Hawaii heads toward full shutdown if coronavirus cases don't subside, 'right to die' lobbyist Radcliffe dies, Caldwell denies city employee potluck source of COVID-19 cluster, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

An exhausted Lt. Gov. Josh Green at July 29, 2020, press conference Facebook Live

Green says ‘full shutdown’ might be necessary if COVID-19 cases don’t decline. Lt. Gov. Josh Green said Wednesday that if the daily statewide COVID-19 case numbers continue to be in the 150-200 range in a week, he’d advise Gov. David Ige “to do the full shutdown and go back to a four-week period of stay-at-home” mandates. Tribune-Herald.

Hospitals could be overwhelmed in a month if cases of COVID-19 continue to increase at the current rate. Hospitals could be overwhelmed within a month if the number of COVID-19 cases doesn’t start to decrease according to Lieutenant Governor Josh Green. KHON2.

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Governor Defends Anderson, Park In Face Of Growing Criticism. New reporting out yesterday from Hawaii Public Radio shows that the state Department of Health significantly exaggerated its capacity to perform contact tracing, while downplaying challenges facing the program. Hawaii Public Radio.

Health Department has new contact tracing leader. Hawaii’s top health officials have turned their much maligned “contact tracing” program over to a new hire, following record numbers of COVID-19 cases and a call for the removal of the state’s health director and epidemiologist. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s Contact Tracing Effort Falls Short Of National Standards. The state Department of Health is trying to hire new staff to address a shortage as the virus spreads. Civil Beat.

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Triple-digit cases persist with death toll hitting 38. Hawaii recorded 202 cases of novel coronavirus and two more deaths Wednesday as various clusters of infection continued to pop up around Oahu and some clusters grew. Star-Advertiser.

COVID-19 Data Shows Hawaii Is In A ‘Very Dire Situation’. Despite a troubling rise in the number of cases, the public does not seem to have an appropriate sense of urgency, an epidemic tracking expert says. Civil Beat.

VIRUS TRACKER — Aug. 12: 202 New Cases And 2 Deaths. Health officials have reported four deaths in the last 24 hours, bringing the state’s coronavirus death toll to 38. Civil Beat.

Hawaiʻi COVID-19 Updates For August 12th: 202 New Cases, 4 Deaths. The state has identified several distinct restaurant clusters. Big Island Video News.

202 New COVID-19 Cases in Hawai‘i (O‘ahu 197, Kaua‘i 2, Hawai‘i Island 2, Maui 1). The state has reported another triple digit increase in new COVID-19 cases with 202 new cases today including 197 on Oʻahu, two each on Kaua‘i and Hawai‘i Island, and one on Maui.  There were also four deaths on the island of Oʻahu. Maui Now.

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Longtime lobbyist of Hawaii's 'right to die' legislation passes away. When the state passed the "Our Care, Our Choice" act last January allowing patients to end their life with lethal medication he decided to take his life and his death into his own hands. KITV4.

John Radcliffe / 1942-2020: Fought for dignity for the dying. John Radcliffe, an educator, lobbyist, former executive director of the Hawaii State Teachers Association and unrelenting advocate for death with dignity, died Tuesday night in his Makiki home surrounded by family and close friends after ending his life with prescribed medication. Star-Advertiser.

Veteran Hawaii Lobbyist John Radcliffe Dead At 78. He helped lead the fight to legalize medical aid in dying. Civil Beat.

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State pension fund pops in final quarter to end year in the black. It was a get-well quarter for the state’s largest public pension fund as it overcame the effects of COVID-19 to post a 6.2% investment return and edge into positive territory for fiscal year 2020. Star-Advertiser.

HMSHost may layoff up to 500 furloughed Hawaii airport food service staff. In a notice to the State Labor Department, HMSHost, which runs most of the food stands at Hawaii’s airports in Honolulu, Kahului, and Lihue, says it began furloughing employees back in March. KHON2.

Over 220 Securitas employees get back pay for Fair Labor Standards violations. Securitas is paying more than 220 employees $176,000 in back wages. The U.S. Department of Labor found the private security company wasn’t paying staff that went back on the job during meal breaks. Hawaii News Now.

Vote-By-Mail Helped Perk Up Hawaii Turnout But So Did Some Competitive Races. Voting was up throughout the state, in some areas more than others. Civil Beat.

People In Hawaii Are Struggling. The Nonprofits That Help Them Are Too. The pandemic will force some nonprofits to close. Others will have to change and adapt to survive. Civil Beat.

DOH cites four companies for air permit violations. The Hawai‘i Department of Health Clean Air Branch issued fines to four companies last week for violating air permit regulations, including one on Kaua‘i. Garden Island.

4 monk seals released on Midway Atoll refuge. Four healthy Hawaiian monk seals were successfully released on the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge after staff at Ke Kai Ola, The Marine Mammal Center’s monk seal hospital on Hawaii island, cared for the endangered mammals for more than 10 months. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Mayor Caldwell says no coronavirus cases tied to employee retirement party at Honolulu Hale. Mayor Kirk Caldwell, who last week issued an executive order instructing Oahu residents to stay away from those not in their immediate family, on Wednesday sent a memo to about 10,000 city employees urging them to not gather for lunch or other social occasions. Star-Advertiser.

Mayor: ‘Give Us Evidence’ Potluck Caused Virus Cluster At Honolulu Hale. The headquarters of Honolulu’s city government has seen its total cases rise to at least 13. Civil Beat.

Caldwell denies retirement potluck was source of COVID-19 infections at Honolulu Hale. Two days after a cluster of COVID cases led to the closure of Honolulu Hale, the Department of Health reports the virus may have spread at an employee potluck at the city building ― and that 11 cases are “potentially linked” to the luncheon. Hawaii News Now.

Mayor Caldwell says no known COVID-19 cases linked to an employee retirement party.  Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell said they investigated details surrounding a retirement party in late July on municipal grounds after Hawaii state officials said an employee gathering or potluck had the potential to transmit the illness to 11 city and county workers. KHON2.

