Hundreds attend vigil as Thirty Meter Telescope construction to commence today, arson investigation in Maui wildfires, security cameras going up in Oahu parks, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaiians chant, prepare on Mauna Kea ©2019 All Hawaii News

With TMT construction set to begin, protesters lie on ground to block potential vehicles. At least seven protesters were lying on the ground, chained to a cattle guard on Mauna Kea Access Road early Monday, just hours before construction was set to start on the controversial project. Hawaii News Now.

Hundreds of Thirty Meter Telescope opponents on Mauna Kea in attempt to block construction. State and local officials will try to close a road to the summit of Mauna Kea Monday morning to allow trucks carrying construction equipment to make their way to the top to begin construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope on land that some Native Hawaiians consider sacred. Associated Press.

Hundreds of Native Hawaiian activists encamped Sunday at the bottom of Mauna Kea were determined to stand their ground against the launching of construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope — unsure of how law enforcement would intervene or what the morning would bring. Star-Advertiser.

Mayor Kim Makes Surprise Visit To Puuhonua At Base Of Mauna Kea. Mayor Harry Kim made a surprise visit to Puu Huluhulu on Sunday, where he told the Thirty Meter Telescope opponents who have established a puuhonua at the location that he supports what they have done. Big Island Video News.

Hundreds gather for prayer vigil. A 12-hour prayer vigil Sunday drew hundreds opposed to the construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope on Maunakea to Pu‘u Huluhulu, across from the intersection of Saddle Road. Tribune-Herald.

Crowds gather on Maunakea prior to TMT project start. With less than 24 hours before the Maunakea summit access road was expected to close in anticipation of the start of construction on the Thirty Meter Telescope, hundreds gathered here over the weekend offering oli, mele and prayers as part of a peaceful yet determined demonstration at the base of Maunakea. West Hawaii Today.

Hundreds gather to protest TMT, construction begins Monday. Hundreds gathered at the base of Maunakea to peacefully protest the Thirty Meter Telescope, which is scheduled to begin construction Monday morning, July 15. KHON2.

Hundreds of TMT protestors gather at Maunakea. Hundreds of protestors are already gathered at the base of Maunakea on the eve of the start of telescope construction. KITV.

Anxiety, Rumors And Prayers Before TMT Construction Begins On Mauna Kea. Officials are committed to escorting construction vehicles for the Thirty Meter Telescope up the mountain Monday. Civil Beat.

Gov. Ige addresses concerns ahead of the start of TMT construction. Gov. David Ige held a news conference Sunday to address the mounting tensions over the start of construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope. Hawaii News Now.

Governor Attempts to Tamp Down Tensions As TMT Opponents Gather At Mauna Kea. Hawaii Gov. David Ige sought to quell rumors of a planned sweep to clear out protesters gathering at Mauna Kea as construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope on the mountain begins this week. Hawaii Public Radio.

Governor Ige Says No Sweeps Planned. “There is no sweep planned for 8 p.m. this evening,” Governor David Ige told media during a Sunday news conference on Oahu. “There’s no sweeps planned at this point.” Big Island Video News.

Full Video: Gov. Ige holds press conference day before TMT ground break. Hawaii Gov. David Ige held a press conference the day before the ground break of the Thirty Meter Telescope on Maunakea on Sunday. KHON2.

OHA demands TMT halt until Native Hawaiian concerns, safety issues resolved. Office of Hawaiian Affairs Chairwoman Colette Machado and OHA Trustee Dan Ahuna are demanding a halt to construction of the long-stalled Thirty Meter Telescope near the summit of Mauna Kea “to avoid harm to Native Hawaiians” and ensure public safety. Star-Advertiser.

OHA Chair Demands Governor Halt TMT Construction. The chairperson of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs has demanded a halt to construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope that is scheduled to start next week. Hawaii Public Radio.

The DOE’s Chief Financial Officer Is Leaving For UH. Amy Kunz’s appointment to the University of Hawaii system was tucked in a recent meeting agenda item from the UH Board of Regents. Civil Beat.

Court Rejects Feds’ Withholding Of Info In UH Biolab Inspection Report. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention heavily redacted a report that found safety infractions at the facility. Civil Beat.

Shawzy Cann is one of the 82 people with confirmed cases of rat lungworm disease from 2007 to 2017. A review of the cases was published last week in the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

State agency to study transferring control of Kakaako to city. One day after Ige issued his veto Tuesday, board members of the Hawaii Community Development Authority overseeing Kakaako voted to spend up to $100,000 for a private consultant to produce a study on transferring the agency’s Kakaako responsibilities to another entity or entities, despite concerns that such a transfer would be premature and unwise. Star-Advertiser.

Council’s office move to Alii Place hits a snag. The Honolulu City Council’s plan to temporarily move into offices at the downtown Alii Place tower has hit a snag that likely will push the renovation of Council offices at Honolulu Hale into 2021. Star-Advertiser.

More improvements are coming to Ala Moana Beach Park. Up next: Repaving. Work to resurface the main road in Ala Moana Regional Park is scheduled to begin next month. Hawaii News Now.

To curb vandalism, nearly 200 security cameras will be installed in Oahu parks. The City and County of Honolulu plans to install nearly 200 more security cameras at its busiest parks under a partnership with the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Hawaii News Now.

Katherine Kealoha diagnosis raises questions about her city job. After a jury convicted former Deputy Prosecutor Katherine Kealoha of multiple felony counts, the lead federal prosecutor described her as a chronic malingerer, someone who feigned medical ailments to avoid accountability for her actions. Star-Advertiser.

University of Hawaii Officials 'Not Pleased' With West Oahu Land Transfer Mandate. A dispute is brewing over a parcel of land in West Oahu designated as the site of a new state film studio. Hawaii Public Radio.

Changing Habits Yields Health Benefits At MA’O Farms In Waianae. Early data from a UH study shows interns at the farm lowered their diabetes risk by altering eating habits and lifestyles —  with a ripple effect of health benefits for friends and families. Civil Beat.

Turtle Bay Resort offers community garden plots. The resort owner is offering 500-square-foot plots adjacent to its resort property as a community garden for employees, North Shore residents and neighborhood organizations including nonprofits and schools. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Zoning change would allow cinder quarry to expand. A cinder quarry south of Leilani Estates may be expanded in the next few years after a petition was filed by Kamehameha Schools last month. Tribune-Herald.

County plans project to install better performing streetlights around the island.  Tribune-Herald.

Waiaka Stream Bridge project gains traction. Sen. Lorraine Inouye said the state’s effort to replace the 87-year-old bridge, located near the intersection of Kohala Mountain and Kawaihae roads in Waimea, “is moving along except for … the stall of needing additional property.” Tribune-Herald.

