Land Board approves Thirty Meter Telescope permit, Honolulu police chief candidates narrowed to seven, tourism above expectations, Jones Act debated, Kona water woes continue, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Artist's conception of Thirty Meter Telescope

The state Land Board will require the University of Hawaii to remove three telescopes atop Mauna Kea and create new educational programs as conditions for allowing construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope. Tribune-Herald.

In a 5 to 2 vote, the Hawaii Board of Land and Natural Resources concurred with the recommendation of contested case hearing officer Riki May Amano, approving a Conservation District Use Permit to build the Thirty-Meter Telescope on Mauna Kea. Big Island Video News.

The Hawaii Board of Land and Natural Resources has approved the application for a permit to build the Thirty Meter Telescope atop Mauna Kea, a move that was vehemently opposed by some environmentalists and Native Hawaiians who consider the mountain sacred. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s Board of Land and Natural Resources on Thursday granted a construction permit for a giant telescope on a mountain that some Native Hawaiians consider sacred, a project that has divided the state. Associated Press.

The state Land Board voted 5 to 2 in favor of approving the construction permit for the controversial telescope. Hawaii Public Radio.

The Hawaii Board of Land and Natural Resources on Thursday approved a permit that will allow construction of the controversial Thirty-Meter Telescope to continue near the summit of Mauna Kea. Hawaii News Now.

The Hawaii Board of Land and Natural Resources on Thursday said it has voted 5-2 to approve a conservation district use permit for the Thirty Meter Telescope, which would allow the $1.4 billion project to begin construction near the summit of the Big Island’s Mauna Kea volcano. Pacific Business News.

A major decision on the controversial Thirty Meter Telescope, the State Land Board says "build it". KITV.

Advocates of the Thirty Meter Telescope applauding the state land board's decision Thursday to move forward with construction atop Mauna Kea. Meanwhile, those against the project vow to continue their fight. Hawaii News Now.

Opponents of the Thirty Meter Telescope vowed Thursday to take their case to the Hawaii Supreme Court following the approval of the project’s construction permit by the state Board of Land and Natural Resources. Star-Advertiser.

Full DLNR news release and order on the Thirty Meter Telescope here.

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Hawaii tourism celebrated its best month ever in July, but the fireworks continued into August, which was another boom month for the key state industry. Star-Advertiser.

Monthly visitor spending increased by 6.1 percent year-over-year to $1.39 billion last month as Hawaii welcomed a total of 818,581 visitors, an increase of 4.8 percent, according to preliminary statistics released Thursday by the Hawaii Tourism Authority. The figure represents an increase of 6.1 percent compared to August 2016. Pacific Business News.

University of Hawaii economists have weighed in on the state’s economy, and the story is a familiar one: Slowing growth, a tourism industry exceeding expectations and a once-booming construction sector that appears to be leveling out. Star-Advertiser.

Typically, it’s been limited to debate in Hawaii, Alaska and U.S. island territories — but this week the rest of the country is suddenly getting a crash course in the Jones Act. Star-Advertiser.

Nearly 300 species of fish, mussels and other sea critters hitchhiked across the Pacific Ocean on debris from the 2011 Japanese tsunami, washing ashore alive in the United States, researchers reported Thursday. Associated Press.

Hawaii’s public school students continue to show growth on Advanced Placement Program Exams. Garden Island.

How Hawaii Schools Are Rethinking Social Studies. Teachers supplement history lessons with real-world projects that encourage students to take action in their communities. Civil Beat.

Undercover stings help health officials enforce new age limit for smokers. KHON2.

Oahu

Seven candidates are now left in the closely watched search for Honolulu’s next police chief, a post that’s been vacant since the end of February. The finalists are retired Drug Enforcement Agency Agent Thomas Aiu, current HPD Maj. Susan Ballard, retired HPD Maj. Kurt Kendro, retired HPD Assistant Chief Kevin Lima, retired Pennsylvania State Police Maj. Mark Lomax, current Arlington (Texas) Police Department Deputy Chief Jim Lowery and retired HPD Deputy Chief Paul Putzulu. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu Police Commission announced Thursday it will interview seven candidates to become the city’s next police chief, a process that will take place behind closed doors. Civil Beat.

The list of candidates considered for the next Honolulu police chief have been narrowed down to seven, the Honolulu Police Commission announced on Thursday. Hawaii News Now.

The Honolulu Police Commission has narrowed the field of candidates for Honolulu's top cop down to seven. KITV.

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A judge has at least temporarily blocked the city from releasing the names of current and past undercover officers at the request of the statewide police union. Civil Beat.

Starting Sunday, Honolulu’s bus system will no longer accept paper transfers, asking riders who seek transfers to purchase a 1-Day Pass instead, city officials said. Star-Advertiser.

2 years after Accessory Dwelling Units law passes - little to show. To date the city program has produced only 67 units. KITV.

Three nonprofit groups that rely on federal funding administered by the city worry their money could be delayed this year, affecting clients as soon as Monday. Star-Advertiser.