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Campbell High School teacher arrested for violating Hawaii quarantine. A Hawaii high school teacher was arrested for violating the 14-day traveler quarantine the state mandated to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Star-Advertiser.

Schofield Barracks School Age Center employee tests positive. The employee is not a direct caregiver. KITV4.

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16 cases at OCCC after 7 more inmates test positive for COVID-19. The Department of Public Safety announced today that seven inmates at the Oahu Community Correctional Center have tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total number of inmates at the facility with the virus up to 16. Star-Advertiser.

OCCC corrections officers plead for change as COVID-19 outbreak grows. "When I broke the news to my family, it was hard," described an adult corrections officer at the O'ahu Community Correctional Center who tested positive for COVID-19 over the weekend. KITV4.

Mainland college students seek rentals on Oahu. One realty company is apprehensive. There's high demand from mainland college students who want to rent homes together in Hawaii to ride out the pandemic, but one realty company says it's rejecting the new business. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu North Shore businesses closing as tourist torrent slows to a trickle. It’s not just Waikiki that’s been hit hard by the drop in visitor numbers due to the coronavirus pandemic. Hawaii News Now.

Mayoral race analysis shows Blangiardi won 26 of 34 districts in primary election. A Hawaii News Now analysis also shows that Blangiardi won in all but eight House Districts and held double-digit percentage point leads in places like Hawaii Kai and Kailua. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Kamehameha Schools Hawaii student tests positive for COVID-19. The student is in isolation, and contact tracing is underway to identify and follow up with all close contacts. Tribune-Herald.

Kamehameha Schools Hawai‘i to Transition to Distance Learning Thursday. Kamehameha Schools Hawai‘i will transition to distance learning for at least the rest of August after a case of COVID-19 was identified in a high school student on its Big Island campus Wednesday. Big Island Now.

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Maunakea protest camp spurs ethics complaint: Ethics Board debates jurisdiction, postpones action until September. The Board of Ethics considered a citizen petition Wednesday asking why Hawaii County isn’t enforcing laws on Maunakea ranging from last year’s blockade of the mountain’s access road to the construction of unpermitted structures near the protest site. West Hawaii Today.

Location Chosen For Student Telescope On Mauna Kea, As Hōkū Keʻa Removal Planned. The precise location preferred by scientists for the new UH-Hilo student telescope was revealed this week, as the process to decommission the Hōkū Keʻa observatory on the summit of Maunakea continues. Big Island Video News.

Maui

Maui County may see bump in COVID-19 case numbers soon. There was one new COVID-19 case reported on Maui, but officials say there may be a bump in COVID-19 cases reported on the island within the next few days. KHON2.

Maui County says they’re flooded with traveler quarantine exemption requests. It is day two of the inter-island travel quarantine requirement and Maui county has already received thousands of exemption requests. Hawaii News Now.

Kamehameha Maui Campus Announces Full Distance Learning Through Aug. 31. The Kamehameha Maui campus transitions to a full distance learning program today, through at least the end of the month. Maui Now.

Illegal encampments blocking sewage pumping station. Maui County has issued notices to vacate to people with illegal encampments and vehicles blocking access to the Wailuku sewage pump station off Kahului Beach Road. Maui News.

Kauai

Kaua‘i looking to limit outdoor gatherings. Mayor Derek Kawakami requested an additional amendment to an emergency rule that would bring the maximum number of people at a social outdoor gathering from 100 down to 25. Garden Island.

FTA funds to replace six in Kaua‘i Bus fleet. The County of Kaua‘i received $1.4 million in funds, as part of a Federal Transit Administration package of $9,596,669 to purchase new buses on Kaua‘i, Maui and Hawai‘i Island. Garden Island.

Ige cautions Hawaii residents about traveling, identity thieves steal $16M in unemployment benefits, bill gives counties power over vacation rentals, requires traveler disclosures, Supreme Court punts Deedy case, more news from all the Hawaiian islands

Hawaii coral ©2020 All Hawaii News

State Gives 14 Reasons For Commercial Aquarium Permit FEIS Rejection. In an official "non-acceptance" of the final environmental impact statement, the State of Hawaiʻi DLNR detailed the reasons for its decision. Big Island Video News.

Hawai‘i Defers 3% Tariff Increase at State Harbors. The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation Harbors Division will defer the scheduled 3% tariff increase on the orders of Governor David Ige. Big Island Now.

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Vacation rental bill gives counties subpoena power. A gut-and-replace bill to be heard today would give counties more authority — including subpoena power — over transient vacation rental platforms. In addition, the bill requires all travelers entering a county to submit and confirm the complete physical address of their place of stay. West Hawaii Today.

State senators to introduce bill that would require Hawaii's visitors to document where they'll be staying. Each county would also be able to issue subpoenas to get specific information about properties in Hawaii listed as short term rentals. KITV4.

Hawaii vacation rentals continued to struggle in May amid lockdowns. Vacation rental accommodations, even the legal ones, were economically decimated again in May amid COVID-19 fears and tourism lockdowns. Star-Advertiser.

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$15.8 Million in Potentially Fraudulent Unemployment Claims Detected by State Labor Department. The state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations has detected $15,829,889 of potentially fraudulent claims paid out as of June 24.  In addition, the department reportedly blocked $76,644,808 in possible fraudulent PUA payments. Maui Now.

Identity thieves have stolen at least $15.8M in Hawaii jobless benefits ... and probably much more. Scammers are hammering Hawaii’s unemployment system and have netted at least $15.8 million in fraudulent jobless benefits, the state revealed Thursday. Hawaii News Now.

$15 million in state unemployment funds paid to fraudulent claims. Weeks ago, the state was alerted to fraudulent claims connected to the Pandemic Unemployment Program or PUA. KHON2.

$16M in Hawaii unemployment benefits possibly lost to fraud. Nearly $16 million in Pandemic Unemployment Assistance benefits in Hawaii may have been lost to fraud and identity theft, the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations reported today. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Pays $15.8M For Potentially Fraudulent Jobless Claims . Hawaii said Thursday it paid $15.8 million in benefits for potentially fraudulent jobless claims under a U.S. government program providing funds to independent contractors and self-employed individuals unable to work because of the coronavirus pandemic. Associated Press.