Dairy wastewater lagoons in process of being removed. The removal of wastewater lagoons at Big Island Dairy is currently underway, the state Department of Health said Thursday. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Mayor Victorino Urges Vigilance: Wildfires Burn 9,200 Acres. Mayor Michael Victorino asked residents and visitors to exercise caution Sunday in the wake of wildfires that have kicked up clouds of dirt and ash from Upcountry Maui to Kaupo and South Maui. Maui Now.

Attention shifts to arson investigation as crews gain upper hand in Maui wildfires. Officials on Maui remained on high alert as a raging wildfire --believed to be the largest in the county’s history -- continued to burn out of control in Central Maui. Hawaii News Now.

Firefighting focus turns toward hot spots, flare-ups. Both blazes nearing containment, county says. Maui News.

Maui Fires Kick Up Dust, Ash As Mop-Up Continues. Maui residents and visitors were advised to drive carefully and stay indoors, if needed, as dust and ash from two brush fires lowered road visibility as well as air quality in parts of the island. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kauai

New police chief visits North Shore. Several North Shore residents were invited to meet and greet new Kauai Police Department Chief Todd Raybuck, as well as Lt. Todd Tanaka, acting North Shore captain, and Capt. Mark Begley, patrol captain for the entire island. Garden Island.

Housing market holding strong. The real estate market on Kauai remained relatively strong through the first half of 2019, but overall sales figures across the island are down from this time last year, and the market could be in for a substantial downturn, Realtors said. Garden Island.

Kahoolawe

Kahoolawe watershed rehabilitation project is bearing fruit. The formerly bare, red-dirt slopes of Hakioawa watershed on the northern slopes of Kahoolawe island are now festooned with green through the labors of the Kahoolawe Island Reserve Commission and 199 volunteers from around the state. Star-Advertiser.

Vacation rentals changing Hawaii economy, empty Kakaako condos, fighting beach erosion, Molokai policeman arrested on drug charges, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Waikiki beach ©2019 All Hawaii News

Hawaii allocates $13M to keep Waikiki Beach from disappearing. The economic impact to Hawaii of Waikiki Beach was recently estimated at $2.2 billion a year, but the crumbling Royal Hawaiian groin and other man-made structures are all that is keeping the state’s most visited beach from being swept away. Star-Advertiser.

HTA: Visitors In Vacation Homes Spend Less. Hawaii Tourism Authority data might seem merely to quantify the obvious, but the data could explain a trend that concerns local economists. Civil Beat.

Vacation rental guests contributing less to tourism economy. Guests staying at vacation rentals in Hawaii aren’t exactly big spenders. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Air fixes tech glitch that grounded some flights on Saturday. The airlines says it's a software problem that interrupted reception of the Global Positioning Satellite system. KITV.

Oahu

Vacation rental giants look to temper Council bills. Representatives for two of the world’s largest operators of web platforms that broker vacation rentals voiced disappointment at a Honolulu City Council committee’s decision Friday to advance two bills they said will cause thousands of job cuts in Hawaii and severely hurt the visitor industry. Star-Advertiser.

Kakaako’s Empty Condos: ‘At Night, It’s A Ghost Town Down Here'. Merchants say they leased new space in Ward Village expecting to benefit from the proximity of hordes of condo-dwellers. Now they wonder where they are. Civil Beat.

Kakaako homeless group wants state to provide land for a 'safe place'. A group of homeless residents in Kakaako are working towards finding state land to live on permanently.  KITV.

Honolulu Rail Officials Hand-Deliver Recovery Plan To Feds. The trip to San Francisco was made in hopes that the Federal Transit Administration will start releasing more money for the project. Civil Beat.

Scientists hopeful for endangered orangeblack Hawaiian damselfly. Today only one population of the colorful native aquatic insect remains on Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

21 charter amendments heading to 2020 ballot. West Hawaii Today.

DLNR bounces wells application back to PGV. Applications for two new geothermal wells have been reviewed and returned to Puna Geothermal Venture with comments, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources confirmed this week. Tribune-Herald.

Hu Honua Delays Compound While Waiting For Court Judgement. The bioenergy company says the continued employment of its workers are placed at risk as it awaits the Hawaii Supreme Court Judgement that will reopen the PUC docket. Big Island Video News.

New possibilities for Alii corridor. More than a decade after an effort to develop Alii Parkway stalled, a subcommittee under the Kona Community Development Plan action committee is taking a new look at a possible future for the project. West Hawaii Today.

Legacy still on watch list. Legacy Hilo Rehabilitation and Nursing Center has shown improvement since being named a special focus facility nearly two years ago, according to a list of such facilities provided by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services that was updated in May. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Problems at Baby Beach. Effort to halt erosion, block access to some wrongdoers backfires. Maui News.

Celebrity couple’s request highlights Maui’s housing woes. A celebrity couple’s request to convert their Hawaii home into a short-term rental is landing them in the middle of a housing debate on the island of Maui. Star-Advertiser.

Maui police are reporting that they have arrested one of their long-time police officers on suspicion of multiple drug-related offenses. Star-Advertiser.

MPD officer on Molokai arrested on drug-related charges. Daniel Imakyure is a 10-year veteran of the department. Maui News.

Kauai

Haena, Wainiha communities prepare to welcome visitors after a year of seclusion. Kuhio Highway on Kauai's North Shore has been closed since April 2018 after devastating flooding caused millions of dollars in damage to the Wainiha and Haena area. KHON2.

A Kapaa man is questioning the county’s actions in the delayed reopening of Black Pot Beach Park in Hanalei. Garden Island.

Trespassing bride and groom. Just as the sun was rising on the first day in June, a wedding planner allegedly held a private and pretty ceremony at Hanalei’s Black Pot Beach Park. Garden Island.

Molokai

Maui police are reporting that they have arrested one of their long-time police officers on suspicion of multiple drug-related offenses. Star-Advertiser.

MPD officer on Molokai arrested on drug-related charges. Daniel Imakyure is a 10-year veteran of the department. Maui News.

With few GOP lawmakers, Hawaii Democrats create legislative factions, bills would require automatic recounts, looking back on false missile alert, lawsuit filed over Shark's Cove development, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Capitol interior ©2019 All Hawaii News

Members of the progressive wing of the Hawaii Democratic Party will make a case this year for dramatic initiatives such as a $17 hourly minimum wage, legalization of recreational marijuana and single-payer health care, but it’s unclear whether their stodgier colleagues in the state Legislature will embrace those causes. Star-Advertiser.

At least three state senators are drafting bills that would require automatic recounts in close election races. Star-Advertiser.

