Obama coming home for the holidays, beach smoking ban advanced, elections investigations multiply, Hunger Games casting call, invasive frog hops Christmas tree shipment, Kauai HR director theft case dismissed, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

White House gates on Obama Kailua beach rental, White House courtesy photo

President Barack Obama and his family are preparing for their annual December vacation in Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Residents living near the beachfront homes where President Barack Obama and First Family vacation with their friends every year since 2008 were alerted on Monday to some specifics of the Obamas' holiday vacation plans. Hawaii Reporter.

The state Elections Commission opted not to fire or discipline Chief Election Officer Scott Nago after a meeting Tuesday and instead will form a subcommittee to study the ballot shortages that led to long lines and frustrated voters on election day. Star-Advertiser.

After sitting through an hour of impassioned pleas from the public calling for his head to roll Tuesday, Scott Nago had to endure an hour of criticism and questions from the state Elections Commission. Civil Beat.

The state Elections Commission Tuesday decided to appoint a subcommittee to investigate ballot problems on Oahu during the Nov. 6 election, following testimony from some members of the public who called for Chief Election Officer Scott Nago to be fired. Hawaii News Now.

The state’s elections commission met Tuesday to review alleged problems in the primary and general elections. Hawaii Independent.

The state elections commission on Tuesday formed a subcommittee to investigate what caused two dozen Oahu polling places to run out of paper ballots during the Nov. 6 General Election. Associated Press.

Accusations and emotions flew at an elections commission meeting on Tuesday, to try and address the ballot shortage fiasco that turned Hawaii's general election into a nightmare. KITV4.

Angry voters are calling for state and federal investigations of the Office of Elections. KHON2.

Hawaii Gas President and CEO Jeffrey M. Kissel will discuss his company’s plan to bring liquified natural gas to Hawaii at the Natural Gas Roundtable at the University Club in Washington on Thursday. Pacific Business News.

UH researcher attempts to fill gaps in tsunami buoy system. KITV4.

A casting call has been put out for stand-ins in Hawaii for several cast members of ‘The Hunger Games: Catching Fire'. Hawaii News Now.

Catching Fire, the much anticipated sequel in The Hunger Games trilogy, is shooting at several locations in the state between November 26 and December 22. Hawaii News Now.

State briefs 11/28. Associated Press.

Oahu

A bill to ban smoking at five of Oahu's most popular beach parks got a favorable nod Tuesday from a key Honolulu City Council committee. Star-Advertiser.

A proposed Bill to make Waikiki Beaches smoke free was advanced by a Honolulu City Council Committee today. Hawaii Public Radio.

State Department agent Christopher Deedy spent the night drinking and bar-hopping before going to a Waikiki McDonald's restaurant where he shot and killed a 23-year-old Kailua man, city prosecutors said in court papers filed in Deedy's murder case. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Mayor Billy Kenoi on Tuesday solidified his administration’s West Hawaii presence by naming Deputy Managing Director Wally Lau his new managing director, replacing retiring Managing Director Bill Takaba. West Hawaii Today.

The Water Board voted down changes to its rules that would have codified requirements that standpipe lessees comply with all federal, state and county laws, rules and regulations. West Hawaii Today.

Plans are underway to relocate the Hilo Adult Day Center to a new home to be built adjacent to a senior rental housing project now under construction. Big Island Now.

Maui
A Maui County Council committee on Monday advanced the second piece of a three-part package aimed at eliminating the long-standing Upcountry water meter waiting list. Maui News.

A recent donation from the Alexander & Baldwin Foundation was used to improve facilities for the homeless at The Salvation Army in Kahului. Maui Now.

The invasive veiled chameleon is close to being eradicated from Maui with the Maui Invasive Species Committee reporting that they have not seen the critter since spring 2008. Maui News.

Phasing in the Lahaina bypass. Maui News.

Kauai

Kauai Circuit Judge Randal Valenciano dismissed Tuesday an indictment against county Human Resources Manager Janine Rapozo, who was charged with falsifying business records to aid Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. in the theft of gasoline using a county-issued gasoline card. Star-Advertiser.

The case against a county manager over accessory to theft charges was dismissed at her initial appearance in 5th Circuit Court Tuesday. Garden Island.

There was more drama today in the ongoing controversy over Kauai Mayor Bernard P. Carvalho, Jr.'s alleged criminal use of a county gasoline card. Hawaii Reporter.

The Hawai‘i Public Utilities Commission has dismissed a formal complaint with prejudice against the Kauai Island Utilities Commission. Garden Island.

Officials captured an non-native frog that jumped from a Christmas tree a couple had just bought Tuesday at a Walmart in Lihue, the Kauai Invasive Species Committee reported. Star-Advertiser.

Marine experts will collect samples off Kauai's North Shore today to determine whether one of the state's major coral disease outbreaks in recent years is related to lesions being found on Hawaiian puffer fish. Star-Advertiser.