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Judge: Feds Can’t Intervene In Quarantine Challenge. The Hawaii attorney general’s office says the development is a small victory in the case. A federal judge won’t allow the Justice Department to intervene in a case challenging Hawaii’s 14-day mandatory quarantine for people traveling to Hawaii. Civil Beat.

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Lieutenant governor expects big jump in visitor numbers after testing allows skipping quarantine. State officials, including Lt. Gov. Josh Green, are confident that the state can accept more visitors while avoiding a spike in coronavirus cases. Hawaii News Now.

As states across the country see a rise in coronavirus cases, some Hawaii healthcare professionals are cautious of 'premature reopenings'. Several states are showing a dramatic and dangerous increase in confirmed cases. KITV4.

Gov: Hawaii residents still shouldn’t travel when tourism opens. Gov. David Ige says he still does not think it’s a good idea for Hawaii residents to travel just for fun. It seems contradictory because he’s asking visitors to travel here. KHON2.

Hawaii officials and the tourism industry get ready for the return of out-of-state travelers. While visitor volumes aren’t expected to be anywhere near where they were at this time last year, there are signs that some demand is returning and Hawaii had best get ready. Star-Advertiser.

Officials say marketing Hawaii to tourists will probably be different. Now that Governor David Ige is re-opening Hawaii to tourism under certain conditions, how are companies going to entice people to travel to Hawaii again? KHON2.

With cautious optimism, Hawaii hotels prepare for tourism’s return. Those in the hotel industry say they’ve never seen anything like this, but they’re hopeful for the tourism relaunch later this summer. Hawaii News Now.

Union organizes mass COVID-19 testing for hospitality workers, it calls on employers to follow suit. The union leaders of Unite Here Local Five said they are stepping-up where hotel employers are not, they are organizing mass COVID-19 testing for hospitality workers and their families this Saturday in anticipation of tourism reopening. KHON2.

How will the pandemic impact Hawaii’s real estate market? Experts disagree. The pandemic is slowing down another important sector of Hawaii’s economy: Real estate. And at least one expert is predicting a steep drop in home prices. Hawaii News Now.

Military In Hawaii Copes With Pandemic Challenges. The military declines to say how many Hawaii-based troops have been infected, but it has put restrictions on both daily operations and training efforts. Civil Beat.

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Free parking and other perks for EVs set to expire by end of June. Free parking for electric vehicles at state airports, along with other perks that have been in place for the past eight years, are set to expire at the end of the month, state officials said. Star-Advertiser.

John Radcliffe starts saying goodbye and other things. John Radcliffe’s days are booked up with what he calls “last lunch” appointments. Radcliffe, 78, the former high-profile union leader and bulldog lobbyist, has known his cancer was terminal since his diagnosis in 2014. Star-Advertiser.

UH-DOH looking to hire contact tracers. As the number of COVID-19 cases throughout Hawai'i continues to rise, the University of Hawai'i-Hawai'i State Department of Health (UH-DOH) Contact Tracing Program is looking for full-time contact tracers. KITV4.

Hawaii records 16 new coronavirus cases as statewide total reaches 850. Hawaii recorded 16 new coronavirus cases today, as the statewide total of infections since the start of the outbreak rose to 850, state Department of Health officials said in their daily midday count. Star-Advertiser.

DOH Reports 16 New COVID-19 Cases Thursday. Big Island Now.

Oahu

Scheduled 2025 opening date for 20-mile rail line being pushed into 2026.  The head of the Honolulu rail authority acknowledged Thursday that the entire 20-mile rail line will not actually open as scheduled by the end of 2025, saying the authority now expects the $9.2 billion project to open a few months later, in March 2026. Star-Advertiser.

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U.S. Supreme Court won’t hear federal agent Christopher Deedy’s Waikiki shooting case. The U.S. Supreme Court has refused to hear a case over whether a federal agent should face a third trial over a fatal 2011 shooting in a Waikiki McDonald’s restaurant. Star-Advertiser.

U.S. Supreme Court Declines To Hear Appeal In Deedy Case. Honolulu prosecutor says he will still pursue an assault case. Civil Beat.

Supreme Court declines to hear appeal in Christopher Deedy trial. The U.S. Supreme Court will not hear a motion tied to the trial of federal agent Christopher Deedy. KHON2.

U.S. Supreme Court will not hear case of Federal Agent Christopher Deedy. The U.S. Supreme Court will not hear the case of a federal agent who shot and killed a man at a Waikiki McDonalds in 2011. KITV4.

Why is the gate at this popular trail closed? The state can’t afford to have someone open it. The Makapuu Point Lighthouse Trail continues to draw large numbers of hikers on weekdays ― even though no one can park in the trail’s parking lot. Hawaii News Now.

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Head of Damien Memorial School ousted hours after reports of widespread staff dismissals. The head of Damien Memorial School was relieved of his duties on Thursday, hours after it was reported that he had dismissed as many as 20 of the school’s faculty and staff members. Hawaii News Now.

Damien Memorial School president will not return after dismissing football, basketball coaches. Damien Memorial School has released its football and boys basketball coaches and reassigned its athletic director in a shakeup involving as many as 20 employees. Star-Advertiser.

Letter to staff reveals that Damien Memorial School president will not return to the job. Brother Brian Walsh had been the school’s president for the last 18 months. KHON2.

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COVID-19 Quarantine Facility Links Homeless To Range Of Services. A new study says a similar approach could save the state money by providing a place where the homeless, the mentally ill and others can get help without going to the ER. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Kim authorizes swimming pools, bars, campsites to reopen. Public swimming pools, campsites and bars will be the next to reopen and some organized sports can resume under a new emergency rule issued Thursday by Mayor Harry Kim. Tribune-Herald.

