UH rules would restrict Mauna Kea access, Hawaii on alert as Hurricane Lane to shift northwest, officials tackle vacation rentals as resort home sales hit records, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Mauna Kea looms over Hilo town ©2018 All Hawaii News

UH requests public input on Mauna Kea land management. The University of Hawaii is asking for public input on proposed administrative rules for public and commercial activities on land its manages on Maunakea. The current draft rules would prohibit camping, as well as construction or activities involving more than 10 people without a permit. Hawaii News Now.

Hurricane Lane expected to take northwest turn; forecasters warn of heavy rain, flooding. Star-Advertiser.

At 5 a.m. Monday, Lane maintained intensity from earlier in the day, packing sustained winds of 125 mph with higher gusts. The Central Pacific Hurricane Center said Lane was centered about 615 miles southeast of Hilo — or 825 miles southeast of Honolulu — and moving west at 14 mph. Hawaii News Now.

As Hurricane Lane continues its track through the Central Pacific basin, forecasters plan on flying into the eye of the storm to better determine its path — and whether or not it'll hit the Big Island. Hawaii News Now.

State forgoing millions in federal reimbursements. The state each year misses out on potentially tens of millions of dollars in federal reimbursements because it fails to aggressively pursue claims related to teaching Medicaid-insured special education students, according to a review of federal data and interviews with legislators and state officials. Star-Advertiser.

Uninsured affected in federal funding feud. Health care clinics that largely serve low-income, uninsured women and college students may have to cut services or absorb losses if Hawaii forgoes more than $2 million in annual federal funding for family planning services. Star-Advertiser.

Vacation rental bans firmly in place on Kauai and the Big Island. The shutdown of vacation rentals on Kauai and Hawaii island remains in effect, despite improvements to flood-damaged areas of the Garden Island and an easing of the lava flow on the Big Island. Star-Advertiser.

Resort home sales rise sharply. The market for vacation homes at Hawaii resorts rebounded last year to its highest level of sales in nearly a decade, according to a recent report. Star-Advertiser.

Should Hawaii Convert To Ranked Choice Voting? Maine and several U.S. cities allow voters to rate candidates in order of preference. Civil Beat.

Studying limu species in the deep. A team of researchers from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, Bishop Museum and the Western Australian Department of Parks and Wildlife were awarded $792,021 by the National Science Foundation to describe the new species of limu, or marine algae, from Hawaii’s deep waters. Garden Island.

Oahu

How Caldwell’s Airbnb Bill Could Ease Honolulu’s Housing Crunch. The mayor would crack down on absentee owners who rent entire houses to tourists, but allow anyone to rent out a room in their home. Civil Beat.

Opposition to Honolulu's Biki in Makiki neighborhood. One Honolulu neighborhood is opposed to the popular bikeshare program Biki adding more docking points. KITV.

A bridge linking Waipio and Mililani had to shut down again on Sunday, this time for emergency work. The state has been working on the Kipapa Stream Bridge for more than a year now, but it just found a major problem in one of the supports. KHON2.

North Shore residents hold peaceful protest at Laniakea. Parking at Laniakea Beach on the North Shore was near impossible today. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

County nearing purchase of Waikapuna. The county is poised to acquire a large Ka‘u tract that one official calls the “poster child” of lands purchased for preservation. West Hawaii Today.

Big Island mayor pushes his limits amid disaster. Many people worry that leading Hawaii island through the volcanic eruption disaster that began in May could kill Mayor Harry Kim. Star-Advertiser.

The USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory issued a new Volcanic Activity Notice on Friday, announcing that the Alert Level for Kilauea Volcano was being lowered from WARNING to WATCH. Big Island Video News.

Drought in West Hawaii increases risk of wildfires running rampant already. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Not ready for prime time. Ohana candidates unlikely to gain council majority, pundits say. For Ohana Coalition-backed candidates to upset the current 5-4 majority of “establishment” members of the Maui County Council on Nov. 6, they’ll each need to get at least 23,000 votes, based on 2014 and 2016 general election ballot totals for winning council candidates. Maui News.

The Haiku Community Association and Paia Town Association are hosting a candidate’s night forum on Wed., Aug. 22, 2018 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Haiku Community Center. Maui Now.

Rooting out, cracking down on illegal short-term rentals. County reviews its options; firm hired to catch scofflaws. The county Planning Department hopes that a company that specializes in rooting out illegal short-term rentals will help them crack down on the problem over the coming months. Maui News.

Lawsuit: Did ADHD Treatment Lead To A Maui Boy’s Suicide? The malpractice suit is one of several filed nationwide in recent years alleging ADHD medication caused violent or suicidal behavior. Civil Beat.

Kauai

Monitoring the melon-heads. Melon-headed whales, rough-toothed dolphins and bottlenose dolphins have all crossed the path of the Cascadia Research Collective boat that’s currently cruising through Kauai’s western waters. Garden Island.

Hanalei Dolphin Restaurant still rebuilding. Four months after torrential rains caused flooding on Kauai’s North Shore, one business is still closed and renovating. Garden Island.

