Pearl Harbor anniversary commemorated, Hawaii Department of Education sued over Title IX female access to sports, Big Island beach reopens after lava flow, Patsy Mink statue unveiled, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

The USS Arizona burning after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, public domain photo

Hundreds to gather for 77th anniversary of attack on Pearl Harbor. As they do every year, hundreds of veterans, service members and dignitaries will solemnly gather Friday to mark the anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Hawaii News Now.

Ceremonies mark 77th anniversary of Pearl Harbor attack. There will be a number of public events commemorating the date, including a ceremony at Barbers Point, which was also hit that day, and a parade through Waikiki. KHON2.

Pearl Harbor attack survivor remembers the day from afar. Retired U.S. Navy Cmdr. Don Long was alone on an anchored military seaplane in the middle of a bay across the island from Pearl Harbor when Japanese warplanes started striking Hawaii on December 7, 1941, watching from afar as the bombs and bullets killed and wounded thousands. Associated Press.

Pearl Harbor re-burials across the US give families closure. Some who died on Dec. 7, 1941, are finally being laid to rest in cemeteries across the United States. KITV.

Pouring of Blackened Canteen WWII relic helps heal U.S.-Japanese rifts. For 26 years a U.S canteen blackened and battered in the midair collision of two B-29 bombers in Japan during World War II — a symbol of the horror of war — has been an instrument of peace and reconciliation at Pearl Harbor. Star-Advertiser.

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ACLU files class action lawsuit against DOE, OIA for Title IX non-compliance. Campbell High is at the center of this lawsuit, but the accusations extend to public schools across the state, and go back decades. KITV.

'Unequal treatment’: Athletes file class action over lack of girls’ facilities, opportunities at Hawaii schools. Athletes at Campbell High have filed a federal class action lawsuit over a lack of girls' sports facilities and opportunities at Hawaii high schools. Hawaii News Now.

A federal class action lawsuit against the Hawaii Department of Education was filed Thursday by the American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii over gender inequities for female athletes at the state’s most populous high school. Civil Beat.

Class-action lawsuit filed on behalf of Campbell High's female student-athletes. On Thursday, the ACLU of Hawaii filed a class-action lawsuit in federal court on behalf of two female student-athletes attending James Campbell High School. KHON2.

With a lei-bedecked statue of Congresswoman Patsy Mink as a backdrop, civil rights attorneys announced Thursday they had filed a lawsuit seeking to end discrimination against female athletes in Hawaii’s public schools. Star-Advertiser.

Lawmaker says Legislature to blame for Title IX lawsuit. Changing in teachers closets, in plain view on the practice field, even at a nearby Burger King bathroom -  the ACLU of Hawaii says that's what female athletes at Campbell High School deal with daily. KHON2.

A major opportunity has opened in Hawaii for those hoping to work in the airline industry. The University of Hawaii is partnering with an aviation academy to create courses which will foster pilots, mechanics, flight attendants, and aeronautical engineers. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Things Are Actually Looking Up At Honolulu Airport. Modernization of Daniel K. Inouye International has been years in coming. But real change is in the air. Civil Beat.

Patsy T. Mink Monument Dedicated On Her Birthday. A statue of Hawaii’s former Congresswoman Patsy Mink was dedicated today. Hawaii Public Radio.

Statue honors legacy of former Congresswoman in place close to her heart. The legacy of former U.S. Rep. Patsy Mink was honored Thursday at the Hawaii State Library, where a life-size bronze sculpture was dedicated. KHON2.

Kakaako condo Aeo ready for owners. By late January all 466 owners in the sold-out building are scheduled to take possession of their new homes, which cost $1 million on average. Star-Advertiser.

State removes eyesore from Maunalua Bay shoreline. Contractors moved concrete one shovel at a time Thursday in order to successfully remove a large eyesore that’s been parked on the Maunalua Bay shoreline. Hawaii News Now.

Kamehameha Schools and the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands have executed the ground lease on three acres of land for the trust’s $10.9 million learning center on the Waianae Coast. Pacific Business News.

Honolulu home prices rise 3% but sales drop by double digits. Home prices on Oahu rose by about 3 percent last month, compared to November of last year, but the number of single-family homes and condominiums sold fell by more than 10 percent, according to statistics from the Honolulu Board of Realtors. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

Hundreds turn out for reopening of Isaac Hale Beach Park at Pohoiki. The reopening of Isaac Hale Beach Park attracted hundreds of Puna residents eager to witness the creative side of the recent Kilauea eruption and return to a refuge many thought would be consumed by lava. Tribune-Herald.

Today, the gate at Isaac Hale Beach Park opened to the public for the first time since the eruption of Kilauea Volcano forced its closure. Big Island Video News.

Puna Park Cut Off By Lava Reopens, Attracting Hundreds. “They needed something to feel good about,” said Mayor Harry Kim of the locals who showed up in Pohoiki on Thursday. Civil Beat.

Months after lava swallowed Pohoiki, hundreds flock to reopening of Isaac Hale Beach Park. ‘It’s still beautiful... but it’s changed. It will be forever changed.’ Hawaii News Now.

Hundreds celebrate reopening of Hawaii island beach nearly lost to lava. KHON2.

Hawaii County Mayor Harry Kim today signed a Sixth Supplementary Emergency Proclamation, lifting a set of lava-related prohibitions but keeping others in place for the time being. Big Island Video News.

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Proposed water bottling plant raises concerns. The Hawaii County Windward Planning Commission delayed the approval of a permit for a water bottling facility near Wailoa River State Recreation Area after a contentious meeting Thursday. Tribune-Herald.

The Department of Environmental Management has announced a public meeting to discuss the Lono Kona sewer project, which will connect 145 assessment units on 110 lots, the equivalent of 268 single-family homes, to sewer lines mauka of the Kuakini Highway McDonald’s in an area more popularly known as Hamburger Hill. West Hawaii Today.