Big surf could lower voter turnout, 'Hunger Games' to film in Hawaii, OHA expands national presence, help for the homeless, Maui has state's top bond rating, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Democratic Party Grand Rally (c) 2012 All Hawaii News

Vote today! Find your polling place here.

Voters across the state will head to the polls on Tuesday to select their nominees for president, mayor, and several congressional races during Hawaii's general election. Hawaii News Now.

Early voting in Hawaii before today's election was slightly ahead of the last presidential election in 2008, but political analysts do not expect turnout to be much higher than the 66 percent of registered voters who cast ballots four years ago. Star-Advertiser.

As of Nov. 3 almost 182,000 voters statewide had cast early ballots, far eclipsing the 152,000 ballots cast early in Hawaii’s 2010 general. Civil Beat.

Election Day is a state, city and county holiday.  So, all state, city and county offices are closed as well as state libraries. KITV4.

Like Florida in 2000, some are predicting that the closely contested 2012 presidential election could result in one candidate winning the national popular vote and the other winning the Electoral College. Civil Beat.

Republican Linda Lingle spent her time shaking hands while Democrat Mazie Hirono was with her supporters phone banking -- each trying to sway the undecided. KHON2.

Big surf will hang around today, with advisory levels likely continuing for east-facing shores but ending for the north shores of the main Hawaiian Islands, the National Weather Service predicts. Star-Advertiser.

The National Weather Service has extended a high surf advisory until 6 a.m. Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs is looking to expand its reach far beyond Hawaii's shores. Civil Beat.

Providers of services to homeless people have planned a host of events statewide for next week aimed at boosting awareness of the hurdles they face and urging more people to be part of the solution. Star-Advertiser.

It’s official — “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” will film in Hawaii. The sequel to Lionsgate’s wildly popular “The Hunger Games” will film on Oahu sometime before the end of the year. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

The race for Honolulu Mayor will likely be the most closely watched of the election. KHON2.

Honolulu Mayoral hopeful Kirk Caldwell reported raising $76,000 in the final weeks of the race, according to the latest reports filed with the state Campaign Spending Commission. Former Gov. Ben Caye­tano, Caldwell's mayoral opponent, reported raising $73,599, bringing his total for the campaign to $1.4 million. Star-Advertiser.

Former Hawaii Campaign Spending Director Robert Watada is accusing Honolulu Mayoral Candidate Kirk Caldwell of participating in a"pay to play" scheme after reviewing dozens of donations Caldwell's campaign accepted from government rail contractors and employees of the city's rail authority. Hawaii Reporter.

The countdown to the General Election tomorrow is well underway and local campaigns are making their final push to reach potential voters. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii

It’s time for Hawaii residents to head to the polls and cast the votes that will determine the future of their community, state and nation. Tribune-Herald.

Almost 30,000 of Hawaii County’s 104,323 registered voters had already voted by the early walk-in voting deadline Saturday. According to the county Elections Division, 9,502 voters opted for early walk-in voting, and 20,019 mail-in ballots had been received. West Hawaii Today.

State elections officials are watching for problems at the polls in Hawaii County during today's election, taking over for county officials after widespread glitches that led to extended voting hours during the primary. Associated Press.

Civil Defense and police personnel have fixed 11 of the 13 tsunami warning sirens found to be dysfunctional during last week’s test. Tribune-Herald.

Kona residents can hop a direct flight to Anchorage starting Saturday. West Hawaii Today.
http://westhawaiitoday.com/sections/news/local-news/nonstop-route-kona-takes.html

An ocean-drifting fish-raising prototype from a Hawaii company was named one of the best inventions of 2012 by Time Magazine. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii developer Peter Savio is moving forward on plans to expand his Pagoda hotel brand, which caters to kama­aina and college students looking for economical rooms. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Police Department and the U.S. Army Garrison-Pohakuloa last week formalized a training agreement. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

A 22-acre vacant lot in Lahaina that has been used as a dumpsite and homeless encampment in recent years will be developed into a $60 million housing project. Maui News.

Moody’s, Standard & Poor’s and Fitch rated Maui County Aa1/AA+/AA+, higher than any other county in the State of Hawai’i. Mayor’s TV Show to Discuss Maui Bond Rating. Maui Now.

A high surf advisory is currently in effect for north and east facing shores of Maui and Molokai and will remain in effect until Tuesday 6 a.m., the National Weather Service said. Maui News.

Kauai

Two Kaua‘i residents who regularly attend County Council meetings have filed a formal complaint with the Board of Ethics against the county attorney. Garden Island.

Kauai’s mayor and police chief have been battling publicly since last February over whether the mayor or the police commission has the authority to discipline or fire the police chief. Hawaii Reporter.

The Kaua‘i County Council unanimously approved on first reading last week a bill that would create a permanent reserve fund for the county, to be used to cover budget shortfalls and stabilization and initial disaster response, among other things. Garden Island.