Hurricane Lane strengthens, B-2 stealth bombers deployed, foster mom arrested in toddler death, Maui affordable housing fast-tracked, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Batwing B-2 stealth bombers at Hickam AFB  (Facebook photo)

Three batwing B-2 stealth bombers are in Hawaii for their first deployment to the state, Pacific Air Forces said. Star-Advertiser.

Lane quickly intensifies into a Category 2 hurricane in East Pacific. Hurricane Lane has rapidly increased into a Category 2 storm and is expected to strengthen even more as it approaches the Central Pacific, according to officials with the National Weather Service. Hawaii News Now.

Lane strengthens to Category 2 hurricane as it continues westward march. Star-Advertiser.

Isle jobless rate in July steady at 2.1%. Hawaii’s nation-low unemployment rate held at 2.1 percent in July for the second straight month as the state’s labor market remained on solid footing. Star-Advertiser.

UH Projects A $28 Million Deficit In A Billion-Dollar Budget. The spending plan approved by the Board of Regents won’t shrink an $848 million maintenance backlog. In fact, that will keep growing. Civil Beat.

Funding for public education will be a Constitutional Amendment question on the General Election Ballot, November 6. Hawaii Public Radio.

How A Tight-Knit Pacific Island Community Is Saving Its Culture. There are now more people of Tokelauan descent living in Hawaii than in the tiny island nation, which is threatened by rising seas. Civil Beat.

Hawaii researchers are working to identify new types of deep-water limu from across the islands, and they've already found two new species. Hawaii News Now.

Woman speaks out, says she was abused by priest in Hawaii. KITV.

Former Land Board chairman, WWII hero William Paty dies. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Waiting for documents from the DMV? You might want to check your mailing address. While delays continue to frustrate people trying to get new drivers licenses or state IDs, city officials say thousands of IDs are being bounced back by the U.S. Postal Service because of invalid addresses. Hawaii News Now.

Your Hawaii State ID or driver's license may not be accepted by airport security officers after October 2020. Under the Federal Real ID Act, states are required to verify certain personal information for those ID cards to be considered valid by federal authorities. Hawaii Public Radio.

The city of Honolulu's master plan for Ala Moana Regional Park has been years in the making, but portions of the plan are leaving some longtime park users feeling that their voices haven't been heard. Hawaii News Now.

Residents gather to offer input on new Ala Moana Beach Park designs. KHON2.

A collegiate rental housing tower in Moiliili opened Thursday without a tussle over tenants using a neighboring property owner’s private road to get into or out of the new building’s parking garage. Star-Advertiser.

Kualoa Ranch sets visitor growth goals. Kualoa Ranch last year shared broad strokes of a plan to expand tourism on its Windward Oahu property popular for movie site tours, and now has a goal of attracting up to 2,000 visitors a day. Star-Advertiser.

Lanikai Pillbox trail reopens after two month closure. The Kaiiwa Ridge or "Lanikai Pillbox" hike will re-open on Monday, August 20 after a 60-day closure to rehabilitate the two observation stations, commonly called "pillboxes."  KHON2.

Sand Restoration Begins at Sunset Beach. The North Shore Community Land Trust has partnered with the City to complete the Sunset restoration project. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Island

Hawaii County police arrest foster mom in July 2017 death of 3-year-old boy. Star-Advertiser.

Woman arrested in connection with toddler's death in foster care. Hawaii News Now.

A toddler from East Hawaii is the fifth known victim this year of rat lungworm, a disease that is expected to continue to spread with climate change. Star-Advertiser.

An East Hawaii toddler was diagnosed with rat lungworm disease, the state Department of Health said Thursday. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii Island residents fed up with constant tour helicopter noise over their homes spoke out at a meeting held in Hilo on Tuesday, as government officials and Hawaii Helicopter Association representatives listened to the heated testimony. Big Island Video News.

Leilani residents want more transparency in decisions affecting neighborhood. Leilani Estates residents have had a front-row seat to the Kilauea eruption that has destroyed hundreds of homes and upended their community. Tribune-Herald.

As Fire And Lava Diminish, Volcano Village Still Struggles. Transportation questions loom large as residents and the national park try to navigate a return to normalcy. Civil Beat.

Developer proposes more development at West Hawaii Business Park before Kamanu Street is extended. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Two affordable housing projects are moving forward under a new fast-track permitting process. Maui Now.

Former Maui police officer Chase Keliipaakaua is going to jail for four months for taking part in a scheme to bribe a witness against a fellow officer. Star-Advertiser.

Charter school scrambles as it awaits new campus. Completion expected early next month. Maui News.

A reef-safe sunscreen swap event will be held this Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018 at Hi Tech Kahului from noon to 4 p.m. Maui Now.

Former Maui County corporation counsel Fred Rohlfing dies at 89. Prominent Republican and former state lawmaker was loved by many, including Democrats. Maui News.

Kauai

Treatment center on schedule. The site where the Adolescent Drug Treatment Center will be located has always been a special place for kahu Jade Waialeale Battad. Garden Island.