foundation to consider alternative construction sites for the Thirty Meter Telescope — and possibly a smaller version of the proposed observatory — in its upcoming environmental review of the controversial project. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.

Handling of OHA funds leads to questions over CNHA’s bid for tourism contract. Allegations that the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement mismanaged a $1.6 million Office of Hawaiian Affairs contract have surfaced as the dispute over a much larger Hawaii Tourism Authority contract heads beyond the four-month mark. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Gov. Ige Rules Out Special Legislative Session To Fix Court’s Grand Jury Ruling. Gov. David Ige issued a statement Wednesday saying that he would not call the Hawaii Legislature into special session to draft a new law to reverse a recent Hawaii Supreme Court ruling that limits prosecutors’ choices when indicting serious criminals. Civil Beat.

Latest Fed rate hike may also increase jitters in Hawaii’s real estate market. The rise in interest rates is just one of the forces on Hawaii’s real estate market. That rise has pushed some buyers to act more quickly to get an affordable mortgage, while sellers are rethinking their asking price. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

Wanted: A bunch of mahimahi stomachs. To fishermen in Hawaii, Pacific mahimahi stomachs hold no particular value and are discarded. But to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration scientists researching mahimahi diet, each stomach tells a unique story and provides an opportunity to help the fish and its environment. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii reports 14 COVID deaths, over 1,100 cases in past week. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Council considers property tax exemptions for businesses along rail line. The Honolulu City Council is considering a measure that would give businesses along the rail line incentives such as expedited permitting and tax exemptions for up to 30 years. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu inching closer to creating historic preservation commission. “Honolulu is the only county in the state that does not have a preservation commission and one of the only major cities in the country without a commission,” councilmember Esther Kiaʻāina said Tuesday. Hawaii Public Radio.

Private financing not needed to build new stadium, Ige says. Gov. David Ige said Wednesday that the $350 million the state Legislature provided during the 2022 session is enough money to build a new Aloha Stadium. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. KHON2. KITV4.

Former principal sues Department of Education over threat case. A former principal of Stevenson Middle School has filed a civil suit in U.S. District Court against the state Department of Education, alleging that officials failed to adequately protect her amid violent threats and sexual harassment from an unknown person or people, and retaliated against her for questioning the department’s response. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Has Many Vacant Positions Open On Boards And Commissions. Honolulu officials are looking to fill several positions on city panels, including the new advisory Economic Revitalization Commission, according to a Wednesday news release. Civil Beat. KITV4.

Hawaii Island

Bill that would cover cost of removing abandoned vehicles passes first reading. A bill that would allow private property owners to remove free of charge abandoned or derelict vehicles from their land moved one step closer to fruition Wednesday. West Hawaii Today.

Volcano skate park repairs in the works. The Volcano community is taking steps to repair and reopen Hawaii County’s only wooden skate park. Tribune-Herald.

Community Meeting Set For Upolu Well Project In North Kohala. A meeting will take place on Thursday, September 29 at the Kohala Village Hub Barn in order provide an Upolu Well project overview and solicit community input. Big Island Video News.

Signs Stolen: Nene Crossing, Tsunami Route, Scenic Byways. Police say the unique Hawaiʻi signs are being removed along Mamalahoa Highway in the areas of Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park and the district of Kaʻū. Big Island Video News. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

Maui

Maui Planning Department seeks applicants to fill 22% vacancy. The Maui County Department of Planning is seeking applicants to fill six newly funded and 12 vacant positions, ranging from clerical to planner and supervisory positions. Maui Now.

Several vacancies in Planning Department delaying permit processing. A 22 percent vacancy rate has contributed to delays in permit processing in Maui County, which is why the Department of Planning is seeking applicants to fill six newly funded positions and 12 vacant positions, ranging from clerical to planner and supervisory positions. Maui News.

Kauai

Facing litigation, Kaua‘i County returns drug treatment facility to Grove Farm. The Kaua‘i County Council voted unanimously Wednesday to deed the facility back to its previous owners, ending the county leadership role in the long struggle to get the center off the ground, which has been marred by struggles finding an operator, legal troubles and a global pandemic. Garden Island.

Hawaii flags at half-staff in honor of Queen Elizabeth, Maui opens county lot for homeless to sleep in cars, Honolulu council advances shoreline setback increase, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Flags Lowered To Honor Queen Elizabeth. The U.S. and Hawaii state flags are to be flown at half-staff at state offices and agencies until sunset on the day of interment of Queen Elizabeth II. Civil Beat. Maui Now. KHON2. Kauai Now.