Kona Community Hospital shuts down due to scabies outbreak. Hospital leadership made the decision to “temporarily close all patient units” as an “aggressive preventive measure to protect patients and staff from potential exposure to infection.” Star-Advertiser.

Maui

End of sugar farming may impact aquifer water yields. As planners chart out Maui island’s water use over the next 20 years, uncertainty hovers over the region with the largest population but the least groundwater resources. Maui News.

Two-story clubhouse plan for Waiehu to be unveiled. Public can see conceptual vision for municipal course at two events. Maui News.

Kauai

Gary Hooser an ‘Unsung Hero’. From grassroots organizing to state senator and majority leader, Gary Hooser has been advocating for Hawaii’s environment and people for years. Garden Island.

Portions of Waha Road in Kalaheo will be closed for reconstruction work, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., from today to Dec. 10 or 11, weather pending. Garden Island.

Panel seeks independent oversight of state jails, inmates mistakenly released, tent cities planned for homeless, gecko speed-dials from Kona animal hospital, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Inmate overflow area at Hawaii County Community Correctional ©2018 All Hawaii News

Task force calls for jail oversight committee. The lack of public information about inmate suicides is just one reason a 13-member task force chaired by Hawaii Supreme Court Associate Justice Michael Wilson is recommending the state create an independent oversight commission to inspect and monitor correctional facilities, investigate complaints, report findings to the public and shepherd in broad reforms to Hawaii’s prison system. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s Bail System Keeps Poor People In Jail Longer — So Where’s The Fix? A state task force’s recommendations to the Legislature on pretrial procedures won’t contain any “big surprises,” despite calls for reform. Civil Beat.

The state wants to open 6 ‘ohana zones’ for the homeless. (Just don’t call them tent cities). The state Legislature funded the project with up to $30 million. Hawaii News Now.

An inventory of land owned by the state and who pays to use it has been laid out in a new statewide public online database after more than a decade of efforts to create such a system. Star-Advertiser.

State unveils new database of land holdings and revenue. KITV.

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If You Don’t Vote On Constitutional Questions, You’ve Just Voted ‘No’. Thanks to a 1997 Supreme Court ruling, the deck is stacked against the ConCon and the constitutional amendment for school funding. Civil Beat.

In one month Hawaii voters will decide whether or not to amend the state constitution. The specific amendment under consideration would create a property tax surcharge to fund public education. Hawaii Public Radio.

Will the proposed constitutional amendment raise taxes for everyone? KHON2.

Teachers go door-to-door to urge voters to support surcharge to fund education. Opponents say the proposed constitutional amendment is poorly-written and vague. Hawaii News Now.

Ad Watch: First TV Spot Says A ConCon Would Cost Too Much. But a new political action committee with powerful friends doesn’t cite a source for its estimated price of a constitutional convention. Civil Beat.

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The Office of Elections conducted an accuracy test of the vote counting system Saturday morning on Oahu. It’s the system that will be used in the Nov. 6 general election to count the ballots from voters around the state. Hawaii News Now.

Ballot machines tested ahead of November election. KHON2.

Gov. David Ige has nominated Keith K. Hiraoka to serve on the state Intermediate Court of Appeals. Star-Advertiser.

About 32,000 people in Hawaii currently purchasing Affordable Care Act plans will see lower premiums in 2019 than the rates initially proposed by Hawaii Medical Service Association and Kaiser Permanente Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy ranked Hawaii 16th best in the country for state government policies and programs aimed at becoming greener users of energy. Star-Advertiser.

Monday is Discoverers' Day in Hawaii and it has not been a state holiday by statute since 1988. KHON2.


Pierre Omidyar, founder of eBay and Hawaii’s wealthiest full-time resident, moved up 10 notches to No. 38 on this year’s list of the 400 richest Americans compiled by Forbes magazine, with a fortune worth $2 billion more than a year ago. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

The Hawaii Tourism Authority is considering a request from Mayor Kirk Caldwell to chip in at least $500,000 to help the city host next year’s U.S. Conference of Mayors. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu’s housing market hit another record in September with the median price of single-family homes climbing to $812,500. Star-Advertiser.

Ex-Kamehameha Schools Teacher Convicted Of Filming Students In Shower. Gabriel Alisna faces another trial on sexual assault charges for allegedly inappropriately touching a teen. Associated Press.

Former Kamehameha Schools teacher found guilty. KHON2.

Manoa Falls Trail to reopen Monday after 2-week closure. Crews stabilized weak points after surveying the area. The popular Manoa Falls Trail and Aihualama Trail will reopen Monday after the Department of Land and Natural Resources deemed the area safe following a rockfall incident last month. Hawaii News Now.

Popular Manoa Falls Trail to reopen after rockslide. KHON2.

Project Talent seeks clues to aging well by tracking former Hawaii teens now in their 70s. Star-Advertiser.

Public paychecks: What does a city mayor earn? Here's how Mayor Kirk Caldwell stacks up against 56 major city mayors. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

Since March 2013, 23 inmates were mistakenly released from Hawaii jails and prisons with 16 — more than two-thirds — released from Hawaii Community Correctional Center. Tribune-Herald.

Two county programs to remove abandoned vehicles are being declared a success, with 331 junk cars either removed or being scheduled to be removed so far. West Hawaii Today.

Fee increases and rule changes are being proposed for many uses of state small boat harbors and facilities. The Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation is seeking approval from the state Land Board this Friday in Honolulu to initiate the rule-making process and hold public hearings on its proposal. Tribune-Herald.

The National Park Service will fully reopen Mauna Loa Road to vehicles on Mon., Oct. 8, along with Mauna Loa Trail, the 13,677-foot summit and both high-altitude cabins. Big Island Video News.

Gecko inundates people with phone calls at Kailua-Kona animal hospital. KHON2.

Maui

Bridge project is delayed. Controversial plan that drew resident criticism could now take years. Maui News.

Maui’s second large-scale photovoltaic solar project came online last week in Lahaina. Star-Advertiser.