Working to help get Hawaii's homeless off the streets. KITV.

The Army said today that operations to retrieve wreckage and crew from a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter that crashed at sea off Kaena Point Aug. 15 have ended with only trace remains of the five soldiers aboard recovered. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu-based Alutiiq General Contractors LLC Thursday received a nearly $26.9 million construction contract from the U.S. Department of Defense. Pacific Business News.

The Pacific Beach Hotel will reopen next month as the Alohilani Resort Waikiki Beach following a $115 million redevelopment that began in 2016. Pacific Business News.
https://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/news/2017/09/28/pacific-beach-hotel-transforms-into-the-alohilani.html

The Hawaii Convention Center's new wooden basketball court has a shiny look and smells of fresh lacquer. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Water service disruptions threaten North Kona as two deep well repairs progress. West Hawaii Today.

As the Emergency Water Restriction remains in effect for North Kona, officials have started to see a decline in the water level in some tanks. Big Island Video News.

Hawaii County is ramping up awareness next month about the threat of little fire ants. Tribune-Herald.

The state Public Utilities Commission announced the end of a popular solar energy incentive program on the Big Island last week. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

A community meeting is planned to discuss community design as part of the update of the West Maui Community Plan on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2017, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the West Maui Senior Center at 788 Pauoa Street, Lahaina. Maui Now.

Ground is scheduled to be broken this morning for the Kalama Kai residential workforce housing condominium project in Kihei. Maui News.

Maui’s visitor arrivals and spending were up in August, one of the state’s traditionally busy summer months, compared with August 2016, the Hawaii Tourism Authority reported Thursday. Maui News.

Space surveillance experts convene at 18th AMOS conference in Wailea. Maui News.

Gov. David Ige said he’s none too worried about the threat of nuclear attack, but said that as a state, “it’s better to be prepared than not.” Maui News.

Due to crowded conditions at the Maui Humane Society, the organization is seeking immediate short-term foster homes for dogs. Maui Now.

Kauai

Kauai continues to enjoy a strong tourism season. According to the Hawaii Tourism Authority, visitor arrivals on Kauai totaled 111,904 for August, a 6.7 percent increase over last August. Garden Island.

Sustainable Food Movement Flourishes On Kauai’s North Shore. A community garden and incubator lots are just the beginning, say organizers looking to answer “big questions about things like food security.” Garden Island.

Navy dolphins to train off Hawaii, Tulsi's pick a head-scratcher, state tops in nursing homes, Ormat wins geothermal bid, rail company sells to Hitachi, Wailuku Stream diversion altered, Coco Palm decision deferred, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Bottlenose dolphin with tag, courtesy U.S. Navy

A Navy plan to fly four bottlenose dolphins to Hawaii from San Diego in March for sea mine training and research drew some criticism but was approved by the state Board of Agriculture on Tuesday by a 5-2 vote. The dolphins will be used March 10-31 out of Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam on a training "mobility evolution" measuring the animals' response and medical condition during the transit and use, the Navy said. Star-Advertiser.

U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard is turning to a political neophyte to lead her operations in Washington, D.C. On Tuesday, the Hawaii Democrat announced that she has picked Kainoa Ramananda Penaroza to serve as her chief of staff, making him the third person to hold the top position in the two years she has represented Hawaii’s 2nd Congressional District. Civil Beat.

Members of the Hawaii Senate and House of Representatives have filed concurrent resolutions seeking an exemption for Hawaii from a provision in the Merchant Marine Act of 1920 (the Jones Act) requiring that all vessels be built in the United States. The resolutions also ask that Alaska, Guam and Puerto Rico be exempt.Hawaii Independent.

Hawaii lawmakers are working through requests to dole out $30 million to five state agencies that are running out of money to meet immediate needs. The Attorney General’s Office, Department of Human Services, Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, the Governor’s Office and the State Public Charter School Commission have asked the Legislature for emergency appropriations to see them through the current fiscal year, which ends June 30. Civil Beat.

Hawaii has a higher percentage of top-rated nursing homes than any other state in the country, according to a newly revised rating system by the federal government that includes tougher standards for evaluating long-term care facilities. Eighteen of Hawaii's 46 nursing homes, or 39 percent, received five stars, the highest score under the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services system. Star-Advertiser.

The House Judiciary Committee, chaired by Rep. Karl Rhoads, unanimously passed a measure Tuesday that would protect journalists from having to disclose their confidential sources under certain circumstances. Civil Beat.

Opinion: Forty years after passage of the state’s first law regulating lobbyists, requiring them to publicly register, identify their clients, and disclose what they spend to influence the legislative process, the agency charged with administering and enforcing the law is suffering a major crisis of confidence. Civil Beat.

It could get a lot harder to smoke traditional and electronic cigarettes in Hawaii, especially for young people. State lawmakers are considering raising the legal smoking age from 18 to 21 for traditional and electronic cigarettes. They're also considering banning both forms of smoking in the state's parks and public hospital system. Associated Press.