Hawaii primary election’s last legal challenges are dismissed. No new winners have been declared in Hawaii’s primary election in August as the result of several legal challenges filed by losing candidates and a handful of voters. The Hawaii Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed three such cases after dismissing three other election challenges a week earlier. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Health Department reports three more monkeypox cases, state total at 28. The tally now includes 21 cases on Oahu, three on Hawaii island, two on Maui, and two on Kauai. The count includes three nonresidents. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

Oahu

Shoreline setback bill advances at Honolulu City Council. As a measure that would increase the shoreline setback for structures and development advances through the City Council, a building industry professional is raising questions about other mitigation efforts to account for sea level rise. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

HART: Difference In Bids To Relocate Utilities On Dillingham Rail Route Was $400 Million. The Honolulu rail agency said the losing bid, at $900 million, received a “significantly lower” score. Local construction firm Nan Inc. was recently given one the Honolulu rail transit project’s largest and most consequential contracts: an award to relocate utilities along the city’s crowded Dillingham Boulevard corridor. Civil Beat.

Director resignation raises more concerns on permit backlog. There are increasing concerns over a city department already plagued with delays after the director of the planning department abruptly resigned. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

Public invited to comment on draft economic development plan. Balancing the strengths and weakness of the local economy with a look to the future is the goal of the 2022 Hawaii County Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy, a draft report recently published by Hawaii Island Economic Development Board Inc. West Hawaii Today.

Centers to continue free landlord and tenant mediation program. Hawaii Island’s two nonprofit mediation centers have teamed up to continue free Zoom mediation for landlords and tenants now that landlords are no longer required to send a 15-day eviction notice. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui to allow homeless to sleep in cars at county lot. Before signing County Council Bill 108 on Thursday, Mayor Michael Victorino announced the J. Walter Cameron Center in Wailuku as the first site under the program, which officials hope to open in October to an initial group of 25 to 30 participants. Star-Advertiser. Maui Now. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

County issues more than $60M in bonds. Maui County has successfully issued $60.87 million in general obligation bonds at an average interest rate of 2.85 percent, Mayor Michael Victorino announced Wednesday. Maui News.

Maui Entrepreneur Says County Is Determined To Put Him Out Of Business. Paia Inn owner Michael Baskin says he’s the victim of retaliatory zoning enforcement because of a decade-long personal dispute with the planning director. Civil Beat.

Kauai

Runner and supplier in former Kaua‘i county council member Arthur Brun case sentenced. Two more co-conspirators have been sentenced in the Kaua‘i drug ring centered around former county council member Arthur Brun. Garden Island.

Application to carry firearms finalized on Kauai. The application and permitting process for the license to carry concealed and unconcealed firearms have been finalized by the Kauaʻi Police Department. KHON2. Kauai Now.

Coral reef task force considers Hawaii experiences, Congress mulls new sea-based nuclear weapons, snorkeler recovering from Maui shark attack, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Heart-shaped coral in Hawaii ©2022 All Hawaii News

Coral reef task force panel details Hawaii leadership on marine resources management. A recent panel discussion during the 45th annual U.S. Coral Reef Task Force meeting focused on the leadership Hawaii is showing the country and the world in the face of mounting challenges to conserve ocean resources. West Hawaii Today.

Congress quietly debates new sea-based nuclear weapons amid China tension. The expansion of nuclear arms at sea could have implications for the Navy’s Hawaii-­based Pacific Fleet, and members of Hawaii’s congressional delegation sit on key committees that will determine the program’s future. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii could see bump in visitors from Japan as travel restrictions ease. The Japanese government on Wednesday is significantly easing border controls by eliminating requirements for pre- departure COVID-19 tests for travelers who have received at least three vaccine doses, and increasing daily entry caps to 50,000 from 20,000. Star-Advertiser.

Affordable housing in Hawaii: A top campaign issue where results are hard to assess. For  the governor, mayors, legislators and county council members after the Nov. 8 general election, moving the needle on an issue that has been a chronic problem for decades likely will be more than difficult and hard to measure. Star-Advertiser.

Lack Of Working Video Cameras At Hawaii Prisons Complicates Abuse Investigations. The Women’s Community Correctional Center has a long history of allegations of sexual misconduct, and broken cameras make it harder to prove cases. Civil Beat.