Maui Electric Company’s second large-scale photovoltaic solar project came online this week on Thursday, Oct. 4, 2018. Maui Now.

New Disinfection Method for Maui Water Treatment. Maui Now.


Kauai

In little over a month, Kauai voters will head to the polls to vote on a new mayor, a new County Council, several charter amendments and two state constitutional amendments. Garden Island.

Businesses and individuals affected by April’s flooding may be eligible for free employment relief through a U.S. Department of Labor Disaster Dislocated Worker Grant. Garden Island.

Lanai

High-tech hydroponic kitchen planned on Lanai. Facility is a part of Larry Ellison’s indoor agricultural venture. Maui News.

Oahu sidewalk homeless camps to be counted, cleared; EPA and Kamehameha Schools enter cesspool agreement, sex-abuse hotline lights up after Kavanaugh hearing, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Honolulu sidewalk homeless camp ©2018 All Hawaii News

Honolulu City Council passes bills aimed at stopping homeless campers from blocking sidewalks. The bills include language requiring the city administration to first submit a report, or reports, to the Council on the status of its initiatives to combat homelessness. Star-Advertiser.

Council passes bills requiring studies before homeless encampment crackdowns. KHON2.

Honolulu City Council passes 2 bills to keep Oahu sidewalks clear. KITV.

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Hawaii In The Thick Of DC Battle Over Ballast Water Dumping. Environmental groups say the shipping industry wants to loosen regulations, which could make it harder to fight invasive species. Civil Beat.

Sexual assault hotline calls spike in Hawaii following Kavanaugh hearing. Ssince the Kavanaugh hearing on Thursday, the number of calls into the Hawaii's Sex Abuse Treatment Center's 24-hour hotline nearly doubled. KITV.

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Kamehameha Schools’ EPA accord will lead to closure of cesspools. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency hopes a consent agreement with Kamehameha Schools to close any large-capacity cesspools on its more than 3,000 properties and pay a penalty of nearly $100,000 will encourage other Hawaii landowners to voluntarily shut down their cesspools. Star-Advertiser.

Kamehameha Schools reached an agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in which more than 3,000 properties owned by the educational trust will be audited to identify and close large-capacity cesspools. Tribune-Herald.

EPA, Kamehameha Schools to conduct cesspool audit on 3,000 properties. An agreement will help the state eliminate cesspools by 2050. Hawaii News Now.

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Kaiser Permanente Reaches Tentative Labor Agreement. The contract will cover nearly 48,000 health care workers: 32,100 workers in California; 6,300 in Oregon and Washington; 2,100 in Colorado; 2,200 in Maryland, Washington, D.C. and northern Virginia; 2,800 in Georgia; and 1,900 in Hawaii. The workers span job classifications from registered nurses and pharmacists to maintenance and service workers. Maui Now.

Two Insurers Offer Basic Dental Care For Poor Adults. Hawaii stopped paying for non-emergency dental care for low-income adults back in 2009. Civil Beat.

B-2 bombers conclude new mission out of Hawaii. Pacific Air Forces recently concluded a pioneering B-2 stealth bomber deployment to Hawaii — setting the stage for the isles to be used as one of a growing number of temporary bomber bases across the region in the face of advancing threats from China and Russia. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii DOE Wants To Classify Bullying At Highest Offense Level. The department’s proposal to make bullying a Class A offense is among the proposed revisions to its student misconduct code. Civil Beat.

2018 General Election Voter Registration Deadline, Oct. 9. To be eligible to vote, you must be a US citizen, a resident of Hawai‘i, and at least 18 years old. Maui Now.

The state Office of Hawaiian Affairs has named a new chief operating officer, longtime Kamehameha Schools administrator Sylvia Hussey. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

The city cannot meet a Federal Transit Administration deadline to provide $44 million to help fund construction of the Honolulu rail project, and Mayor Kirk Caldwell says he plans to ask for an extension. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu City Council wants to investigate building permit delays. Councilmember Kymberly Marcos Pine introduced Resolution 18-208 which would establish a group within the Honolulu City Council to investigate the delays in the permitting process by the city’s Department of Planning and Permitting. Pacific Business News.

Greenpeace announced today that its historic ship, the Arctic Sunrise, is scheduled to arrive in Honolulu next Thursday to highlight the threat of plastic pollution to the world’s oceans, waterways and communities. Star-Advertiser.

Erosion unearths more remains at Kawaiahao Church construction site. Descendants growing tired of waiting for 600 iwi kupuna to be reburied. Hawaii News Now.

High bacteria levels reported in Waikiki, Ala Moana waters. The elevated levels were detected during routine monitoring. Hawaii News Now.

What seemed to be a piece of wood led to a bomb squad investigation in Moiliili. An artist had it in his possession for over a month. Hawaii News Now.

Kapiolani campus becomes a lab for sustainability. A chain of projects by chemistry, culinary and economics students at KCC to complete a sustainability loop on the Diamond Head campus is already reducing waste and their carbon footprint, and has earned a University of Hawaii 2018 President’s Green Initiative Award of $10,000. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Thousands visit HVNP after reopening. More than 15,000 people visited Hawaii Volcanoes National Park since it partially reopened last month. Tribune-Herald.

Panel not sold on tax break measure for Pahoa, Volcano businesses. Hawaii County Council members gave a measure intended to help struggling businesses in Pahoa and Volcano a negative recommendation this week. Tribune-Herald.

Despite Eruption, No Support For Pahoa, Volcano Business Tax Breaks. Big Island Video News.

Forum held on ballot measure. While supporters of a proposed constitutional amendment say it could raise much-needed funds for the state’s public schools, opponents argue the proposal has too many ambiguities and too few guarantees. West Hawaii Today.

Being anchored in coral, in too shallow water and too close to the Kailua Pier navigation channel may land the owner of a 196-foot yacht in Kailua Bay a misdemeanor offense and a fine.West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii County administration officials explained to the County Council on Tuesday their roles in informing the public during brown water advisories and/or a sewer discharges. Big Island Video News.