Mayor’s New COVID Rule Allows Pools, Bars, Certain Campsites To Reopen. Under Mayor Harry Kim's latest rule, organized sports may resume but with restrictions, and nightclubs must remain closed. Big Island Video News.

Big Island Bars, Public Pools Get Nod to Reopen. Hawai‘i County bars and public pools can begin to reopen Thursday. Camping sites will open gradually in the coming weeks and outdoor organized sports will begin restarting in phases. Big Island Now.

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Funds Awarded To Innovative Hawaii Island Ag Projects. Kamehameha Schools and the Ulupono Initiative have awarded $50,000 to the winners of the MahiX open innovation challenge. Big Island Video News.

Community meeting addresses missing children. Scores of socially distanced people filled the parking lot at the Umeke’s location under construction at Pawai Place on Wednesday evening. West Hawaii Today.

Emotion Runs High at Informal Gathering to Discuss Sex Trafficking. Passions ran high and opinions flowed freely at an informal public meeting Wednesday to discuss concerns about sex trafficking on the Big Island. Big Island Now.

Maui

Maui County Gears Up for “Substantial” Return of Visitors. The County of Maui is gearing up for a “substantial” return of visitors as the state begins offering a pre-travel testing program on August 1st for trans-Pacific travelers as an alternative to the 14-day mandatory quarantine. Maui Now.

Maui Draft Hazard Mitigation Plan Nears Completion. The County of Maui will share its draft Hazard Mitigation Plan with the public in a Zoom meeting from noon to 1 p.m. June 30, 2020. Maui Now.

Hāna Highway Local Access Restriction Continues Through June 30; Full Access Allowed on July 1. The local access restriction for Hāna Highway (Route 360) between Kapakalua Road and Hāna Town will remain in place through June 30, 2020, according to an update issued today from the Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation. Maui Now.

Hale Makua is hoping to build skilled nursing, rehab facilities. Project not yet proposed, but county seeking zoning changes to prepare for expansion on park acreage. Maui News.

Kauai

Four new virus cases confirmed on Kaua‘i. Health officials identified another household with positive cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, resulting in four new positive cases on the island and bringing the confirmed positive total up to 12. Garden Island.

Kauai Residents Scored Big At This Unusual Community Garage Sale — Even A Baby Grand Piano. Operators of a luxury resort hotel under renovation decided to give its used furnishings away to a number of nonprofits. Civil Beat.

Nude photos link Big Island firefighter to Honolulu deputy prosecutor's phone, lobbyist first to get medical aid in dying prescription, Honolulu Council in disarray, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Jesse Ebersole, Katherine Kealoha

Feds recover nude photos on Kealoha’s phone. When Hawaii County firefighter Jesse Ebersole pleaded guilty last July to lying about his relationship with former deputy prosecutor Katherine Kealoha, the federal prosecutor said investigators found Ebersole’s name on some of Kealoha’s credit card charges and had records of phone conversations between the two. Star-Advertiser.

Evidence of affair between Katherine Kealoha and firefighter included sexually explicit photos. The affair between ex-police chief Louis Kealoha’s wife and a Big Island firefighter was already one of the more salacious aspects of the ongoing case against the Kealohas. Hawaii News Now.

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He Fought For Hawaii’s Aid In Dying Law. Now He Wants To Use it. Prominent Honolulu lobbyist John Radcliffe, whose colon cancer has spread, became the first state resident Wednesday to start the application process. Civil Beat.

John Radcliffe became the first Hawaii patient with terminal cancer to request a lethal prescription to end his life under the state’s new medical- aid-in-dying law. Star-Advertiser.

Cancer patient John Radcliffe poised to be come first to use medical aid-in-dying law. KHON2.

Terminal cancer patient and medical aid-in-dying advocate John Radcliffe, today went on record as Hawaii’s first individual to request a prescription for aid-in-dying medication under a new law that took effect on Jan. 1. Maui Now.

It’s now law, but ‘Death With Dignity' still faces opposition while supporters push for acceptance. The day after Hawaii’s ‘Our Care, Our Choice Act' went into effect, supporters of the controversial medical aid in dying law said they’re making progress in getting hospitals to honor patients’ end of life decisions. Hawaii News Now.

Medical-aid-in-dying law gets a web page. State DOH sets up site to answer questions, provide required forms. Maui News.

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Masagatani, Aila Retained To Lead Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. Governor David Ige on Wednesday announced that he is reappointing the director and deputy at Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. Big Island Video News.

A Hawaii delegation recently returned from the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Poland. Despite President Trump’s announcement to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement, Hawaii and 16 other states committed to abide it. Hawaii Public Radio.

The Hawaii Attorney General is opposing a change that a 92-year-old Native Hawaiian princess has made to her trust to ensure her wife receives $40 million and all her personal property. Associated Press.

The state is looking for information on how to operate housing programs over the next 20 years. To gather data, the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation will be calling homeowners and conducting phone surveys for the Hawaii Housing Planning Study. Hawaii News Now.

Southwest Airlines has moved one step closer to starting its long-promised service from the Mainland to Hawaii. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

Council delays picking leaders, assignments and schedule. The turmoil is caused by legal challenges against the election of Trevor Ozawa, who won re-election to the Council District 4 seat by beating former state Rep. Tommy Waters by 22 votes. Star-Advertiser.

Most of Honolulu’s city council has been sworn in, but one seat is still open (technically). That's because the Hawaii Supreme Court is still reviewing Trevor Ozawa's 22-vote victory over opponent Tommy Waters. Hawaii News Now.

City Council meeting in recess, Supreme Court issues another order. District 4, from Hawaii Kai to Ala Moana Beach Park, will have to wait longer for a City Council representative. The Supreme Court issued another order Wednesday that gives election challengers more time. KHON2.

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Honolulu Councilwoman Carol Fukunaga wants to crack down on people who abandon their cars on Oahu, but city officials say her proposed solution wouldn’t work. Civil Beat.

Honolulu police and prosecutors declined to press charges against Bobby Curran following the local sports broadcaster’s Dec. 27 arrest for allegedly assaulting his 15-year-old son. Star-Advertiser.