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard said Friday she will run for president in 2020. CNN.

Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard says she will run for president in 2020, ending months of speculation about whether the 37 year-old would join what is expected to be a crowded field of Democratic primary contenders in the race to unseat President Donald Trump. Star-Advertiser.

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One year after false missile alert, Hawaii residents recall 38 minutes of terror. Star-Advertiser.

One Year After False Missile Alert, What Has Changed? Hawaii Public Radio.

After an embarrassing error of sending a state into panic over a non-existent missile threat, state leaders came under intense criticism and scrutiny. Since that Jan. 13 morning, all ballistic missile alarms have been shelved. Hawaii News Now.

False missile alert anniversary shows changes made, more needs to be done. The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency is no longer practicing missile drills. Some want the military to take over, but that's still pending. So if a real missile is coming, HI-EMA will be sending that alert. KHON2.

For many people in Hawaii, the fear and confusion of Saturday, Jan. 13, 2018, is not something that can be easily forgotten. Many who received the ballistic missile alert message at 8:07 a.m., won't forget where they were or what they were doing. KHON2.

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Hawaii 2040: Climate Change Is Already Here. And We’re Running Out Of Time. Scientists predict the worst will hit in about 21 years. But Hawaii is already feeling the effects of a warming planet. Civil Beat.

Geologists and economists, experts in technology and natural resources, and people involved with climate change public policy and planning are all meeting together on Oahu today. Garden Island.

Judge blocks Trump birth control coverage rules in Hawaii and a dozen states. A U.S. judge in California today blocked Trump administration rules, which would allow more employers to opt out of providing women with no-cost birth control, from taking effect in 13 states and Washington, D.C. Associated Press.

Hawaiian Electric said last week it submitted contracts for seven “solar-plus-storage” projects to the Public Utilities Commission for review. The projects — three on Oahu, two on Maui and two on Hawaii island — are expected to add about 262 megawatts of solar energy with 1,048 megawatt-hours of storage. Star-Advertiser.

Jason Redulla, a 15-year veteran of the Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement and 27-year law enforcement officer, has been chosen as the agency’s new enforcement chief. Maui Now.


Airmen from FL relocate to Hawaii in wake of Hurricane Michael devastation. Airmen and F-22 Raptor fighters jets from Florida relocated to Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam this weekend. The crews from Tyndall Air Force Base joined the Hawaiian Raptors, led by the Hawaii Air National Guard. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

In the latest step to resolve a contested Honolulu City Council race between incumbent Trevor Ozawa and former state Rep. Tommy Waters, the Hawaii Supreme Court has scheduled oral arguments for Tuesday afternoon. Civil Beat.

Honolulu Police Corruption: Another Cop Pleads Guilty. HPD Sgt. Daniel Sellers is the latest veteran officer to admit wrongdoing in the nearly 5-year-old federal corruption case. Civil Beat.

A lawsuit filed Friday in state court by the Save Sharks Cove Alliance and other groups seeks to stop an $18 million commercial development across from the popular sea-turtle viewing site that is already a traffic nightmare for North Shore residents. Star-Advertiser.

Lawsuit filed over potential development of Oahu’s Shark’s Cove. Hawaii News Now.

They don’t have to be starving, but artists with low incomes have an opportunity to soon move into an apartment building nearing completion in Kakaako with live/work lofts available at rents as low as $522 a month. Ola ka Ilima is designed for individuals or families with annual incomes between $24,510 for a single person and $86,760 for a family of seven, and preference will be given to artists. Star-Advertiser.

Here’s Another Busy Highway Where The Crosswalks Have Been Removed. In response to a pedestrian fatality in Aina Haina, government officials ordered changes that residents say has made the area more dangerous. Civil Beat.

Hawaii tourism industry keeps Pearl Harbor center open during government shutdown. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Should County Council members serve longer terms? The Charter Commission, by a bare 6-5 vote, on Friday advanced a proposed ballot amendment that would extend council terms from two to four years. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii Island’s first medical marijuana dispensary may open as early as this week. Tribune-Herald.

A large-scale emergency homeless site in West Hawaii may be operational inside of four months, as Hawaii County has made the preliminary development of Village 9 off Kealakehe Parkway in Kona a high priority for the upcoming year. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park using recreation fees to offset shutdown. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park announced Sunday in a release that areas of the park will continue to be accessible to visitors. Tribune-Herald.

Despite eruption, dozens of projects filmed on Big Island in 2018. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Fireworks keep booming and so does the debate; solutions range from legalizing all to an all-out ban. Maui News.

Artificial reefs may be wave of the future. Newer designs could combat coastal erosion, build ecosystem. Maui News.

Kauai

Last year was a relatively good one for real estate on Kauai, but momentum slowed toward the end of the year, and Realtors on the island expressed differing opinions on how the housing market will fare this year. Garden Island.

The deepest channel in the main Hawaiian Islands lies between Oahu and Kauai, and though the chain’s oldest main island isn’t at the top of the list for offshore-drilling-related activities, activists are still supporting legislative opposition to new oil and gas programs. Garden Island.

Sanctuary bill advances in Hawaii Legislature, medical marijuana for tourists, $15 minimum wage mulled, Chinatown cancels Chinese New Year fest, corrections officers call in sick to watch Super Bowl, police union strikes back at new Honolulu chief, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii road ©2018 All Hawaii News

Hawaii still ranks at the bottom when it comes to road conditions given the amount of money the state pours into them. Star-Advertiser.

Lawmakers advance ‘sanctuary’ bill akin to California. A bill to prohibit Hawaii law enforcement agencies from honoring most federal immigration holds or sharing certain types of information with immigration authorities has won preliminary approval from state Senate and House committees. Star-Advertiser.

A number of bills addressing homelessness are being considered by the Hawaii Legislature. A bill to establish safe zones for homeless campers, complete with hygiene facilities and social services, does not have the support of the administration. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii May Allow Tourists To Buy Medical Marijuana. Lawmakers also may add vaporizers, more potent products and edibles to dispensaries’ product repertoire. Civil Beat.

Should "Home Inspectors" in Hawaii be licensed or regulated by the state? The idea is being talked about in the inspection industry and at the State Capital. KITV.

A Hawaii state representative has proposed a law that he says would help reduce the islands’ overwhelming number of discarded vehicles. Associated Press.

Measures intended to boost the state’s economy by increasing the minimum wage to $15 per hour over the next two years and to create a family leave plan to help family caregivers were advanced on Tuesday by the Senate Committee on Labor. Maui Now.

Ige taps former union executive to head Hawaii's labor department. Hawaii Gov. David Ige on Wednesday appointed Leonard Hoshijo to head the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. Pacific Business News.