The 2018 IRONMAN® World Championship in Kailua-Kona is set for Oct. 13. Big Island Now.

Maui

Work on Waiopai Bridge will block traffic at night. Maui News.

Destination acquires Classic Resorts properties. Kaanapali Alii among properties switching hands. Maui News.

Kauai

State officials have abandoned any pretense that storm-damaged Kuhio Highway west of Hanalei can reopen before late January, and some sources familiar with what they describe as an “unsettled” situation say the road might not be reopen until the second half of 2019 — or even later. Garden Island.

Lobbying workshops coming. This year, the Public Access Room is offering two workshops at locations on Kauai. Garden Island.

Public-private partnership for Honolulu rail, South Korean war remains returned, Hirono campaign apologizes for Kavanaugh campaign ad, disaster recovery funds unspent, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Rail map, courtesy Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation

The Honolulu rail authority on Thursday approved plans to use a “public-private partnership” approach to develop the last portion of the 20-mile rail project and the planned Pearl Highlands Transit Center and garage, which together are expected to cost about $1.4 billion to build. Star-Advertiser.

HART dragging its feet on rail audit, Les Kondo says. The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation is offering “less than full cooperation” with an audit that was ordered up by state lawmakers of the $9 billion Honolulu rail project, according to Hawaii State Auditor Les Kondo. Star-Advertiser.

The United States on Thursday returned the remains of 64 fallen South Korean soldiers to its ally in the largest such repatriation ever from the Hawaii-based lab that identifies missing service members from past wars. Star-Advertiser.

In repatriation ceremony, US returns remains of soldiers killed in Korean War to SKorea. Hawaii News Now.

U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono’s re-election campaign is apologizing for sending a fundraising email referencing the sexual assault allegations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. Hawaii News Now.

Hirono: Kavanaugh’s attack on Democrats ‘off the wall’. U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono called Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s fiery denouncement of Democrats during his statement before the Senate Judiciary Committee “pretty off the wall” for a nominee being vetted to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court and said it showed that women and victims of sexual assault still aren’t being treated the way they should be. Star-Advertiser.

$125 million in April storm recovery funds remain largely unspent. It was supposed to be a recovery windfall: $125 million in state emergency money, mostly for Kauai, to help the Garden Island and parts of Honolulu recover from a major flood events this spring. KHON2.

Presidential disaster declaration approved for Hurricane Lane damages in Hawaii. The cyclone didn’t make landfall in Hawaii, but did leave behind a lot of damage. Hawaii News Now.

President Donald Trump approved the state’s request for a major disaster declaration for areas affected by Hurricane Lane. The declaration provides federal funding to local governments and some private organizations to help recover from storm damage on the Big Island, Maui and Kauai. Tribune-Herald.

Top 20 jobs in Hawaii are...More people in Hawaii work in retail than in any other industry. KHON2.

REPORT: Top 20 Jobs Employing the Most Workers in Hawaii. Big Island Now.

Oahu

The Hawaii Convention Center is aiming to complete nearly 20 capital improvement, repair and maintenance projects totaling about $26 million through 2024. Pacific Business News.

Owner of Cromwell’s offers to give cove to state for free. If the privately owned man-made swimming cove between Diamond Head and Black Point is something the state wants preserved, then the state should own it. Star-Advertiser.

Cops and Social Workers Join Forces To Get Homeless Help — And Off The Street. But low-level offenders, who were supposed to get services instead of jail time, still aren’t eligible for the new program. Civil Beat.

A Native Hawaiian woman and her husband filed a lawsuit Thursday against Kamehameha Schools over access to their home behind a North Shore retail complex developed by the trust. Star-Advertiser.

An elderly couple in Haleiwa is suing Kamehameha Schools for failing to keep its roads accessible. KITV.

Power restored after two large outages on Oahu. HECO restored power to some 8,630 customers across Oahu this afternoon. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell hopes to bring well-known individuals with ties to Hawaii such as as former President Barack Obama, Bruno Mars and Oprah Winfrey to next year’s U.S. Conference of Mayors, which will take place in Hawaii for the first time in more than 50 years. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii County

Workers and employers negatively affected by the Kilauea eruption in lower Puna are eligible for employment relief through a federal grant program. Tribune-Herald.

Mauna Kea’s summit could be closed to private vehicles, large religious ceremonies and playing in the snow under rules the University of Hawaii wants to implement on public land it leases atop Hawaii’s tallest mountain. Civil Beat.

Cultural practitioners, astronomy supporters, and recreational users were in agreement on Wednesday night. During a hearing in Waikoloa, everyone who spoke (8) testified in opposition to the new administrative rules proposed for Mauna Kea. Big Island Video News.

County Council Proposes Amendments to County Charter. Big Island Now.

Maui

Shoreline setback rules draw ‘line in the sand’. Proposal takes sea-level rise into consideration. Maui News.

Lahaina property on auction block. Previously listed for nearly $8.5 million, a 3,726-square-foot, three-bedroom home at 1421 Front St. in Lahaina will be sold to the highest bidder online next month. Maui News.

Kauai

Sea level rise has already triggered flooding and coastal erosion on Kauai, with king tides reaching record levels and experts mobilizing communities to plan for the future. Garden Island.

Safer streets coming soon. Five years ago, after a series of workshops, the public sought improvements to the Kawaihau, Hauaala and Mailihuna roads intersections. Garden Island.

Tropical Storm Lane delayed plans to fix a sinkhole under Kahiliholo Road, where April floods washed a large portion of the road away. Work should now start in the second week of October. Garden Island.

Hawaii increasing election security, no veto override session, Kamehameha Schools pays $5M to settle student sex abuse lawsuit, Coco Palms back on track, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii ballot testing ©2018 All Hawaii News

State Details Plans For Spending $3.1 Million In Election Security Funds. Software and staff upgrades will make Hawaii’s voting system less vulnerable to cyber attacks, officials say. Civil Beat.