The group challenging Hawaii Rep. Calvin Say's qualifications is asking why the chairman of the special House committee investigating the matter shared evidence with Say's attorneys. Associated Press.

State Rep. Bob McDermott is suing the University of Hawaii over access to a survey being given to public school students participating in the controversial Pono Choices sexual education program. Star-Advertiser.

The state Senate has confirmed Randall Iwase's appointment to lead the Public Utilities Commission. Iwase has been the commission's acting chairman since his nomination in January. Associated Press.

Hawaiian Electric Co. is sending out letters to potential solar customers saying their rooftop systems won't be approved until the state Public Utilities Commission rules on HECO's request to decrease the rate it pays for energy from home solar systems. HECO sent the letters last week to Hawaii island customers in neighborhoods with high solar penetration and will follow soon with similar letters to applicants on Oahu and in Maui County. Star-Advertiser.

An estimated 18,000 current and former members of the Hawaii Medical Service Association had their personal information stolen during a cyberattack on Anthem Inc., a Blue Cross and Blue Shield plan that serves residents in 14 states. Star-Advertiser.

The state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs encourages the 18,000 HMSA members who may have sought treatment in one of the 14 mainland states where Anthem Inc. operates, and Anthem members who have moved to Hawaii, to visit anthemfacts.com following the company’s security breach. Associated Press.

Oahu

In a State of the City address that contained no surprises and just a smattering of new initiatives, Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell reaffirmed his position on three contentious issues: rail, homelessness and the bicycle track along South King Street. Star-Advertiser.

Mayor Kirk Caldwell stressed the need to move forward on the Honolulu rail project with an extension of the General Excise Tax during his 2015 State of the City address Tuesday while emphasizing the progress he has made since taking office two years ago on road repaving, park rejuvenation, bike lanes and the homelessness problem. Civil Beat.

After nearly four years of trying to land a buyer for its rail assets, the Italian defense firm Finmeccanica has announced that it will sell the company that's creating the trains and operating system for Honolulu's future rail transit system to Hitachi Ltd. Star-Advertiser.

Some longtime critics of the city’s rail project have stated repeatedly that Honolulu can make major changes to how the elevated line is built without facing penalties from the federal government. But after a Tuesday meeting in Washington, D.C., with top officials from the Federal Transit Administration, City Council members Joey Manahan and Ernie Martin came away with a much different understanding of what can actually be done under a full funding grant agreement signed in December 2012. KITV4.

The administration of former Gov. Neil Abercrombie, which unveiled an H1 Freeway re paving and improvement project just days before the primary election last year, decided against including key safety upgrades that would have taken months longer to complete, Hawaii News Now has learned.

The state Ethics Commission is looking into potential conflicts of interest at the Department of Land and Natural Resources' enforcement division. A complaint filed by environmental activist Carroll Cox alleges potential misconduct by staffers with the DLNR's Conservation and Resource Enforcement Division, who do part-time security work for Sodexo, the concessionaire for the Blaisdell Center and the Waikiki Shell. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii boy Barack Obama made it official Tuesday, signing a presidential proclamation designating the Honouliuli Internment Camp on Oahu as a national monument. On hand to witness the historic event were Hawaii Gov. David Ige, Sens. Mazie Hirono and Brian Schatz, Rep. Mark Takai and Interior Secretary Sally Jewel. Civil Beat.

A $25 million penthouse is still available in the east tower of the Ritz-Carlton Residences Wai­kiki Beach tower, which broke ground Tuesday and is projected to open in 2017. Star-Advertiser.

Starting Wednesday, Feb. 25, coffee grown in all areas of Oahu will be placed under the same quarantine restrictions as coffee grown in Waialua on Oahu and Hawaii Island. KHON2.

Quarantine restrictions on Oahu-grown coffee have been expanded islandwide, limiting transport and shipping in an effort to prevent the spread of a coffee berry borer infestation. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Hawaii Electric Light Co. announced Tuesday that Ormat Technologies was selected to provide an additional 25 megawatts of geothermal power to the utility. But where that power will be produced remained a secret. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii Electric Light Co. has selected Nevada-based Ormat Technologies Inc., which operates the 38-megawatt Puna Geothermal Venture plant on the Big Island, to develop an additional 25-megawatts of geothermal energy on the island, the Hawaiian Electric Co. subsidiary said Tuesday. Pacific Business News.

Hopes for an international arrivals terminal at Kona International Airport, future bus service to Palamanui and plans for new Department of Motor Vehicles service in Waimea were highlights of a Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce luncheon on Tuesday with Mayor Billy Kenoi. West Hawaii Today.

Many months of paperwork and a lot of fundraising are culminating in the planned July opening of a new charter school in Naalehu. Ka‘u Learning Academy faces one of its final hurdles next week, when it seeks Windward Planning Commission approval of the Discovery Harbour golf course clubhouse as a temporary facility. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co. began work Tuesday to alter its Spreckels Ditch diversion of Wailuku Stream near Happy Valley in Wailuku. Maui News.