The state is seeking to hire out-of-state contractors to help clear a backlog of health inspections of dialysis centers and other medical facilities. Star-Advertiser.

Nearly 30 percent of Hawaii’s prison guards called in sick on Super Bowl Sunday, state officials said Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

One third of corrections officers assigned to work on Super Bowl Sunday called in sick. Hawaii News Now.

OHA Demands Financial Details From Its Own Companies. Organizations created by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs will have to provide documents for an internal audit. Civil Beat.

Legislature Keeps Written Testimony Under Wraps Til The Last Minute. The common practice of not releasing testimony to the public until an hour before a hearing has one Republican lawmaker pushing for change. Civil Beat.

Hundreds send in ideas to improve missile alert system. Star-Advertiser.

Why We Didn’t Name Hawaii’s ‘Button Pusher’. Numerous media outlets agreed to publish interviews with the man who sent out the false alert without saying who he was. Civil Beat.

PUC approves HECO demand response programs, allowing the utility to control customers' equipment. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Ranks No.4 for Highest Density of Millionaires. Hawaii  previously held the number one ranking in 2010.  In 2017, Hawaiʻi ranked #4 behind #3 Connecticut, #2 New Jersey and #1 Maryland. Maui Now.

Oahu

Hawaii Police Union Strikes Back At Chief Ballard Over Reassignments. SHOPO files a complaint alleging the Honolulu police chief made “false and disparaging remarks” about union leaders. Civil Beat.

SHOPO president Tenari Maafala has filed a complaint against Chief Susan Ballard with the Hawaii Labor Relations Board. KHON2.

The state Department of Health issued a high level of bacteria advisory this afternoon for Hanauma Bay, resulting in the closure of the popular snorkeling spot. Star-Advertiser.

The city has closed Hanauma Bay after high bacteria levels were detected Wednesday, and the popular preserve won't reopen until Friday at the earliest. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell has rejected a World Surf League request to swap permits for two contests on the North Shore — a decision the organization says could force it to pull its championship tour competitions from Hawaii. Hawaii News Now.

Permit issues could jeopardize high-profile North Shore surf contest. KHON2.

State lawmakers are taking another crack at resolving a flap over two brothers charging for parking along Kakaako streets to which they claim ownership despite decades of public use. Star-Advertiser.

The Chinatown Merchants Association has abruptly canceled Saturday’s “Night in Chinatown Festival and Parade” to celebrate the Year of the Dog due to lack of funding. Associated Press.

Community members and event organizers are shocked and disappointed that a popular event that attracts thousands to Chinatown to celebrate Chinese New Year was canceled at the last minute due to a lack of vendors. Star-Advertiser.

How a vending machine packed with food and toiletries could help the homeless. Hawaii News Now.

After months-long repair project, new security Kakaako Waterfront is a new park. Hawaii News Now.

The newly minted Honolulu Climate Change Commission met for the first time Wednesday, electing a chairman and vowing to make addressing the impact of sea level rise on Oahu its first order of business. Star-Advertiser.

Kupuna in an affordable housing complex in Kakaako were given quite the scare last week. They received notices that their rent would soon increase – some would even double. Hawaii Public Radio.

The Shack Hawaii Kai announced it will be closing its doors after 26 years in business. KITV.

Hawaii Island

An attempt by the County Council to regulate vacation rentals is drawing a lot of interest — and concern — from part-time residents who rent out their homes and condos to help pay the bills. West Hawaii Today.

A bill that would establish a one-half percent general excise and use tax surcharge on the Big Island was heard by the Hawaii County Council Finance Committee on Feb. 6. Big Island Video News.


The county planning director has recommended that a proposal to build a roughly 5,800-square-foot 18-hole golf putting course next to Kings’ Shops in Waikoloa be approved. West Hawaii Today.

Emotions ran high at a recent meeting about the possible closure of a Big Island charter school. Hawaii News Now.

Maui

Ten drownings in three weeks on Maui have grabbed the attention of Hawaii lawmakers who want the state to step up ocean safety efforts in the isles. Civil Beat.


Anaergia Services plans to meet with Maui EKO Systems once a month about possibly continuing to process the county’s green waste at the Central Maui Landfill, while the energy company moves forward with its proposed renewable energy project at the Wailuku-Kahului Wastewater Reclamation Facility, officials from both companies said. Maui News.

Commercial waste haulers need to pay fees. Maui News.

The County Department of Environmental Management announced that as of Tuesday Feb. 20, 2018, microwave ovens cannot be accepted for recycling at E-Cycling, Maui County’s Electronic Recycling Program. Maui Now.

Home sales on Maui rose in January, led by a 25 percent increase in condominium sales, while prices were mixed, compared to the same month a year ago, according to statistics from the Realtors Association of Maui. Pacific Business News.

Kauai

The public had a lot to say at Wednesday’s Kauai County Council meeting, after a resolution was introduced urging the United States to conduct diplomatic talks with North Korea with the goal of signing a peace treaty. Garden Island.

Kauai Humane Society hasn’t found a permanent leader for the facility, three months after the former executive director handed in his resignation. Garden Island.

Lanai

A community meeting to hear public comments on the proposed design guidelines and standards for the Lanai City Country Town Business District will be held Monday, Feb. 12, 2018, at the Lanai Senior Center at 5 p.m. Maui Now.

Molokai

Maui Electric Co. has inked an agreement to purchase power from Maui County’s first grid-scale solar and battery energy storage system on Molokai that could lower electric bills, the utility announced Tuesday. Maui News.

AG Chin accepts lieutenant governor post while campaigning for Congress, House to wait on sexual harassment probe of former speaker, fired 'button pusher' to sue state, Maui loses injection well case, Ige pans Kakaako affordable housing plan, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Attorney General Doug Chin, courtesy photo

State Attorney General Doug Chin announced today that he will continue to campaign for Congress while agreeing to fill out the remaining term of Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui, who resigned effective Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Democrat Doug Chin to succeed Shan Tsutsui as Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii. Chin will continue his campaign to serve Hawaii’s First district in the U.S. House of Representatives. KHON2.

Hawaii Attorney General Doug Chin will take over as lieutenant governor after Shan Tsutsui abruptly resigned from the post on Wednesday. Hawaii News Now.

Commentary: Shan Tsutsui didn’t just step down as lieutenant governor. He bolted. Star-Advertiser.

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The leadership of the state House of Representatives will await the outcome of an investigation into a sexual harassment complaint against state Rep. Joseph Souki before deciding whether to take any action against the 84-year-old lawmaker, according to House Speaker Scott Saiki. Star-Advertiser.