Lawmakers won’t override Ige vetoes. House and Senate lawmakers will not meet in a special session this year to attempt to override any vetoes of bills by Gov. David Ige, but the state Senate will meet Monday and Tuesday to consider approving the appointments of four District Court judges. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. Ige Signs 11 Measures Into Law. Big Island Now.

New law preserves Affordable Care Act measures for Hawaii residents. Hawaii News Now.

Budding nonprofit looks to document whale sharks in Hawaii. West Hawaii Today.

Dick’s Sporting Goods could be coming to Hawaii. Dick’s Sporting Goods may be preparing to enter the Hawaii market, according to public documents that show the big-box retailer registered with the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to do business in the state last month. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

Kamehameha Schools has agreed to pay $5 million to settle a civil lawsuit filed by the families of four former students of a teacher who is accused of secretly recording students showering in his faculty apartment. Star-Advertiser.

$5M settlement reached in Kamehameha Schools sex assault case. Hawaii News Now.

Kamehameha Schools settles case involving former teacher accused of videotaping kids. KHON2.

A settlement has been reached between Kamehameha Schools, three parents, four former students and Gabriel Alisna, a former high school speech teacher and debate coach. Alisna is being criminally prosecuted for videotaping and assaulting students. KITV.

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City lawyers work hard to ensure sidewalk bills will withstand challenges. Over the past four years, city attorneys have warned Mayor Kirk Caldwell and the City Council not to enact laws that would place a ban on sitting and lying on Oahu sidewalks because they did not think they could stand up to constitutional challenges. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii businessman Duane Kurisu is asking the Honolulu City Council for permission to build a 150-foot radio tower next to Kahauiki Village, a low-income housing project along Nimitz Highway that Kurisu built with help from the state and local governments. Star-Advertiser.

An eviction case against former employees of Hawaiian Heiress Abigail Kawananakoa was dismissed Thursday. The family of the Kawananakoa's  former maid and chauffeur claim a Pearl City home was gifted to them by the heiress in 2016. KITV.

Saturday driver licensing hours offered through August 25 on Oahu. KHON2.

A Boston-based nonprofit backed by two national lenders is offering no-fee home mortgages with below- market interest rates for Hawaii residents at a free five-day event that starts today in Honolulu. Star-Advertiser.

A newly renovated Hawaiian monk seal exhibit is once again open at Waikiki Aquarium, with Hoailona the monk seal cruising around his new home. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Ige signing bill that bodes well for Banyan Drive, Kanoelehua lessees. Gov. David Ige will visit Hilo today to sign a redevelopment bill intended to revitalize Banyan Drive and the Kanoelehua Industrial Area. Tribune-Herald.

Only 4 homes remain in Kapoho as eruptions continue on the Big Island. Hawaii News Now.

Safety the biggest hurdle to creating lava viewing site. Hawaii County is continuing to pursue a site for a lava viewing area, but overflows from the fissure 8 channel and other hazards are presenting challenges. Tribune-Herald.

With the eruption in lower Puna settling into a fairly consistent pattern, state elections officials are considering opening a polling place for Pahoa on primary election day. Tribune-Herald.

One of the many impacts of the ongoing lava eruption on the Big Island is on the supply of electricity. Hawaii Public Radio.

Lake Waiau’s water levels remain robust almost five years after it nearly disappeared amid years of drought. West Hawaii Today.

The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands is moving forward with an  11,000-acre management plan to replace rutted dirt roads crisscrossing the 2.5-mile distance to popular Green Sands beach with a pedestrian path and emergency access road. Civil Beat.

Maui

Requests for proposals for Hawaii Tourism Authority’s Community Enrichment, Kukulu Ola and Aloha ‘Aina programs open June 13, and informational sessions are set countywide later this month. Maui News.

Maui resident Kyoko Kimura, director of owner relations for Aqua-Aston Hospitality, will take her seat on the board of directors at this month’s meeting of the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Maui News.

Kauai

Coco Palms back on track. In lieu of a trial, a summary judgment hearing ended the Coco Palms property dispute in a Kauai courtroom on Thursday. Garden Island.

Seeking balance at a North Shore gem. Gov. David Ige says he thinks it’s a good idea to try and start construction on the new plan for Haena State Park while post-flood restoration work is ongoing on the North Shore. Garden Island.

$500K for cultural center. The Kauai Philippine Cultural Center could be completed by year’s end. Garden Island.

Auditor says state tourism authority wastes taxpayer money, Coco Palms occupiers ousted, rail authority may be fined $4 million for federal infractions, state budget $45M short, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Diamondhead surfers courtesy Hawaii Tourism Authority PC: Tor Johnson

State lawmakers are calling for better oversight of the Hawaii Tourism Authority — maybe even budget cuts — in the wake of a scathing state audit released Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Tourism Authority audit revealed ‘environment of loose oversight’. Pacific Business News.

Audit: Tourism authority has 'lax oversight' over contracts, reimbursed lavish expenses. Hawaii News Now.

The State auditor says the Hawaii Tourism Authority has been wasteful with state funds, and in many cases disregarded its own policies and contracts. KITV.

Audit claims Hawaii Tourism Authority spends extravagantly with little accountability. KHON2.

Hawaii Tourism Authority Responds to Audit. Hawaii Public Radio.

Read the full audit report of the Hawaii Tourism Authority here.

Hawaii’s hotel industry kicked off the year with solid growth in average daily rate and revenue per available room in January, according to a hotel performance report released Thursday by Hawaii Tourism Authority. Star-Advertiser.

Neighbor Island hotels lead off 2018 with strong results. Hawaii's hotels began 2018 with strong results, reporting a 5.4 percent statewide increase in revenue per available room in January, according to the Hawaii Tourism Authority’s monthly hotel report released Thursday. Pacific Business News.

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Hawaii Lawmakers Are Scrambling To Find Another $45 Million. A rare mid-session public meeting is planned by the Senate Ways and Means chairman to assess the state’s financial picture. Civil Beat.