Recognizing the need for more affordable rental housing, the Maui Planning Commission agreed Tuesday to send a letter to the Maui County Council calling for a moratorium on all new short-term vacation rental permits until more housing is available. Maui News.

There’s a big meeting about little fire ants Wednesday night at the Haiku Community Center. MauiTime.

Kauai

The seven-member Kauai Planning Commission deferred any decisions on current Coco Palms Hui, LLC plans to reconstruct and restore the Coco Palms Resort in Wailua until their March 10 meeting so they can receive more information on options to mitigate traffic impacts. Garden Island.

Hawaii wage report released, tourism surges, Kauai health workers face layoffs, police investigate Hawaii County candidate, more solar panels planned, trash shortage could cost Honolulu $2M, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Coral in Hawaii © 2014 All Hawaii News

The federal government is protecting 20 types of colorful coral by putting them on the list of threatened species, partly because of climate change. Associated Press.

Federal authorities released a list of 20 corals they now classify as threatened. However, none are in Hawaii, meaning the blue rice coral — one of three species being impacted by an outbreak of black band coral disease on Kauai’s North Shore — will not receive federal protection. Garden Island.

Medical field tops wage ranking in Hawaii, labor report shows. The Labor Department collected the data in a semiannual mail survey over a three-year cycle. Star-Advertiser.

Read the full labor report here.

After achieving the highest July on record for the state in visitor spending and arrivals, Hawaii's visitor industry is trending ahead of last year's record-breaking pace for tourism. Star-Advertiser.

Opinion: Hawaii’s political polls are regularly erratic and wrong. As a recent Washington Post headline put it, Hawaii is a place “where good polling goes to die.” Civil Beat.

Opinion: Hawaii General Election Gubernatorial Candidates on the Jones Act. Hawaii Reporter.

State House Speaker Joseph Souki will not have to testify this week about when he first heard of a legal challenge to state Rep. Calvin Say's residency, a state Circuit Court judge ruled Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

A new Hawaii law that makes domestic violence a felony if it’s committed in the presence of children has been criticized as excessive and vague. Associated Press.

Hawaiian Electric Co. released aggressive new energy plans on Tuesday that seek to increase the amount of energy derived from renewable energy sources from 30 percent to 65 percent by 2030, as well as triple the amount of solar energy on its electric grids on Oahu, the Big Island and in Maui County. Civil Beat.

Hawaiian Electric Companies submitted a plan to the Public Utilities Commission that is designed to achieve specific goals by 2030 for Hawaiʻi’s Energy Future. Maui Now.

Hawaiian Electric Company has released details of its vision for the state’s energy future, and part of the plan calls for 65 percent of all electricity generated on Oahu, the Big Island and Maui County to come from renewable sources. KITV4.

Hawaiian Electric has been under fire for its slow conversion to renewable energy, but its newly released long-term plan promises to change that. KHON2.

Monsanto, GMOs and the importance of independent research at the University of Hawaiʻi. Hawaii Independent.

USGS is working with other government agencies, the University of Hawaii and the American Red Cross to improve earthquake preparedness through the 2014 Great Hawaii ShakeOut, part of a worldwide event Oct. 16. Civil Beat.

The Army in the Pacific is starting a new deployment concept this week that sends soldiers out into the region for multiple exercises and longer stays in foreign countries that are intended to reassure partner nations and develop closer relationships as the United States continues its "rebalance" to the Pacific. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

The city could be on the hook for as much as $2 million for not handing over enough trash to the operators of the HPOWER waste-to-energy plant, a Honolulu City Council committee was told Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu’s top rail executive told members of the City Council Budget Committee on Wednesday that the project has a “healthy contingency fund” despite the fact that recent construction bids came in more than $100 million higher than expected. Civil Beat.

Honolulu City Council members questioned rail leaders about the budget and a recent contract coming in significantly overbid. The lowest bid to build the first nine transit stations was $110 million more than anticipated. Hawaii News Now.

A measure exempting compostable products from an upcoming Oahu plastic bag ban won key approval from a Honolulu City Council committee Wednesday while a bill requiring takeout containers to be more environmentally friendly was shelved in favor of more study. Star-Advertiser.

Move over, Kakaako. Honolulu planners have big dreams for another neighborhood. They want to transform Ala Moana into a more vibrant, inviting cityscape complete with bike lanes, green spaces and denser development. Civil Beat.

Hawaiian Electric Co.'s new energy plan angered solar customers, who could face higher monthly bills, but pleased non-solar customers, who might see their costs drop. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Electric Co. plans to level the playing field when it comes to customers who have rooftop solar, and others who don’t, noting that the current net energy metering program utilized by rooftop solar customers is not sustainable. Pacific Business News.

A Honolulu planning board plans to revisit a controversial set of bills that would ban sitting and lying down on sidewalks in Waikiki. Hawaii News Now.