The former head of Hawaii’s Department of Human Services confirmed Thursday that she filed a sexual harassment complaint against former House Speaker Joe Souki. Associated Press.

The former director of Hawaii's Department of Human Services has filed a formal complaint with the State Ethics Commission that accuses state Rep. Joe Souki of sexual harassment. Hawaii News Now.

Longtime Wailuku state representative and two-time House Speaker Joe Souki is facing a sexual harassment complaint from the former head of Hawaii’s Department of Human Services. Maui News.

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Emergency worker behind false missile alert to file lawsuit against the state. The emergency worker fired by the state for sending a false missile alert has hired an attorney, and plans to sue the state for defamation. KHON2.

Missile Attack: House Proposes Laws for Businesses. State lawmakers are considering legislation to protect businesses and homeowners in the event of a missile alert. Hawaii Public Radio.

Lawmakers want to prohibit businesses from turning people away if missile threat is real. Hawaii News Now.

This Nuke Plan Would Have Turned Hawaii Upside Down. During the Cold War, attack preparations were proposed that called for interisland evacuations and commandeering of property. Civil Beat.

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A new bill aims to better protect domestic violence victims by adding a petty misdemeanor offense option for perpetrators and making it easier for the victims to obtain protective orders. Civil Beat.

Bills could make failure to report child abuse a felony. Tribune-Herald.

Audit blasts OHA for lavish spending, awarding grants to those who know 'who to ask'. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaiian Language Thrives While the Law Strives to Catch Up. Nearly 40 years ago, the Hawaiian language was recognized as one of two official languages in the state. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Ige balks at Kakaako affordable-housing rule amendment. The governor said one of the provisions in revised rules crafted by the Hawaii Community Development Authority intended to preserve inventory of affordable homes built by developers is too extreme and might actually reduce production of such homes. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige on Thursday said he won't sign the 2017 proposed amendments to the Hawaii Community Development Authority rules regarding reserved and workforce, housing in Kakaako, saying he didn't believe the proposed 30-year restriction would result in more homes for first-time buyers. Pacific Business News.

Areas Around Schools And Libraries May Be Next For Sit-Lie Ban. The Honolulu City Council approved a bill to prohibit lying down at bus stops, but postponed action on schools and libraries. Civil Beat.

HPD investigating officer-involved shooting in Waipahu. Hawaii News Now.

State regulators Thursday ordered Spectrum Cable to delay rolling out its all-­digital cable system on Oahu because of inaccurate information on its notice to subscribers. Star-Advertiser.

Miles-long debris field spotted off Oahu just a 'small piece' of the problem. Some 4,000 pounds of tangled fishing nets were removed from the ocean off Waikiki on Thursday morning, and state Department of Land and Natural Resources officers say there's a chance it may have come from a two-mile long debris field first spotted on Saturday in the Kaiwi Channel. Hawaii News Now.

An extremely heavy ball of derelict fishing nets reported near a popular surf break known as “Pops” in front of the Royal Hawaiian Hotel in Waikiki was removed this afternoon. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

The 2018 election season kicked off in earnest Thursday morning with the beginning of candidate filing. West Hawaii Today.

Lava tour turns deadly: Guide leading hike in Kalapana area dies after noxious steam engulfs group. Rain falling on a lava flow in the Kalapana lava viewing area Thursday morning caused a noxious steam cloud that overcame four people hiking on a guided tour, according to the Hawaii Fire Department. Tribune-Herald.

Four persons were trapped in a noxious steam cloud on the lava field during a guided hiking tour, and one person died. Big Island Video News.

Two tour operators are being fined $2,500 each for providing illegal tours on Maunakea. Tribune-Herald.

Wave of questions: County, nonprofit field concerns to surf school proposal. West Hawaii Today.

An application for a Use Permit to allow the construction of a new, non-manned telecommunication facility in Hawaiian Paradise Park was delayed at a Windward Planning Commission meeting on Thursday, although a Hawaii County Councilmember representing Puna was still able to testify. Big Island Video News.

The public is invited to comment on a proposed fee increase from $30 to $50 for the Tri-Park Pass, an annual pass that allows visitors unlimited entry to the three fee-charging national parks in Hawaii: Hawaii Volcanoes and Haleakala National parks and Puuhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park. Tribune-Herald.

T.J. Maxx to open in March. T.J. Maxx representatives handed out applications Thursday at the store’s future location at Prince Kuhio Plaza as contractors prepared for a grand opening next month. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

A panel of the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals ruled today that the County of Maui’s Lahaina Wastewater Reclamation Facility has been violating the US Clean Water Act since the facility was first put into operation in the early 1980s. Maui Now.

Maui County is reviewing its legal options after losing its appeal to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals of a ruling that the county’s use of injection wells at the Lahaina Wastewater Reclamation Facility since the early 1980s violates the federal Clean Water Act. Maui News.

The woman accused of murdering her identical twin sister by deliberately driving off a cliff on Maui was acquitted today. Star-Advertiser.

Saying evidence showed a driver’s hair was being pulled by her passenger to cause her to lose control of a vehicle that went over a cliff near Hana, a judge Thursday found the woman not guilty of second-degree murder in the crash that killed her twin sister. Maui News.

A woman accused of 2nd degree murder in the May 29, 2016 death of her twin sister has been acquitted of the charge.  Judge Peter Cahill handed down the ruling on Thursday in Maui District Court following closing arguments which were held earlier in the afternoon. Maui Now.

Kauai

Tax cuts stall in committee. Two bills aimed at reducing the county fuel and vehicle weight taxes were killed at the county committee this week. Garden Island.

No Sign Of Authorities Yet As Occupation Of Kauai Resort Continues. The landowners request state assistance as Native Hawaiian protesters remain at the Coco Palms resort site. Civil Beat.

The Pentagon confirmed today that a key missile defense test off Kauai failed early Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Rare plants on Kauai will get a boost from the expansion of the Lyon Arboretum’s Micropropagation Laboratory on Oahu, which was completed at the end of January. Garden Island.

Ige confident facing Hanabusa challenge, black Hawaiian Airlines employee files suit after noose found near locker, Legislature gets extra $13M to spend, almost half of residents struggle to make ends meet, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Japanese training sailing ship Nippon Maru visits Hilo, PC: Hollyn Johnson, Hawaii Tribune-Herald

Hawaii Gubernatorial Candidates Up to the Challenges. Governor David Ige won a lopsided victory in the 2014 primary election.  He says it wasn’t a fluke. It was a voters’ mandate. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii health officials are bracing for at least $6.2 million in federal cuts to state programs that cover everything from emergency preparedness and immunizations to water-quality testing, air-pollution control, children’s health and hazardous waste. Civil Beat.