Hirono On Her Cancer Battle: ‘My Voice Remains Strong’. The Hawaii senator discusses her stage 4 diagnosis and decision to remain in politics at an annual cancer event. Civil Beat.

In an effort to tackle the growing opioid crisis, lawmakers are looking to crack down on so-called "pill mills" and improve how prescription drugs are tracked and disposed of. Hawaii News Now.

Admitted ‘Wonder Blunder’ con man wants to change plea. Associated Press.

Oahu

The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation on Thursday admitted that it may have overpaid for relocating people in the path of the Kapolei-to-Ala Moana rail line and violated a federal relocations law in the process. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Rail May Have To Give Up Nearly $4 Million to Feds. HART officials say a review of compensation payments to property owners has turned up possible violations of federal law. Civil Beat.

The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation announced the official names of all nine rail stations on the Ewa side of Oahu Thursday. Hawaii News Now.

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Sunday’s heavy downpours resulted in roughly 8.8 million gallons of rain-induced sewage spills in Windward Oahu, keeping city crews busy and resulting in numerous state Health Department advisories for the area. Star-Advertiser.

Last weekend's rainstorm caused nearly nine-million gallons of sewer water to spill on the Windward side of Oahu. KITV.

Kamehameha Schools assistant band director James Maeda allegedly had sex on the Kapalama campus with a 14-year-old student over an eight-month period, Deputy Prosecutor Ayla Weiss told a state judge Thursday after an Oahu grand jury returned an indictment charging Maeda with multiple counts of sexual assault. Star-Advertiser.

Police: Kamehameha Schools faculty member had sex with student on campus, at home. Hawaii News Now.

Kamehameha faculty member accused of having sex with student appears in court. KHON2.

Waianae’s Community Gym Is Finally On The Mend. Classes in the facility’s upper level have been affected ever since a leak was discovered three years ago. Civil Beat.

Lawmaker pushes to stop Olelo channel move. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

The University of Hawaii will conduct its own internal audit of its Maunakea-related activities, a response to “public concerns that have emerged … regarding the university’s operational and financial management” of the mountain. Tribune-Herald.

During a special meeting, regents were given a presentation by Mayor Harry Kim and voted on a financial management audit of Maunakea activities. Big Island Video News.

Coming off a critical audit that ended with the sudden resignation of the former Human Resources director, the county Merit Appeals Board and the newly appointed director put reestablishing trust at the top of the agenda. West Hawaii Today.

In about another month, Hawaii County’s Department of Environmental Management expects delivery of the first three trucks and trailers it will use to haul rubbish across the island following closure of the Hilo landfill. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Upcountry residents continued to angrily question officials with the state Department of Health this week about recent studies that identified their neighborhoods as a top priority area for cesspool contamination of drinking-water wells. Maui News.

The owner of a Maui apartment complex where tenants did maintenance and landscaping work has run afoul of federal labor regulations and will pay $84,136 to 22 workers, the U.S. Department of Labor announced Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

Maui Continues to Lead State with Revenue Per Available Room, Daily Rates. Maui Now.

Longtime Hawaii Realtor Mary Worrall has sold her interest in Island Sotheby’s International Realty to her nephew, Ryan MacLaughlin, who is now a part owner of the Maui-based firm with his father, Paul MacLaughlin. Pacific Business News.

Maui will be getting a new bowling alley as Island Bowling is set to open at the Outlets of Maui in Lahaina next week. Maui Now.

Police have closed an arson investigation into a fire that burned Kahului Elementary School classrooms, after identifying a 17-year-old Oahu boy as a second juvenile suspect in the case. Maui News.

Kauai

State sheriffs on Thursday removed protesters from the ruins of a Kauai hotel where they have been squatting since last year in an attempt to block redevelopment of land where Hawaiian chiefs once lived and where Elvis Presley’s character got married in the movie “Blue Hawaii.”  Associated Press.

Authorities Oust Protesters From Coco Palms Resort Land. A Native Hawaii group has been camping on the site where developers are planning a $135 million project. Civil Beat.

Authorities clear occupiers from historic Coco Palms property. Hawaii News Now.

Protester arrested as deputies serve eviction notice to Coco Palms’ occupiers. Star-Advertiser.

One person was arrested Thursday morning in Wailua, where the famed Coco Palms Resort once stood, as last month’s court-ordered ejectment was enforced. Garden Island.

Occupiers at the site of historic Coco Palms were ordered off the property Thursday. That comes about one month after a judge ruled they have to leave. KITV.

Security guard sent to protect Coco Palms declines to do so. Garden Island.

Chin apologizes for old anti-gay speech, bill criminalizes bogus service animals, committee chairmen refuse to televise meetings, Honolulu Police Commission chairman up for vote, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Service dog opens door PC: Pete Markham, Creative Commons

Bill targets growing problem of bogus service animals. Senate Bill 2461, introduced Jan. 19, would make the act of falsely claiming an animal to be a service animal a misdemeanor offense, punishable by a maximum penalty of up to six months in jail or up to $1,000 for the first offense. Tribune-Herald.

Jail time and fines for owners of ‘fake’ service animals? Hawaii Island Sen. Russell Ruderman told KHON2 a gray area in the Americans with Disabilities Act has allowed people to abuse this law. KHON2.

Lt. Gov. Doug Chin is apologizing for an anti-gay speech that he made more than 20 years ago in church. The angry address, which he delivered at the Oahu Church of Christ, is now being used against him in his race for Congress. Hawaii News Now.

The Only Three Legislative Committees You’ll Almost Never See On TV. Despite the difficulties of attending legislative hearings in person in Hawaii these House committee chairs have nixed televising their hearings. Civil Beat.

The Department of Human Services Wants Multigenerational Approach to Address Poverty. The state department with the largest operating budget is asking lawmakers to help make it more efficient. Hawaii Public Radio.