The Ritz-Carlton’s ocean-facing skyscrapers are glaring bright all night, every night. For more than two years, the residents of the Four Paddle condominiums on Kuhio Avenue have been blinded by the light. Civil Beat.

One project that will get more attention in the new year in Honolulu is a plan to build a bridge over the Ala Wai canal. The proposal would include room for pedestrians and for cyclists, but not for cars. Hawaii Public Radio.

It was business as usual for most federally funded tourist attractions in Hawaii Wednesday despite the partial government shutdown continuing for the 12th day. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

The Leilani Estates Community Association plans to drop its lawsuit against Hawaii County over control of Leilani Avenue. Tribune-Herald.

Big Island residents have the opportunity to participate in a series of training courses later this month to assist the county in responding to emergencies, in case 2019 proves as turbulent as 2018. Tribune-Herald.

Public access lacking – Kaupulehu project coming to County Council. It’s taken 20 years to get this far, but full build-out of the 1,079-acre Kaupulehu project in North Kona may need 20 more. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

During the first half of fiscal year 2019, the Mayor’s Office of Economic Development issued more than $9 million in grant funds to various local organizations. Maui Now.

Kapalua Golf's Plantation Course on Maui, which regularly ranks as one of the best golf courses in the world, will temporarily close on Feb. 11 to undergo a multimillion-dollar enhancement project aimed at revitalizing the 27-year-old sports facility. Pacific Business News.

Kauai

Recent rains didn’t damage or delay the rebuilding project on Kahiliholo Road and the project is on schedule, according to county officials. Garden Island.

State officials are gearing up to extend trial pig hunting on Nounou Mountain (Sleeping Giant) after a six-month trial hunt yielded 13 harvests, and more archers are signing up. Garden Island.

Sunshine Week: Ige administration keeps false missile alert records close to vest, House passes budget, Honolulu council's leadership drama, endangered species at Coco Palms, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Gov. Ige, R, and officials hold press conference on false missile alert fixes, file photo

Hawaii Refuses To Release Internal Records On Missile Alert. The governor’s office has declined to provide phone logs, text messages, instant messages and calendars related to the Jan. 13 false alarm. Associated Press

Hawaii Senate Wants To Restrict State Government’s Hiring Power. Department heads have lined up in opposition to a bill that would end their ability to fill hundreds of temporary positions. Civil Beat.

Hawaii households will see a total reduction of more than $710 million in federal individual income tax for tax year 2018, according to a report released by the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism on Monday. Pacific Business News.

Lawmakers in the state House have given their okay on the budget for the next fiscal year. The $28 billion package would fund everything from schools to healthcare to airport improvements. KHON2.

The House of Representatives unanimously approved the State budget yesterday, which appropriates funds for operating government and capital improvement projects for fiscal years 2018 and 2019. Garden Island.

Plan aims to guide battle against destructive albizia tree. To minimize the risk, the Hawaii Invasive Species Council, which was created by the state Legislature in 2003, has a strategic plan that addresses the problem for the first time on a statewide scale. Star-Advertiser.

Three bills introduced earlier this year to improve road safety have quietly died without discussion after failing to pass committee. Tribune-Herald.

John Radcliffe’s Last Fight Is For His Own Right To Die. The longtime lobbyist for tobacco, liquor and gambling interests and prescription drug companies says this time he’s “on the side of angels.” Civil Beat.

Unpermitted vacation rentals have been blamed for everything from sky-high housing prices to overcrowded hiking trails. But what is really going on with Hawaii’s short-term rental market? How many properties are permitted for vacation rentals? And how many are actually being used that way? Hawaii Public Radio.

Bill Advances to Require Showings of Open Captioned/Audio Encoded Movies for Deaf and Blind. There are more than 12-hundred bills still alive at the State Legislature, half-way through the session. Hawaii Public Radio.

U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa racked up another union endorsement Monday, winning the backing of the Hawaii Building and Construction Trades Council in her bid to become governor. Star-Advertiser.

Decades-old sexual misconduct allegations against Inouye have resurfaced. What now? Hawaii News Now.

The state Department of Health is repealing a law that's been limiting restaurants and some farmers for 30 years. The department says it's getting rid of the rule that bans restaurants from buying produce from aquaponics farms. Hawaii News Now.

Students Find Their Voice In Preparing For Wednesday Walkouts. Hawaii youths will join others around the country to honor the Florida shooting victims and demand changes in gun laws. Civil Beat.

The first two Hawaiian monk seal pups of 2018 have arrived — one on Lanai and the second on Hawaii Island. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Mayor dreads Council leadership shuffle. Mayor Kirk Caldwell warned Monday that a new Honolulu City Council leadership team needs to be careful how it handles his plan to use bonds to help fund the city’s troubled, $9 billion rail project. Star-Advertiser.

Council postpones budget briefing amid leadership drama. Hawaii News Now.

City council briefing canceled with leadership change expected next week. There were no talks on the mayor's proposed city budget Monday. KHON2.

City plan would force some of the 'hardest to house' to get help. The city may soon do more to force chronically homeless people with severe mental illnesses to get treatment. Hawaii News Now.

The army 25th infantry division announced a change to one of its training exercises in response to an incident last week, when an air-drop bundle missed its mark and landed in Waimanalo Elementary and Intermediate School. KITV.

Navy’s Red Hill Analysis Concerns Environmental Regulators. The Navy is working on a 20-year-plan to reduce the risk of leaks and fuel contamination from giant fuel tanks on Oahu. Associated Press.

A landmark property will soon feature Downtown Honolulu's largest solar installation. Hawaii Pacific University is expanding the photovoltaic system that crews are installing on the rooftops of the Aloha Tower Marketplace. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu’s third dispensary is preparing to enter the fledgling medical marijuana market, following a blessing today of its Kapahulu location. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu taxpayers shelling out big bucks for every hiker rescue. KITV.