Legislature Gets An Extra $13M To Spend This Session. The Council on Revenues slightly upgraded its growth projection for this fiscal year to 4.5 percent. Civil Beat.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will announce its annual homeless grant awards in support of thousands of local housing and service programs across the U.S. Thursday. Garden Island.

Nearly half of Hawaii’s households earn too little to cover their basic needs, even though many are holding down more than one job, according to a study released Tuesday by Aloha United Way. Star-Advertiser.

Nearly Half Of Hawaii Residents Struggle To Make Ends Meet. Finding affordable housing and a job that pays enough on the same island is tough, according to a new report. Civil Beat.

According to a new report from Aloha United Way, nearly half of Hawaii’s households can’t make ends meet. KITV.

Officials acknowledged Tuesday that connecting houseless or at-risk people with the services they need is paramount to solving Hawaii’s homeless crisis. Garden Island.

A Hawaiian Airlines employee stationed in Kona has filed a racial harassment and discrimination suit against the carrier, saying that his life was threatened by colleagues who placed a noose and a lynching rope near his locker. Hawaii News Now.

Trump Immigration Plans Would Hit Hawaii’s Filipino Families Hard. Filipinos have become the state’s largest ethnic group, in part because of family-friendly immigration policies. Civil Beat.

Results are in from a new state study: The ferry isn’t going to happen. There’s more hype than actual interest. Civil Beat.

Hawaii’s REAL ID-compliant driver’s licenses and state identification cards will be issued with a new “star in a gold circle” marking starting Tuesday, Jan. 16. Tribune-Herald.

The PGA Tour and the Hawaii Tourism Authority signed a $2.1 million contract Tuesday extending their marketing partnership through 2022. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

 The Hawaii Public Housing Authority is planning to build 800 units of affordable senior rentals as part of a $370 million mixed-use development on the six-acre site of its current administrative campus in Honolulu under a public-private partnership with Retirement Housing Foundation. Pacific Business News.

Developer to seek city concessions for Waikiki condo. OliverMcMillan, the company developing approximately 500 rental units on Queen Emma trust land, told the Waikiki Neighborhood Board on Tuesday that it plans to ask the city for variances to increase density, height and transitional setbacks in exchange for providing affordable housing. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Electric looks to unplug from longtime operating base. Hawaiian Electric Co. is offering up one of its biggest real estate assets for sale in an effort to consolidate operations, and the opportunity could result in more condominium towers in Kakaako. Star-Advertiser.

OliverMcMillan Inc. expects to submit a draft environmental assessment later this month for what will be the first new high-rise apartment project in decades, a 500-unit market-rate and affordable mixed-use rental project in the center of Waikiki on 2.5 acres of land owned by the Queen Emma Land Co. Pacific Business News.

Homeless shuffle to avoid Kakaako park closures. More than a dozen homeless encampments returned to the mauka Kakaako Gateway Park as state and city officials continue to close and reopen parks overrun by homeless people in Kakaako. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu ranch to re-establish native forest. An Oahu ranch operated on land owned by an affiliate of the Mormon Church has partnered with its landlord and a nonprofit to re-establish a native forest on most of the 750-acre property in Laie and Malaekahana. Star-Advertiser.

New Chinatown bus schedule draws complaints from businesses. Hawaii News Now.

About 500 gallons of fuel oil leaked from a Hawaiian Electric underground pipeline in Pearl City Tuesday night. Hawaii News Now.

Commentary: Conspiracy Charges Up The Ante For Kealohas. The former police chief and his prosecutor wife could be punished for crimes that were committed by other defendants. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Ethics Board policies, procedures under review. Two 2016 ethics complaints against the Hawaii County Building Division have resurfaced in a complaint about the procedures of the Board of Ethics itself. West Hawaii Today.

As of this morning, the 25 percent mandatory North Kona water restriction, that has been in effect since Jan. 12, 2017, is officially downgraded to a 10 percent voluntary water conservation. West Hawaii Today.

Forty-seven attorneys were honored during the Hilo Self-Help Center Recognition Awards on Monday for providing free legal information to more than 1,000 people on Hawaii Island who sought assistance at the Hilo Courthouse Self-Help Center in 2017. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Lawyers to mayor: Let Dave Taylor go back to work. Attorneys for Water Supply director hand Maui County Mayor Arakawa an ultimatum. Maui News.

Senior housing project clears a hurdle. The Maui Planning Commission granted a special management area use permit Tuesday for a 164-unit affordable senior housing project near the Foodland Kaahumanu store and the Kahului Public Library. Maui News.

Smoke-Free Vehicles with Minors Passes Through Committee. Maui Now.

Maui home prices set new record. It took 11 years, but Maui’s real estate market finally eclipsed a prior record for the annual median sale price of single-family homes. Star-Advertiser.

Kihei Charter School Construction Two-Thirds Complete. Maui Now.

Kauai

Testimony continued Tuesday in the Coco Palms civil trial, with the defendants maintaining direct lineage to Hawaiian royalty and their right to occupy the land. Garden Island.

Trump to stay in Waikiki, doubts raised about sailors adrift, Ige pledges oversight of Kakaako parks, coastal zone regulations eased, Maui News kills postal delivery, more news from all the Hawaiian islands

Children with paddleboard in Keaukaha © 2017 All Hawaii News

Hawaii's Sustainable Tourism Stamp is Changing Industry Culture. 2017 is being dubbed the Year of Sustainable Travel by the World Tourism Organization. Hawaii Public Radio.

White House releases details of Trump's 12-day trip to Asia. Trump will start the Nov. 3-14 travel with a briefing from the U.S. Pacific Command in Hawaii. He will also visit Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona Memorial during his first trip as president to the Pacific island. Washington Examiner.

President Trump is expected to arrive in Hawaii on Nov. 3, and the White House has started telling local officials that he's planning to stay in Waikiki. Hawaii News Now.

Six U.S. states want to intervene in Hawaii’s lawsuit challenging President Donald Trump’s travel ban. Associated Press.

Experts raise doubts about Hawaii sailors' harrowing survival tale. The U.S. Coast Guard said today that the two Hawaii women who were lost at sea for five months had an emergency beacon aboard their sailboat that was never activated. Associated Press.

Two high-profile challengers will spice up the races for the embattled Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees. William Aila Jr. and Esther Kiaaina are well-known Native Hawaiians who have spent years working for the state and federal governments, each with an emphasis on conservation and cultural rights. Civil Beat.

Treat PTSD With Medical Cannabis. Combat vets have options for treatment – including medical cannabis -- that could ease their PTSD symptoms. Hawaii Public Radio.