A state Senate bill calling for greater transparency in video game gambling systems is the subject of a public hearing today. Tribune-Herald.

Kamehameha Schools has acknowledged that the $80 million settlement its agreed to pay to victims in a decades-old sex abuse scandal could affect future educational programs or the planned expansion of existing ones. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Honolulu Police Commission members could decide Wednesday whether to retain embattled Chairman Max Sword as their leader or to elect a new one. Star-Advertiser.

How Honolulu’s New Police Chief Is Shaking Up A Troubled Department. In her first four months, Chief Susan Ballard is disrupting old policies and practices with a new vision. Civil Beat.

Man’s troubles with law affect sons’ Punahou School enrollment. The case of a man accused of sexually molesting a girl and showing a pornographic video to another while they were at sleepovers at his home is sparking spirited debate about just how far Hawaii’s private schools can go to penalize a child for the alleged sins of a parent. Star-Advertiser.

The mother of a Punahou School first-grader has sued the private institution over its attempt to expel her son because of the disruption stemming from his father’s troubles with the law. Star-Advertiser.

A Kids Museum Struggles Amidst Homeless Squalor. But Loretta Yajima of the Hawaii Children’s Discovery Center in Kakaako will not be deterred from fulfilling its mission. Civil Beat.

Neglect for an Ewa Beach park.  Is the Mayor of Honolulu playing favorite when it comes to funding parks around Oahu? KITV.

Whole Foods Market will open its largest Hawaii store by early summer in Kakaako after a dozen years of planning and setbacks. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii prepares to send another 'Lei of Aloha' to Florida after school shooting. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

A move to take County Council budget planning behind closed doors will be heard today by the council Finance Committee. West Hawaii Today.

Mohouli Senior Residences in Hilo completed Phase 2 of construction and is fully occupied. Tribune-Herald.

The Hawaii County Council is donating contingency relief funds to purchase stealth cameras to monitor areas prone to criminal activity in Puna. Big Island Video News.

The University of Hawaii at Manoa’s months-long Mars simulation mission was suspended today — five days after it began — because of a medical incident. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

Budget panel moves toward buying building. The property, once acquired, would be torn down to make way for the Wailuku civic complex development. Maui News.

An informational meeting on the permitting process and land entitlements will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the West Maui Senior Center. Maui News.

Yellow tubes aiding in ocean rescues in south Maui. The president of a group that installed rescue tube stations along south Maui beaches says while he is happy the tubes are working, he wishes they weren't necessary. Associated Press.

Kauai

The U.S. Missile Defense Agency says the total cost of a failed missile test off of Kauai was $130 million. Garden Island.

Two Kauai County officials are scheduled to give a presentation on housing at this week’s meeting of the Lihue Business Association. Garden Island.

Lei of Aloha for World Peace is activated again, this time engaging schools across the state to weave ti leaf leis to send to the families of the 17 students and teachers killed in Parkland, Fla., last week. Garden Island.

Legislature mulls Airbnb tax bill, less panic than anticipated after false missile alert, Tsutsui moves to Hanabusa campaign, illegal marijuana sales alleged at expo, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Vacation rental under construction at Onekahakaha beach park ©2018 All Hawaii News

Bill would let Airbnb brokers act as tax agents. A proposal that would allow Airbnb to collect tens of millions of dollars in state taxes generated by short-term rentals using the online home-sharing platform would also make it illegal for Airbnb to do business with any rental operators breaking county zoning laws. Star-Advertiser.

Researchers studying the reaction of Hawaii’s residents after the false missile alert say there was far less panic than they anticipated. Associated Press.

Missile alarm snafu spurs interest in backyard fallout shelters. An Oregon bomb shelter company has received about 65 inquiries, and counting, from Hawaii residents since the Jan. 13 false alarm. Star-Advertiser.

Not long after his abrupt resignation as Hawaii’s lieutenant governor, Shan Tsutsui is said to be gearing up to run the Maui operations for the gubernatorial campaign of U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa as she mounts a challenge to Tsutsui’s old boss, Gov. David Ige. Star-Advertiser.

A joint State House committee recently advanced a bill that would ban the import, use, manufacture, sale, and storage of chlorpyrifos in Hawaii. Big Island Video News.

HECO gets OK for initiative to control customer use. An operation referred to as “demand response” will let residential and commercial customers volunteer to have certain power-consuming devices occasionally controlled by HECO so the utility can manage the alignment between electricity supply and demand as more sources of renewable — and variable — energy generation are added to electricity grids throughout the state. Star-Advertiser.

Donn Takahashi will retire next month from his post as president of Prince Resorts Hawaii after a 25-year career with the company. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

Illegal marijuana sales alleged at expo. The state Narcotics Enforcement Division is investigating allegations of illegal activity at last weekend’s Hawaii Cannabis Expo, where some vendors openly distributed cannabis seeds and other products. Star-Advertiser.

A Kamehameha Schools high school teacher has been placed on indefinite administrative leave after being accused of sexually assaulting a student, according to police records and the school. Star-Advertiser.

A Kamehameha Schools faculty member has been arrested and charged for allegedly having an "inappropriate relationship" with a student. Hawaii News Now.

Waimanalo land lease offers possible solution for Waianae homeless camp. Dennis “Bumpy” Kanahele believes his state lease on more than 55 acres of Waimanalo land provides a Hawaiian-based road map for ending escalating tensions over the homeless encampment next to the Waianae Small Boat Harbor known as Pu‘uhonua o Waianae. Star-Advertiser.

Some residents are rejecting plans to build dozens of new homes on a historic North Shore ranch. KITV.

Texas-based developer Hunt Companies is set to expand its local influence. The company is accelerating the redevelopment of Kalaeloa—while working on high-profile projects on three islands. Hawaii Public Radio.

A loophole in city rules has Waikiki businesses and residents up in arms about a number of Kalakaua Avenue street-closure permits. Star-Advertiser.

After the deadly Florida school shooting and several threats towards Oahu schools, one teacher hopes the DOE will do more to prevent a tragedy in the islands. Hawaii News Now.