A proposal for a one-year restriction on stand-up paddleboards at select spots along Oahu's south shore has been withdrawn, but state officials could still consider changes. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Five months ago, Michael Kaha signed in as the Wheelabrator representative at a pre-bid conference for a waste-to-energy incinerator in Hawaii County. Last week, he was named to a newly created position as the county’s deputy solid waste division chief. West Hawaii Today.

Police will investigate a complaint alleging Hawaii County Council District 5 candidate Tiffany Edwards Hunt committed voter fraud by registering to vote from her husband’s surf shop in Pahoa rather than her home in Hawaiian Acres during the 2012 election. Tribune-Herald.

The National Park Service is stressing the importance of a “margin of safety” for its ecosystems, while acknowledging there is no evidence that current water pumping practices pose an immediate threat to the Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii Electric Light Co. is proposing to boost its use of renewable energy sources by 2030, providing for 92 percent of the Big Isle’s energy needs, but would also require customers with rooftop solar to pay more than they do now. Tribune-Herald.

While all but a relative handful of electrical customers have been restored service after the devastation of Tropical Storm Iselle, about 1,600 Hawaiian Telcom customers remain without landline telephone and/or Internet service. Tribune-Herald.

Scientists with the U.S. Geological Survey who have been carefully monitoring the lava flow heading toward lower Puna say Wednesday's aerial assessment indicates there is little to no activity in the area that once posed the greatest threat to the Kaohe Homesteads subdivision. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii’s largest health insurance provider is teaming up with a bestselling author to help communities here get healthier. West Hawaii Today.

Maui
The coral reefs offshore between Lahaina and Kaanapali may be some of the least healthy reefs along West Maui, possibly due to pollution from the Lahaina wastewater treatment plant and Olowalu landfill runoff, according to an expert hired by the state to conduct a West Maui reef study. Maui News.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife is looking to hire two planners to conduct outreach and provide technical assistance to new landowners participating in the department's Hawaii Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, the department announced. Maui News.

Visitors to Maui Spend $206 Per Person Per Day, Up 10%. Maui Now.

Kauai
Officials from Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, which operates the island’s two public, critical-access hospitals and three primary care clinics, said they will institute a round of layoffs system wide as the struggling state-subsidized health provider seeks to offset its projected $48 million budget shortfall this fiscal year. Garden Island.

The Kauai County Council gave their first stamp of approval to a Department of Public Works proposal that would create the state’s first pay-as-you-throw program, which charges all property owners variable rates that are based how much they discard each month. Garden Island.

Testifiers: Don't eat cats and dogs, Wilson Supreme Court confirmation stalled, Saiki new GOP head, 2012 Hawaii County election a bargain, Maui seeks more polling places, Legislature mulls Jones Act, more news from all the Hawaiian Islaands

Abercrombie and his dog sign bill, file photo

Animal lovers in Hawaii packed a legislative hearing room Thursday with poodles and pugs, asking lawmakers to ban the practice of eating cats and dogs in the state. The House Committee on Agriculture later advanced SB 2026, a bill to ban the practice. Associated Press.

Circuit Judge Michael Wilson's confirmation to the state Supreme Court took an unexpected detour Thursday as the state Senate women's caucus urged the nominee to open up his personnel file and judicial performance reviews to satisfy questions about his conduct toward women. The unusual request was in response to the Hawaii State Bar Association's disclosure Wednesday that its "unqualified" rating for Wilson was based in part on the propriety of his conduct toward women in professional contexts. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Women Senators Prompt Further Inquiry Into Judge Michael Wilson. Civil Beat.

The state Senate Judiciary and Labor Committee will hold another hearing on Circuit Judge Michael Wilson's nomination to the state Supreme Court on Saturday after more detailed questions have been raised about his fitness to serve. Star-Advertiser.

The State Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a second hearing on Circuit Court Judge Michael Wilson's nomination to the State Supreme Court Saturday morning, as Hawaii News Now has discovered more reasons why lawyers have told the Hawaii Bar Association and some state senators Wilson is unqualified for the high court. Hawaii News Now.

Pat Saiki, one of the most successful Republicans in Hawaii history, is going to lead the state Republican Party.  The state party’s executive committee tapped her as chairwoman in a meeting Wednesday night, a title the state committee will formalize next week. David Chang, who had led the state party since 2011, resigned the position. Associated Press.

A roll of qualified Native Hawaiians interested in participating in their own government has grown to more than 120,000. The Native Hawaiian Roll Commission announced on Thursday that more than 120,000 have signed up to re-organize a Native Hawaiian government recognized by the state of Hawaii. Associated Press.

An amended bill on hunting lands will head to the state Senate Committee on Water and Land on Monday. The bill initially would have required the state Department of Land and Natural Resources to replace any hunting lands lost to conservation or other efforts. Tribune-Herald.