Dialysis clinics stalled waiting on certification. A surge of 700 new Hawaii kidney dialysis patients a year is driving an increase in treatment facilities statewide. Star-Advertiser.

HMSA CEO Michael Gold to retire after 43 years. Michael Gold, the CEO of the Hawaii Medical Service Association, will retire at the end of the year, the board of directors of the state’s largest healthcare provider announced on Monday. Pacific Business News.

Honolulu-based American Savings Bank reported net income of $17.6 million for the quarter ending Sept. 30, an increase of 16.5 percent compared to net income of $15.1 million in the third quarter of 2016. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

As Kakaako parks re-open, governor pledges tougher enforcement efforts. Weeks after they were closed for homeless sweeps, Kewalo Basin and Kakaako Gateway parks and Point Panic reopened Monday. Hawaii News Now.

State to hire private security to enforce Kakaako park hours, Ige says. The state will begin regularly enforcing park closures in Kakaako Makai “regardless of housing status,” Gov. David Ige said today, as some of the area’s parks reopened to the public three weeks after sprawling homeless encampments were cleared. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. Ige announces commitment to keep Kakaako Makai safe. KITV.

Kakaako parks reopen with new security measures, but more work needed at Waterfront. KHON2.

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Honolulu police Maj. Susan Ballard will be sworn in as the Honolulu Police Department’s 11th chief at HPD’s South Beretania Street headquarters Wednesday morning. Star-Advertiser.

Susan Ballard To Be Sworn In Wednesday As Honolulu Police Chief. The 32-year veteran will be first woman to lead the police department in its 85-year history. Civil Beat.

A Look At The Business Execs Up For Seats On Honolulu Police Commission. The City Council is set to vote Wednesday on Mayor Caldwell’s nominees, who would join the oversight panel amid a corruption scandal at HPD. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii Pacific Rim Society has donated $2.3 million to the East-West Center, one of the largest single donations in its history. Pacific Business News.

Senate Transportation Chairwoman Lorraine Inouye wants lawmakers to order an audit of the over- budget, long-delayed construction of a new maintenance and cargo hangar for Hawaiian Airlines at Daniel K. Ino­uye International Airport. Star-Advertiser.

What lies beneath? As Kakaako develops up, questions raised about infrastructure below. KHON2.

Army to install hundreds of rat traps in Waianae, Koolau mountains. Over the next few months workers from Schofield Barracks will place about 1,000 rat traps in the Waianae and Koolau mountains. Hawaii News Now.

Several cases of scabies have been reported at Makalapa Elementary School, and the principal has alerted parents and staff to keep an eye out for the skin infection, which is caused by a parasitic mite. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Streamlining development permits in coastal zones without limiting public input was a balancing act confronting the Leeward and Windward planning commissions Monday. West Hawaii Today.

The Windward and Leeward Planning Commission met on Monday to consider amendments to rules regarding Special Management Areas. Big Island Video News.

As TMT opponents disrupt a BLNR meeting, the governor and Mayor Kim move forward with a plan for a Living Monument for World Peace on Mauna Kea. Big Island Video News.

Big Island Mayor Harry Kim is leading a group to establish a living monument on Mauna Kea. Governor Ige tapped on Kim to come up with ideas to create a symbol of peace on the mountain. KITV.

County cracks down on crop theft. Ken Love, executive director of Hawaii Tropical Fruit Growers, convened a meeting Friday afternoon at the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources Kona Cooperative Extension Service in Kainaliu, which a couple dozen frustrated farmers attended. West Hawaii Today.

Removal of banyan trees at Honomu Park to begin. A contractor says his crew will arrive at Honomu Park today to begin clearing a large banyan tree that fell next to the gym earlier this month. Tribune-Herald.

The National Park Service is investigating the case of a Keaau woman who fell to her death at the Kilauea Crater during the weekend. Tribune-Herald.

Trucking Trash All The Way Across The Big Island. The Hilo landfill is filling up, and plans call for most East Hawaii garbage to be hauled west starting in a year. Civil Beat.

Arthur “Art” Taniguchi, senior vice president and Hawaii Island regional manager, announced that he will retire from Bank of Hawaii in January, after 27 years of service. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The Maui News will rescind its recently announced decision to switch home delivery of the newspaper from carriers to the United States Postal Service. Maui News.

Feral pigs made themselves noticed in Maui’s central plain this summer as motorists dodged them on major roadways and state crews have had to pick up the not-so-fortunate ones as roadkill. Maui News.

Hawaiian Airlines is looking to hire 70 people for customer and ramp service contract position at Kahului Airport. Hawaii News Now.


The Hyatt Regency Maui welcomes Klara Crocco as its Director of Marketing and Communications. Maui Now.

Kauai

Kauai’s popular Eastside path is set to complete its span from Lydgate Beach Park to Ahihi Point. And the county is getting a good deal on it. Garden Island.

Kahoolawe

Long-term results in watershed restoration to be studied. Grant funds to benefit efforts on Kahoolawe. Maui News.

Death threats against Hawaii judge who blocked Trump travel ban, former HPD Chief Kealoha targeted in FBI probe, state socks away money for rainy day, Kauai mulls general excise tax hike, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Federal courthouse in Honolulu © 2017 All Hawaii News

Hawaii judge who blocked new Trump travel ban gets death threats. U.S. District Judge Derrick Watson has been assigned a 24-hour protection detail after receiving numerous death threats for blocking President Trump's latest travel ban. Hawaii News Now.

Watson

Hawaii state government has tucked away enough in cash reserves to weather the next “moderate” recession, according to the economic research firm Moody’s Analytics. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Superferry? Hawaii Economic Association Panel Says, "No." It’s been nearly a decade since the Superferry made its inaugural voyage to Kahului, Maui.   And, the feasibility of another interisland ferry came up during the Hawai’i Economic Association annual conference last week. Hawaii Public Radio.

Why Does This Guy Make Hawaii Sen. Brian Schatz Nervous? Barry Myers is Trump’s nominee to head NOAA but the Hawaii senator says he is “questionable choice.” Civil Beat.

Hawaii has the 27th most competitive tax code in the nation, according to the Tax Foundation’s 2018 State Business Tax Climate Index. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii’s timeshare industry contributed approximately $5.3 billion in consumer and business spending in 2016, according to a recent study conducted by Ernst & Young for the American Resort Development Association Hawaii. Pacific Business News.

Romano’s Macaroni Grill filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Wednesday, but the Hawaii franchisee says the filing has nothing to do with the two local restaurants. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s two Romano’s Macaroni Grill franchises won’t be impacted after the national chain filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Wednesday. West Hawaii Today.