Pearl City is the fourth-happiest city in the U.S., according to a WalletHub study released Monday in honor of the upcoming International Day of Happiness on March 20. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Kim says no plans to raid money going to open space preservation. The county budget might be tight in other areas, but there’s still plenty of money to buy and maintain land for open space preservation. West Hawaii Today

The commission charged with prioritizing public land purchases is asking questions about the mayor's plans for the future. Big Island Video News.

Big Island Mayor Can’t Seem To Stop Raising Taxes. It’s a pattern with Harry Kim: He speaks out against tax increases, then turns around and tries to impose them. Civil Beat.

A Senate committee Monday advanced a grass-roots bill that would appropriate about $2.5 million to establish a pilot program to add staff to the state’s beleaguered East Hawaii child welfare system and limit the number of children assigned to each social worker there. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Electric Light Co. is seeking a long-term water lease for its two small hydro power plants on the Wailuku River. Tribune-Herald.

A Waimea woman’s appeal of a small subdivision uphill from her property has been denied by the Board of Appeals. West Hawaii Today.

State takes action after manta ray found gouged off Hawaii island. KHON2.

Maui

The Kusunoki family on Maui became the 35th family to be placed in an affordable home by Na Hale O Maui community land trust. Maui Now.

Resurfacing of Hololani Street and Lower Kula Road will start today and could cause delays for motorists Upcountry. Maui News.

A section of the Pipiwai Trail in the Kipahulu District of Haleakala National Park will be closed today and Tuesday to allow staff to remove hazardous invasive trees along the trail, park officials announced. Maui News.

Kauai

Coco Palms and endangered species. Koloa ducks and moorhens have waddled into the spotlight in the saga surrounding the development of Coco Palms, the historic hotel destroyed in the 1992 Hurricane Iniki. Garden Island.

Term limit amendment to be voted on. A resolution charter amendment, if passed, would give Kauai voters the opportunity to vote on ending term limits for County Council members, who are currently limited to four, two-year terms. Garden Island.

The public is invited to attend the State of the County address by Mayor Bernard P. Carvalho Jr. on Thursday. Garden Island.

Parole administrator reassigned pending investigation, Kauai study shows glyphosate in honey, Maui school bus shortage reaches crisis, Big Island council members fly high on pCards, Ellison describes Lanai ag plans, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Wiki bikestand in Waikiki, courtesy U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz

You’ve seen the new Biki bikeshare stations around town but who are the people pedaling them? Hawaii Public Radio.

The state Department of Public Safety has temporarily reassigned longtime Paroles and Pardons Administrator Tommy Johnson pending the outcome of an internal investigation, according to Public Safety Director Nolan Espinda. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Department of Public Safety has temporarily reassigned longtime Paroles and Pardons Administrator Tommy Johnson pending the outcome of an internal investigation. Associated Press.

Robert K. Masuda has been appointed as First Deputy Director of the Department of Land and Natural Resources by Gov. David Y. Ige on Friday. Pacific Business News.

Gov. David Ige has joined 38 other governors in signing a cybersecurity compact in an effort to enhance state cybersecurity and develop the cyber workforce. Star-Advertiser.

As summer winds down, thousands of Hawaii students return to school. Hawaii News Now.

Nearly 40 Hawaii public school graduates have received the state’s first round of awards signifying they have mastered two languages. Star-Advertiser.

John H. Radcliffe, a retired Hawaii lobbyist who became, as he puts it, the “poster child” for legalizing medical aid in dying in Hawaii, got some astounding news last month. His inoperable cancer was deemed operable. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Former city Community Services Director Pam Witty-Oakland returns to the post effective Oct. 1, Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s office announced Friday. Star-Advertiser.

Junk Cars Are Piling Up On Oahu. As scrap yards close or start charging to take derelict vehicles, it’s often cheaper to ditch a worn-out car than legally dispose of it. Civil Beat.

Couple OK’d as foster parents despite marred past. Star-Advertiser.

A judge ruled Friday that statements an Army medic made to an investigator after his wife was found dead were coerced. Star-Advertiser.

Cleanup of Ala Wai has start in Manoa. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu condo prices climb: Previously owned Oahu condos sold for a median $425,000, increasing 6.3 percent from $400,000 in July 2016, according to resale figures released Sunday by the Honolulu Board of Realtors. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Some County Council members are flying high on the taxpayers’ dime. The council spent $58,453 on travel during the first seven months of the two-year term, almost twice the monthly average of prior years, according to a West Hawaii Today analysis of purchasing card and travel records. West Hawaii Today.

Mayor Harry Kim claims to be a “pretty dull guy,” and his purchasing card and travel expenses seem to reflect he’s no social butterfly. West Hawaii Today.

The Big Island Invasive Species Committee has declared victory in its effort to remove axis deer from Ka‘u, nearly eight years since they were introduced. Tribune-Herald.

It's official. Axis Deer are no more on Hawaii Island. Big Island Video News.

Lance Niimi, the Hawaii County's assistant housing administrator, has been sleeping among the homeless at the Hale Kikaha tent-city. Big Island Video News.

The Hilo Drag Strip is set to reopen by the end of 2017 after being closed nearly two years for renovations. Tribune-Herald.

It didn’t take long for a mishap to befall the beleaguered Mass Transit department’s new buses, which were just donated to the Big Island from the City and County of Honolulu. Big Island Video News.

A Hawaiian Paradise Park woman and her two young children were uninjured after being involved in a minor collision with a reportedly stolen Hele-On bus in Hilo Saturday afternoon. West Hawaii Today.

State emergency officials want public schools to be prepared for a possible North Korea missile attack, though Hawaii’s education leaders aren’t planning any drills specific to nuclear detonations just yet. Tribune-Herald.

The state land department is accepting proposals to move forward with a carbon credit system that will fund forest restoration on the Big Island. Hawaii News Now.

Maui

Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa, the Department of Education, and one of Hawaii’s largest school bus providers met Friday to try to fix the Valley Isle school bus crisis, but to no avail. KHON2.

Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa said the county's bus service can't accommodate the 250 students whose school bus service has been cut because of a driver shortage. Hawaii News Now.

The Hawaii State Department of Education advises parents and guardians of students at Lahainaluna High and Baldwin High who depend on school bus routes exclusively serving grades 9 to 12 to find alternate rides. Maui Now.

Power grid showing its age as more renewable energy produced. Maui News.

Community input is being sought on a proposed light industrial and commercial business park at Pulehunui in Central Maui, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources announced. Maui News.

The Iao Valley State Monument has reopened, at least temporarily, after sustaining severe damage from a massive flood in September. Associated Press.

Kauai

Another study looking at pesticides in beehives is underway in Hawaii. And results are showing a connection between agriculture-dense areas and an increase in the chemical glyphosate — the active ingredient in Roundup — in honey. Garden Island.

Taxes and establishing bus stops will be discussed at the Kauai County Council meeting Wednesday. Councilmembers are expected to approve two bills relating to taxes. Garden Island.

The project to eradicate the rats on Lehua Island won’t be starting on Tuesday, according to Scott Enright, director of the state’s Department of Agriculture. Garden Island.

Forum ends with consensus: Seek ways to preserve marine species. Garden Island.

Lanai

Tech billionaire Larry Ellison sees potential for agriculture on Lanai. Star-Advertiser.

Another $13M to house homeless, Pearl Harbor vessel to check North Korea missile, racial slur on Hilo shopfront, smaller Aloha Stadium planned, OHA meeting disintegrates, 3 council members named in Maui ethics case, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Waikiki homeless © 2017 All Hawaii News

Thirty-three homeless shelters across the islands are pledging to collectively add nearly 200 beds and to more than double the number of clients they place into permanent housing, Gov. David Ige announced Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

State contracts that support homeless shelter operations will fund nearly 200 more shelter beds in 2017 compared to last year, Gov. David Ige announced Thursday. Civil Beat.

The Governor announced an increase in homeless shelter beds statewide over the next 12 months. Hawaii Public Radio.

Death And Taxes: Two Certainties For This Year’s Hawaii Legislature. Lawmakers will consider medical aid in dying legislation while also weighing how to fund transportation projects such as Honolulu rail. Civil Beat.

Longtime state political lobbyist John Radcliffe is the face and voice of the latest push to give terminally ill patients in Hawaii, like himself, the legal ability to end their lives on their own terms. Star-Advertiser.

A lawsuit filed Wednesday against the state of Hawaii aims to grant terminally ill, mentally competent patients the right to medical aid in dying. Civil Beat.

Days after critics called for a federal probe into “unconstitutional” conditions at the state’s prisons and jails, Hawaii Department of Public Safety officials fielded questions from state lawmakers about the governor’s budget proposal that offers little in the way of quick solutions. Civil Beat.

Is Hawaii Spending Enough To Protect Its Natural Resources? The challenge facing the DLNR is called “overwhelming,” but the agency hasn’t hired all the people it’s authorized to. Civil Beat.

The Sea-Based X-Band Radar has deployed out of Pearl Harbor after North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un recently said his country was in the “final stages” of test-launching an intercontinental ballistic missile. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii ranks near the bottom half when compared to other U.S. states and territories for releases of toxic chemicals into the air, according to a report released Thursday by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Pacific Business News.

Terry Surles, who was a top executive for the Hawaii Natural Energy Institute at the University of Hawaii Manoa, has been named interim administrator of the state Energy Office, industry sources confirmed to Pacific Business News Thursday.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs has been named as co-trustee to the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. Hawaii Public Radio.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs now has an official voice in the management of the world’s largest marine conservation area. Associated Press.

A Board of Trustees meeting at the Office of Hawaiian Affairs abruptly ended shortly after it started Thursday when a majority of the members walked out. Civil Beat.

A procedural dispute short-circuited an expected showdown over whether the CEO at the Office of Hawaiian Affairs stays or goes. KITV.

Robert Farrell has been tapped to lead the Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement. West Hawaii Today.

Oahu

House Speaker Joe Souki says he supports plans to make the half-percent excise tax surcharge for the Honolulu rail project permanent, and wants to use money from the surcharge to extend the rail line to the University of Hawaii at Manoa, but only on one condition: Souki says the city must contribute its own funding to help pay to build the project. Star-Advertiser.

The Aloha Stadium Authority is recommending that the state seek ancillary development to help underwrite a new, slightly smaller stadium on land surrounding the deteriorating 42-year-old Aloha Stadium. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii state agency that oversees Aloha Stadium has approved a plan to move ahead with the development of a smaller stadium that would replace the aging and outdated Honolulu facility that was once the longtime home to University of Hawaii football and the NFL’s Pro Bowl. Pacific Business News.

Latest push to expand cell phone ban targets pedestrians, bicyclists. KHON2.

Gov. David Ige has until Feb. 11 to decide who will fill two seats left vacant on Oahu’s Circuit Court following the retirement of Judges Steven Alm in August and Karen Ahn in June. Star-Advertiser.

Popular hike has tenants calling out for solutions. Star-Advertiser.

A development team led by a New York company received more than $50 million in state and federal financing to build a “micro-unit” rental apartment tower in Kakaako. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Vandal writes 'No Blacks' on Hilo Boutique. KITV.

The nearly 1,000-acre Makalei Golf Club community on the Big Island of Hawaii is on the market with an asking price of $11.25 million for the undeveloped subdivision, Pacific Business News has learned.

Hawaiian Airlines, Hawaii’s flagship carrier, announced Thursday it will launch once daily non-stop service between Kauai and Kailua-Kona. West Hawaii Today.

Thousands of people have flocked to Kamokuna on the Big Island to get as close as they can to the lava flow entering the ocean from Kilauea's Pu'u O'o vent. Many of them are getting their via tour boats. And the National Park Service says those boats are raising concerns about safety. Hawaii News Now.