Scientists say deep coral reefs in the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument may contain the highest percentage of fish species found nowhere else. A study published in the Bulletin of Marine Science says nearly 50 percent of the fish scientists observed over a two-year period in monument waters 100 to 300 feet deep are unique to Hawaii. Associated Press.

Lawmakers from Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico and Guam are teaming up to pressure the U.S. government for relief from a maritime law passed in the 1920s. The Jones Act was designed to protect the domestic shipping industry. It states that only ships made in the U.S. and flying the country’s flags can deliver goods between U.S. ports. Associated Press.

The state House committee on Health recently amended a bill aimed at regulating electronic smoking devices by stripping it of its taxation elements but keeping its limitations on where the devices can be used. Tribune-Herald.

Oahu

A retired Army Reserve lieutenant colonel faces up to 20 years in prison and a $500,000 fine when he is sentenced this summer for sharing military secrets with his younger Chinese girlfriend. Star-Advertiser.

It was 100 years ago that the Navy laid the keel to begin construction on the USS Arizona. On Thursday the U.S. Postal Service honored the historic vessel with the dedication of a stamp. KITV4.

Aikea rallies against condo conversion. The job preservation movement, organized by Unite Here Local 5, rallied at Honolulu Hale today in support of City Bill 16. Hawaii Independent.

Representatives from Kamehameha Schools talked about Kakaako development plans on Thursday at a "Civil Cafe," an occasional discussion hosted by Civil Beat on topics of local relevance. Civil Beat.

Sales are slated to start Saturday for units in a planned Kakaako condominium tower that has been both praised as middle-class housing produced without government subsidy and derided as an overly dense blight to the community. Star-Advertiser.

Everyone loves a carnival. But that's not entirely true in Hawaii Kai, where some residents say while the cause may be good, the venue is not. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii

Even counting the County Clerk’s Office staff pulled from across the hall to help out during the contentious 2012 election, it still cost less to run that election than the two elections prior. That’s the finding of an outside auditor the County Council hired last year to compare the election costs. West Hawaii Today.

The list of reasons why Hawaii Island legislators are proposing renaming the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority Gateway Center after Guy Toyama takes up nearly two pages. West Hawaii Today.

With a bit of smoke, a couple loud pops, and first responders dressed head to toe in protective gear, Edith Kanakaole Tennis Stadium became the epicenter of a simulated terrorist attack on Thursday. The event, which included over two dozen volunteers, was part of an annual drill with county agencies, the National Guard and Hilo Medical Center all participating. Tribune-Herald.

Mayor Billy Kenoi was the keynote speaker Wednesday evening at Waimea Middle School, where he shared advice on how to be successful with students, families, educators and mentors. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The Maui County Council on Tuesday adopted a resolution seeking an increase in the number of early walk-in voting locations, Council Member Mike White announced. White, who introduced the resolution, said it supports voter access and equal voting opportunities across the county, which only had two early walk-in sites during the last election cycle. Maui Now.

Maui hotels and resorts set new records for average daily room rates and revenue per room in 2013, though occupancy fell slightly with a "small shift" to time shares and vacation rentals, according to a Hospitality Advisors report. Maui News.

The Kihei-to-Upcountry highway, three decades in the making, took a step toward reality when the state House passed its supplemental budget Wednesday with funds for the road in it. Maui News.

Kauai

The outspoken Mel Rapoza is running for his fifth term on the Kauai County Council. Garden Island.

The public is invited to attend Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr.’s State of the County address on Monday. The event will begin at 8:30 a.m. at the Lihue Civic Center, Moikeha Building courtyard. Garden Island.

The Kauai Visitors Bureau will be sharing an update on key markets for the island’s visitor industry next week, and highlight information from the recent Hawaii Tourism Authority Spring Update. Garden Island.

State Public Utilities Commission Chair Hermina Morita, considered the state's “main diva for environmentalism” while she was in the House of Representatives from 1996 to 2011, may not be reappointed by Gov. Neil Abercrombie to the Public Utilities Commission for a second term after the state Department of Land and Natural Resources documented illegal activities by Morita and her husband, Lance Laney. Hawaii Reporter.

Lanai

The Maui County Council on Tuesday gave final approval for various bills, including those to purchase a fire rescue boat and trailer and one to increase security at Kaumalapau Harbor on Lanai. Maui News.

Share of hotel tax biggest issue for Hawaii counties, high shipping costs a growing concern, new consultant for Honolulu rail, Kiss opening Maui restaurant, Molokai feels short-changed by Larry Ellison's Island Air, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Kona hotel pool scene (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

Hawaii’s four mayors and county councils are working to reach unanimous agreement on key tax issues so they can lobby the Legislature next year with a louder and more unified voice, officials said. The counties want to protect their share of the hotel tax revenue and have the state grant them a new taxing power so they can raise more funds, according to interviews with mayors, council members and legislators. The Hawaii State Association of Counties has invited the state's Council of Mayors to its meeting Wednesday in the hopes of reaching consensus on how to approach state lawmakers about the transient accommodations tax, general excise tax and other issues. Civil Beat.