Oahu

Search warrant executed at Kealoha homes amid corruption probe. Criminal investigators with the Federal Bureau of Investigation executed search warrants at homes belonging to former Honolulu police chief Louis Kealoha and his deputy prosecutor wife Katherine Wednesday morning, the latest turn in a years-long federal investigation into public corruption at some of the highest levels of Oahu's law enforcement. Hawaii News Now.

FBI executes search warrant of Kealohas’ home as third police officer arrested this week. Federal authorities are making their case even more clear. KHON2.

Court documents filed by federal attorneys Wednesday indicate they intend to charge retired Honolulu police Chief Louis Kealoha and his wife, city Deputy Prosecutor Katherine Kealoha, as part of their two-year-long case alleging a criminal conspiracy at the Police Department. Star-Advertiser.

Key points in criminal filings. The criminal complaint filed Wednesday against Honolulu police Lt. Derek Hahn clearly identify retired police Chief Louis Kealoha and his wife, city Deputy Prosecutor Katherine Kealoha, as alleged co-conspirators in the federal investigation into corruption within the Honolulu Police Department. Star-Advertiser.

An FBI affidavit unsealed in U.S. District Court today details how officers close to the former chief of the Honolulu Police Department allegedly conspired to frame the uncle of his wife. Star-Advertiser.

FBI Reveals New Details About The Alleged Honolulu Police Conspiracy. A police lieutenant is the latest arrest in the unfolding story of alleged corruption in the Honolulu Police Department. Civil Beat.

Honolulu Police Lt. Derek Hahn was released on a $50,000 signature bond this afternoon several hours after being arrested by FBI agents in connection with the federal investigation of retired HPD Chief Louis Kealoha and his wife, Katherine. Star-Advertiser.

The FBI arrested Honolulu police officer Derek Hahn on Wednesday in connection with an ongoing federal corruption investigation targeting Hawaii law enforcement. Civil Beat.

Police Commission Chair is optimistic HPD will have new chief by end of month. Despite Police Commission Chair Max Sword recusing himself from the selection process, he was front and center Wednesday in reassuring the media that HPD will be under the command of a new chief by the end of the month. Hawaii News Now.

Nominees to Honolulu Police Commission will not help choose new chief. Five days before the first day of interviews for the seven finalists for Honolulu Police Chief, Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell announced two nominees to fill the vacancies on Honolulu Police Commission. KITV.

Mayor Kirk Caldwell nominated Wednesday two businesspeople to serve on the Honolulu Police Commission. Karen Chang and Gerard “Jerry” Gibson were nominated to fill the vacancies left by Luella Costales and Marc Tilker. Star-Advertiser.

Caldwell Names Two New Honolulu Police Commissioners. But the two won’t be on board in time to help with the selection of a new police chief, under the current timeline. Civil Beat.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell has nominated Jerry Gibson and Karen Chang to serve on the volunteer Honolulu Police Commission, pending confirmation by the Honolulu City Council. Pacific Business News.

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Stranded Waikiki fishing vessel raises illegal immigration concerns. Federal immigration officials are now investigating the fishing boat that ran aground with 20 people on board in Waikiki last week. Hawaii News Now.

Video: Honolulu rail cars go on test run. Local transit officials have released footage of Honolulu’s rail cars running under their own power for the first time on the elevated guideway. Star-Advertiser.

One of the city's four-car rail trains reached 40 miles per hour in a speed test Wednesday. And officials are optimistic that it will be able to soon reach its top speed. Hawaii News Now.

Another new condominium tower has opened in Kakaako as the wave of development continues to break over the urban Honolulu area. Star-Advertiser.

The Howard Hughes Corp. on Wednesday marked the completion of the 317-unit Anaha in Honolulu, its second luxury mixed-use condominium tower in the developer’s Ward Village in Kakaako, with a traditional Hawaiian blessing. Pacific Business News.

Target opened its newest Hawaii store at Ala Moana Center on Wednesday. Pacific Business News.

Honolulu-based construction company Tunista Services LLC on Wednesday received a $7.4 million contract from the U.S. Department of Defense for operations, maintenance and support services at Melrose Air Force Range in New Mexico. Pacific Business News.

Pride month hits Honolulu promoting equality, celebrating love. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

The board charged with hiring the county Human Resources director will seek applications from the public, rather than limit its search to current county employees. West Hawaii Today.

A County Council resolution wants United States leaders to use diplomacy in dealing with the crisis on the Korean Peninsula. Big Island Video News.

Airbnb use growing exponentially for Ironman. Altogether, the company reported, arrivals to the island for the weekend netted Hawaii Island hosts $584,000 — about $350 for the typical host — with hosts in West Hawaii collectively earning $483,000, or $430 for the typical host during the event. West Hawaii Today.

Five more alala were released into the wilderness near Hilo last week, joining the six young Hawaiian crows that were introduced to the forest there at the end of September. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

Former worker slaps county with $1.63M discrimination suit. Robert Straub alleges he was fired when 71 years old and replaced by ‘substantially younger person’ Maui News.

A discrimination complaint involving an alleged denial of reasonable accommodation for an employee with a disability was settled for $35,000 in July. Maui News.

Pharmlab Hawaii LLC in Kahului became the second independent laboratory in Hawaii certified to test medical marijuana produced by licensed dispensaries and is expected to begin analyzing material for content and safety by the end of the week, according to state Health Department and lab officials. Maui News.

The County of Maui Department of Finance announced it will be holding a real property tax sale on Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2017 and will continue the sale on Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2017 if necessary. Maui Now.

Kauai

At Wednesday’s county council committee meeting, members discussed the possibility of increasing the general excise tax by a half percent to provide essential funding for rebuilding infrastructure, repairing roads, reconstructing bridges and improving public transport. Garden Island.

Kauai Powerlines Are Killing 1,800 Seabirds A Year. An analysis by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service predicts that all colonies of two endangered bird species on the island could vanish as early as 2050. Civil Beat.

Shearwaters, Hawaiian Petrels could be wiped out in 30 years. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released an analysis that estimates 1,800 endangered seabirds on Kauai are killed by collisions with power lines every year. Hawaii News Now.

Three ao released at Lydgate Park. The ‘a’o, or Newell’s shearwater perched on Hana Montgomery’s hands flew right into the sand four or five times before it took to the skies Wednesday morning. Garden Island.

A scientific analysis completed for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and obtained by the Center for Biological Diversity estimates that 1,800 endangered seabirds are killed by collisions with power lines on Kauai every year. KITV.

The U.S. Navy has scheduled a public meeting on Kauai regarding its proposal for training and testing that includes the use of sonar and explosives. Garden Island.