Kaiser mental health workers spend Labor Day walking picket lines as strike enters 2nd week. Kaiser’s mental health employees said they haven’t received pay raises to match the cost of living increases because — even though they organized four years ago — they don’t have a contract with Kaiser. But Kaiser said it offers attractive pay packages and has hired 28 clinicians in its mental health division since the beginning for 2021. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Honolulu City Council grapples with strategies for shoreline communities amid climate change. A proposed measure, Bill 41, would increase the general 40-foot shoreline setback to between 60 and 130 feet, depending on the location and size of the property. Star-Advertiser.

City plans to overhaul Oahu’s land use ordinances. For the first time in nearly 30 years, the city is overhauling its land use ordinances, proposing large- scale changes that would affect agricultural land, wind farms, housing and short-term rentals. Star-Advertiser.

Protecting The Past By Managing The Future Of Ka‘ena Point. A new federal designation could bring more money for a place brimming with cultural and environmental resources. But some worry it could bring more people too. Civil Beat.

Hundreds of Red Hill water samples never tested for fuel. The Navy did confirm Dec. 2 that its Red Hill shaft had been contaminated with jet fuel. But there is little data from early on to indicate what specific chemicals may have been present at dangerous levels in the drinking water system. Star-Advertiser.

Shortened rail line means nearly quadruple jump in Kakaako boardings, exits. The end of the line at Halekauwila and South streets near the state Circuit Court building will be known as the Civic Center station, where bus traffic also will dramatically increase. Star-Advertiser.

Think twice before running a red: HDOT nears rollout of red light cameras. Drivers on Oahu might want to think twice before running a red light. Soon, they could be fined without ever being stopped by police. Hawaii News Now.

Paid parking in effect for nonshoppers at Ala Moana Center. Ala Moana Center has established paid parking zones to accommodate people who need parking for nearby business or leisure activities outside of the shopping center. Star-Advertiser.

Residents question curbside painting service that’s ‘City & County approved’. The city is investigating a puzzling painting job. The service offers to paint addresses on the curb so it can be spotted by first responders. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

‘Not quite across the finish line’: County and state work toward Paniolo extension. The extension of Paniolo Avenue all the way to Queen Kaahumanu Highway could become reality sooner than the much-vaunted extension of Saddle Road, but don’t hold your breath — neither will happen overnight. West Hawaii Today.

Commission OKs cell tower on Kaumana. The Windward Planning Commission on Thursday approved an application for a permit to build a 180-foot cell tower on the upper end of Kaumana Drive. Tribune-Herald.

Council committee to consider two West Hawaii mini-developments. Some 22 acres of agricultural land in West Hawaii could become mini-developments totaling 26 new house lots under two rezoning requests a County Council panel is set to consider Tuesday. West Hawaii Today.

Common ground: Josh Green and Duke Aiona vow to fast track reform at Hilo Medical Center. Two candidates vying to be Hawaii’s next governor tackle the issue of health care on the Big Island — specifically addressing the situation at one of the state’s most overcrowded and understaffed hospitals. Hawaii News Now.

Maui

Snorkeler recovering from shark attack on Maui. A 51-year-old woman from France remains at Maui Memorial Medical Center after suffering serious injuries in a shark attack Saturday afternoon on Maui’s north shore. Star-Advertiser. Maui Now. Maui News. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

County mulls lower retirement age to help recruit police. Change would require update to state law; unfunded liabilities stand in the way. A proposal to eliminate the requirement that police officers be 55 years old before they can retire is gaining support as a way to help recruit and retain police officers. Maui News.

Major conservation conference comes to Maui this week. The National Association of Conservation Districts Pacific Southwest Regional Conference will take place in Lahaina this week, highlighting cooperative efforts on many levels. Maui Now.

Maui County seeks public input for kupuna and caregiver plans. The Maui County Office on Aging is seeking public input that will help guide future plans. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kauai

Kaua‘i mayor, council member, top official raises to go before council. A resolution set to go before County Council Wednesday would increase the maximum salaries of the mayor, department leadership, and council members by 15%. Garden Island.

High housing costs on Kauaʻi contribute to labor shortage. Kauaʻi has some of the same challenges as the rest of Hawaiʻi — high housing costs and a severe labor shortage. The pressures in this small community just seem a bit higher. Hawaii Public Radio.