Moving a container here from Los Angeles costs nearly 10 times more than moving that same container from Los Angeles to Shanghai, some three times farther. And that cost for shipping to and from Hawaii from the west coast is set to rise again. Hawaii Reporter.

The Navy’s top submarine commander in the Pacific says budget issues won’t affect his ability to deploy submarines next year. But Rear Adm. Phillip Sawyer said he’s concerned cuts to the civilian workforce at the nation’s naval shipyards will mean submarines won’t be ready to deploy as quickly in 2015 and beyond. Associated Press.

Former State Welfare Worker Charged with Tampering with Government Records and Misapplication of Property. Hawaii Reporter.

Hawaiian Airlines is starting to sell tickets for its first-ever direct flight to China. The airline plans to launch nonstop service from Honolulu to Beijing on April 16. It will operate the flight three times a week. Associated Press.

Oahu

Local transit officials announced Tuesday they have awarded a $46.1 million contract to the consulting firm CH2M Hill Inc. to help oversee the next phase of Honolulu's rail project. Star-Advertiser.

A new contractor is taking over some of the oversight on Honolulu’s $5.26 billion rail project, and will be paid nearly $50 million to do so. On Tuesday, the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation awarded a contract to CH2M Hill, an international engineering firm, to replace Parsons Brinckerhoff. Civil Beat.

'Virtual line' eases wait at satellite city hall. A low-cost system city workers developed lets people sit down rather than stand in queues. Star-Advertiser.

A former city street sweeper fired from his job after admitting to theft in an overtime scam was rehired by a different city department three years after losing his job. Hawaii News Now.

A developer is proposing to build 499 rental loft apartments in downtown Kapolei aimed at young professionals. But some community representatives say the area has plenty of housing and needs more places for young professionals to work. The local office of Ohio-based development firm Forest City Enterprises Inc. presented plans for the project called Kapolei Lofts at a meeting Monday night before the planning and zoning committee of the Makakilo/Kapolei/Honokai Hale Neighborhood Board. Star-Advertiser.

Two Kamiloiki Elementary School students were sent to a hospital Tuesday morning after their Hawaii Kai school was evacuated following reports of a strange odor on campus. Star-Advertiser.

A contract that allows federal workers to trap and capture feral pigs at the city's Hoomaluhia Botanical Garden was allowed to lapse, resulting in increased damage to the grounds. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Hawaii County is still grappling with how to develop rules following a new state law exempting nonresidential structures on farms from building permits and plan reviews. The law, which went into effect July 1, allows structures such as sheds, barns, greenhouses and other buildings not intended for living space to be built without permits on commercial farmland within the agricultural district. West Hawaii Today.

After the Thirty Meter Telescope is built on Mauna Kea, it won’t be able to hold onto the title of world’s largest optical telescope for long. Other large observatories, including a telescope with a 39-meter mirror in Chile, are planned and may be completed a few years afterward. But Sandra Dawson, TMT spokeswoman, assured a luncheon of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Hawaii on Tuesday that it will remain the most advanced. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Rockers Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley of the band Kiss are planning to be on Maui for a late January opening celebration for the Rock & Brews restaurant in Paia. Pacific Business News.

The Outlets of Maui, a retail and restaurant center under construction in the space once occupied by the former Lahaina Center, is scheduled for a soft opening Thursday, according to information released by the Maui Visitors Bureau. Maui Now.

The state Public Access Room, a division of the Legislative Reference Bureau, will conduct a series of free workshops on Maui called "We the Powerful!" the first week of December. Maui News.

Kauai

An upcoming election to vote on whether Kauai Island Utility Cooperative should be charging additional fees to customers who choose to keep their old electric meters is pegged to cost about $63,000. Garden Island.

A popular south shore Kauai beach will undergo a small-scale sand replenishment project to address erosion. The county's Department of Parks and Recreation says the Poipu Beach project is scheduled to begin Dec. 9 and is expected to be completed by the end of the week. Associated Press.

Molokai

Because of frequent and seemingly interminable delays, folks who live on the Friendly Island are not feeling very friendly toward Island Air. Dozens of Molokai residents who spoke with Civil Beat said they feel like the company is giving them short shrift, perhaps in favor of routes to Lanai. That island's owner, billionaire Larry Ellison, bought Island Air in March.

Hawaii Big Wind moving forward, Jones Act under fire, military retreats from Kauai weapons range expansion, China to launch nonstop Taiwan-Honolulu flights, Hawaii business tourism a hard sell, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Island wind farm, courtesy courtesy Green Travelers Guide

One half of Hawaii’s controversial 400-megawatt “Big Wind” project — in which large wind farms on Lanai and Molokai would pump electricity to Honolulu via an undersea cable — is still moving forward. Pacific Business News.

Hawaiian Electric Co. residential customers on Oahu will pay an average of 13 cents more a month over the next three years to cover the cost of preliminary studies HECO completed as part of its plan to generate wind energy on the neighbor islands and transmit it to Oahu via an undersea cable. Star-Advertiser.