A stream of lava continues to gush out the side of a sea cliff in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park as the 61g flow struggles to rebuild a delta of volcanic rock that calved like a glacier New Year’s Eve. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

A Wailuku man has filed a complaint with the Maui County Board of Ethics over alleged ethics violations by three County Council members during the council’s initial meeting of the new term on Jan. 2 and 3. Maui News.

A U.S. district judge late last month whittled down the number of claims against Mayor Alan Arakawa in his personal capacity in a wrongful termination lawsuit brought by former Film Commissioner Harry Donenfeld. Maui News.

Thar She Blows! Maui Whale Season in Full Bloom. Maui Now.

Kauai

If the Kauai County Council was aware Mayor Bernard Carvalho, Jr. did not support a bill to legalize drinking on the Wailua Golf Course, it would have saved a lot of time and trouble, said Councilman Ross Kagawa. Garden Island.

Gov. David Ige announced the state Department of Human Services will award contracts to 33 homeless shelters, including Kauai Economic Opportunity on Kauai. Garden Island.

Volunteers are needed to help Kauai Economic Opportunity with its annual homeless census. Garden Island.

Money sought for roads, mileage tax mulled, state computers probed 45M times a day, death with dignity legislation, Green mulls gubernatorial run, Attorney General clears homeless map, Hawaii park downsized, Maui workers charged with vacation theft, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii roadway © 2017 All Hawaii News

Hawaii Department of Transportation officials told state lawmakers Wednesday that they need dozens of new positions and millions of additional dollars to continue with plans to modernize airports, repair harbors and maintain roads. Civil Beat.

As laws mandate more fuel efficient cars and trucks, state transportation officials said they have to either double the gas tax, or find some a more fair way to charge users. KITV.

The top manager of state government computer systems in Hawaii says would-be hackers are probing the defenses of state networks up to 45 million times a day in an effort to find vulnerabilities in the system. Star-Advertiser.

With two years left in his Senate term, Josh Green is considering running for governor or lieutenant governor in 2018. West Hawaii Today.

Pierre Omidyar, LinkedIn co-founder ​Reid Hoffman put $10M each into new fund for ethical artificial intelligence. Pacific Business News.

Longtime state political lobbyist John Radcliffe has stage four liver and colon cancer and wants to choose when he dies. Radcliffe, 74, is asking the court to declare that Hawaii’s murder and manslaughter laws do not apply when a physician helps a mentally-competent, terminally-ill adult patient who chooses to die. Star-Advertiser.

Lawmakers in Hawaii and several other states want to prevent presidential candidates from appearing on their states’ ballots unless the candidates release their tax returns. Associated Press.

Incensed that President-elect Donald Trump still won’t make public his tax returns, state Rep. Chris Lee is trying to do something about it. Civil Beat.

As the state Department of Education continues to reduce its backlog of employee misconduct cases, some Board of Education members are questioning whether the department is doing enough to prevent cases in the first place. Star-Advertiser.

The Governor’s top budget priority for this upcoming legislative session is Public Education. But will his increased spending really make a difference? Hawaii Public Radio.

Seniors in Hawaii face a greater risk of being struck and killed by a car than in any other state in the nation — a nagging fact that hasn’t changed much in the last decade, according to a report released this week by the National Complete Streets Coalition. Star-Advertiser.

How Hawaii’s Inmates Are Ending Up In Prisons All Over The Country. But, citing privacy and security reasons, state prison officials won’t say why ‌imates are being transferred or where they have gone. Civil Beat.

Oahu
The state Attorney General’s office told state Rep. Gene Ward that a map he published in November of suspected homeless encampments and homeless activity in his East Honolulu district passes legal muster and is constitutional. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell said Wednesday said he doubts a final agreement has been reached yet between the Police Commission and Police Chief Louis Kealoha over a possible payout to the chief in exchange for his retirement. Civil Beat.

As out of state law enforcement agencies prepare to make the trip to Hawaii and begin their recruiting trip, the Honolulu Police Department is searching for applicants of its own. KHON2.

A traffic pattern change due to the city's rail project in Pearl City is not sitting well with a longtime business there. Hawaii News Now.

The city wants to sell a portion of a popular park in Windward Oahu. However, the proposal is facing backlash from some community members in Kahaluu. Hawaii News Now.

Sewage spills are likely to continue in West Kapolei near Ko Olina until corroded pipes are replaced at an estimated cost of $20 million, a Honolulu City Council committee was told Wednesday. Civil Beat.

A third finalist for the University of Hawaii at Manoa chancellor position will be participating in a final round of interviews this month, UH officials announced Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Commentary: STEM Jobs? Not In Honolulu. Nationally, we rank close to the bottom when it comes to professions involving science, technology, engineering and math. Civil Beat.

Ho‘ola Na Pua event provides insight into human trafficking. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

After more than a year of neighborhood contention regarding construction of a park in Kukuihaele, county planners presented a new and largely well-received proposal for the 4-acre space Tuesday night. Tribune-Herald.

The number of solar electric permits issued on the Big Island dropped 56 percent compared with the year earlier. Star-Advertiser.

A long-awaited four-year aviation program could take off this year at University of Hawaii at Hilo. Tribune-Herald.

Legacy nursing home in Hilo hired a former state Department of Health nursing home compliance director to get Legacy back in line with federal regulations. Tribune-Herald.

As big of a challenge combating human trafficking is in Hawaii, convincing people it even happens here in the first place is a whole other one. West Hawaii Today.

West Hawaii joins the previous selections of East Hawaii and North Hawaii as Blue Zones, making Hawaii County the first entire county in the nation to join the movement. Big Island Video News.

Maui

Two former Maui County Public Works employees pleaded not guilty Wednesday to second-degree theft charges involving unrecorded vacation time, according to sources familiar with the case. Maui News.

The Maui County Council will hold a special meeting on Monday to handle matters left over from its Jan. 2 meeting, including establishing the body’s standing committees and referring various matters to appropriate committees. Maui News.

Kauai

Getting a fair share of the transient accommodations tax, making sure lifeguards are insured and purchasing an additional ambulance are some of the goals for Kauai County this legislative session. Garden Island.