With the help of Gov. Neil Abercrombie's administration, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands has begun reforming its controversial revocable permit program and evaluating other aspects of its operation. But Native Hawaiian beneficiaries already are raising questions about the process, saying they are not being allowed to participate from the start. Star-Advertiser.

Even though Hawaii's business travel fell 20 percent after the Great Recession and hasn't completely recovered, John Mona­han, president and CEO of the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau, said he is confident that changing the way the state markets business travel will build success. Star-Advertiser.

China Airlines will launch regular nonstop flights between Taiwan and Hawaii on June 2, the airline said Friday. Pacific Business News.

High-profile Hawaii economists, professors and businessmen last week called on Congress to repeal the Jones Act, the 1920s federal law requiring that cargo shipped within the U.S. be moved only by American-made, American-manned and American-owned vessels. Hawaii Reporter.

Lawyer and former U.S. Senate candidate John Carroll has sued the United States of America for the second time in hopes of exempting Hawaii from the Merchant Marine Act of 1920. Better known as the Jones Act, the statute requires all ships traveling between U.S. states to be manned, built, owned, and flagged by Americans. Critics say the regulations inflate the cost of shipping, which makes everything from eggs to electricity more expensive. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Bromance: Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell and Gov. Neil Abercrombie. Civil Beat.

In its second quarter 2013 economic report, the Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism predicts continued positive economic growth in 2013, outpacing the national growth rate. DBEDT also expects to see continued positive growth in 2014. West Hawaii Today.

Next month, the Hōkūle‘a and its sister canoe, the Hikianalia , will set sail on a 46,000 mile trip across the globe. And joining the crew will be a team of Hawaii teachers and researchers, who will play a key role in bringing the Worldwide Voyage back into the classroom. Hawaii Public Radio.

State roundup for May 27. Associated Press.

Oahu

Four firms are vying to operate the state-owned Hawai‘i Convention Center, which for more than a decade has routinely underperformed at filling Hawaii hotel rooms with high-spending business visitors. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu officials don’t appear to be in any rush to scrub the mold, lead and asbestos from Honolulu Hale. The city contracted for $250,000 with Unitek in 2012 for some lead paint clean-up, but now officials say the building is on a fix-it-as-we-go approach. Civil Beat.

A tenant association at a Chinatown affordable-housing complex is calling for more openness from the city of Honolulu as it moves forward with the sale of all 12 of its affordable-housing properties to a California-based private group. Star-Advertiser.

The city of Honolulu this week is restoring more bus service, part of a plan Mayor Kirk Caldwell and transit officials rolled out earlier this year to reverse many of last year's widely unpopular cuts in TheBus routes. Star-Advertiser.

Three months after the official opening of the University of Hawaii's Cancer Center in Kakaako, Hawaii News Now brought a construction problem and potential design flaw to the attention of its director.

Hawaii
West Hawaii’s three County Council districts, comprising roughly one-third of the county’s population, will continue shouldering 70 percent of the property tax burden under a 10 percent rate hike proposed by Mayor Billy Kenoi. West Hawaii Today.

Kamehameha Schools is suing the HSC Inc. and Realty Investment Co., alleging the Hilo companies are in default of a five-decade-plus lease of commercial property on Kekuanaoa Street near the Hilo Shopping Center. Tribune-Herald.

Hundreds of Big Islanders came together Saturday in Kailua-Kona for one of many March Against Monsanto events held worldwide to call attention to the dangers posed by genetically modified foods. West Hawaii Today.

Maui
The Maui County Council will hear a proposal that would give partial protection to an estimated 1,250 additional applicants on the Upcountry Water Meter Priority List. Maui Now.

The number of photovoltaic and other renewable energy systems in Maui County keeps growing each year. Maui News.

The Maui Chapter of the Korean War Veterans Association was once open only to those who served during the Korean War, but the aging members of the association have opened its doors to all veterans who served in Korea during the war and since. Maui News.

Kauai

The gun jammed on the National Guard’s proposal for an expanded “danger zone” in the waters fronting the Kekaha Rifle Range. “The Army Corps of Engineers, at the request of the Hawaii Army National Guard, will be rescinding the current public notice in regards to a proposed new danger zone at Kekaha Range Facility,” Lt. Col. Charles Anthony, director of public affairs for the Hawaii National Guard, wrote in a statement Friday. Garden Island.

The Kauai County Council approved Wednesday an additional $10,000 for legal fees associated with a civil rights complaint filed by councilman Tim Bynum against former County Prosecutor Shaylene Iseri-Carvalho, county planner Sheila Miyake and the county of Kauai. Garden Island.

A Kauai firefighter is suing the county for alleged discriminatory compensation claims. Garden Island.

Molokai

Molokai General Hospital has received a $133,232 grant from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to support the hospital's Women's Health Center's prenatal program. Maui News.