The World Surf League said Thursday that one of the most prestigious surfing events will not take place on Oahu's North Shore in 2019 following a permitting dispute with the City and County of Honolulu. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

The county Salary Commission stands by the big raises it doled out to county officials, and this week voted to oppose a charter amendment opening its process to greater public scrutiny. West Hawaii Today.

A California company is looking at Hawaii Island as a potential site for launching small satellites into orbit. And its CEO claims it can do it without rockets. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii County Council members were given an update on the organic waste program during a recent committee meeting. Big Island Video News.

Hawaii Island’s ‘Oasis’ Of Affordable Homes. It’s a whole different real estate market on the east side of the Big Island, where residences cost about half as much as they do on Oahu. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii Island Albizia Task Force announced it will carry out a series of albizia control projects costing $1 million within the next several weeks on the east side of the Big Island. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii a destination for adventure — safety be darned — yet officials continue to push for precaution in a daunting fight. West Hawaii Today.

Crash settlement to cost state $1.3M. Lawyers for the state have agreed to pay $1.3 million in connection with a car crash on Hawaii island almost four years ago that left a 23-year-old man paralyzed. Star-Advertiser.

The arrival of a new player in the Kona coffee game has stirred more than milk and sugar into the region’s proverbial drink. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Budget panel moves toward buying building. The property, once acquired, would be torn down to make way for the Wailuku civic complex development. Maui News.

The county parks permit office at the War Memorial Gym will be opening 2 1/2 hours later Tuesday for early-morning training. Maui News.

A group of Native Hawaiians and students seized the flags on the campus of the University of Hawaii Maui College to protest the American flag flying above the Hawaiian flag. Associated Press.

TV producer buys Maui home for $23M, highest-priced sale in Hawaii so far this year. A five-bedroom, seven-bath new beachfront home in Kihei has sold for $22.8 million, the highest-priced residential transaction in Hawaii so far this year, and the fourth-highest sale ever on Maui. Pacific Business News.

Diane Moss, Founding Director of the Renewables 100 Policy Institute, will be the keynote speaker for the Fifth Annual Maui Energy Conference held at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center on March 14-15. Maui Now.

Kauai

Cable television on Kauai will be changing to digital broadcasting this summer. The planned conversion is expected to increase Spectrum’s bandwidth but may affect local programming across the state, especially on Kauai. Garden Island.

Kamehameha Schools to pay $80M to settle sex abuse lawsuit, activists delay Coco Palms, Mauna Kea management plan opposed, Steven Tyler addresses Maui drug court, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Kamehameha Schools on parade ©2018 All Hawaii News

Kamehameha Schools will pay out $80 million to victims and their families under a settlement in a sex abuse case that's rocked the prestigious private school. Hawaii News Now.

Kamehameha Schools has agreed to pay $80 million to 32 plaintiffs who were sexually abused by a psychiatrist decades ago while they were students at the private school or were treated by him, according to terms of a tentative agreement reached between the two sides. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii lawmakers are advancing a bill to explicitly ban “bump stocks” similar to the devices that were used in last year’s massacre of 58 concertgoers in Las Vegas, but that effort is being opposed by dozens of local firearm enthusiasts. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii lawmakers looking at new ways to ensure campus safety. A proposal moving forward in the Senate would require the Department of Education to make sure each classroom has an interior lock on its door by the beginning of next year, as well as an intercom throughout the campus by the year 2020. KITV.

Lawmaker proposes changes to locks, intercoms, emergency training and drills for schools. A lawmaker wants to put safeguards on campuses so students are less vulnerable should a school shooting ever happen here. KHON2.

A number of proposed bills dealing with cesspools are advancing in the House of Representatives this session. Hawaii Public Radio.

Maui Senator Tries Again To Reform High-Interest Payday Loans. Hawaii currently allows lenders to offer loans with annual interest rates as high as 459 percent. Civil Beat.

A controversial measure to institute across Hawaii a blanket ban on the manufacturing, distribution and use of chlorpyrifos — once the most widely utilized pesticide in the United States — continues to gain traction as it moves through the state House of Representatives. West Hawaii Today.

Organizers hope Obama exhibit grows into something more permanent. An exhibit at Honolulu Hale created by the Obama Hawaiian Africana Museum has glimpses of President Barack Obama's childhood to his days at Punahou School to his first public speech at Sand Island in August 2008. Hawaii News Now.

Hospital emergency rooms are bustling, with one reporting twice as many flu patients as it was seeing at this time last year. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Housing developers and builders will be eligible for property tax exemptions and various fee waivers from the city if they commit to building housing aimed at lower- income families and individuals, under a bill signed into law Thursday by Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell. Star-Advertiser.

Low-income rental housing breaks ground. Local developer Stanford Carr held a construction blessing Thursday for the Kakaako project called Hale Kewalo where apartments are projected to rent for as little as $516 a month and serve some households annually earning around or less than $25,110 for a couple or $31,380 for a family of four. Star-Advertiser.

Developer Stanford Carr broke ground Thursday on a new affordable rental project. Hale Kewalo will be built at the corner of Piikoi and Kona streets, where Home Sweet Home used to be. KHON2.

Paramedics are stretched to the limit — and there's no help in sight. Honolulu's plea for a new Emergency Medical Services station is on life support at the state Legislature. Hawaii News Now.

North Shore residents have unleashed a sweeping condemnation of a plan to subdivide Dillingham Ranch for housing while somewhat expanding agriculture on the historic 2,721-acre property in Mokuleia. Star-Advertiser.

A private-public venture between the U.S. Navy and the country’s largest owner of privatized military housing has sued the wife of a retired Kaneohe Marine officer for defamation. Civil Beat.

Attorney: FBI investigation into four Honolulu police officers ‘completely unfair’. KHON2.

75-year-old Sunset Beach palms are latest victims of erosion. The city’s Department of Parks and Recreation Division of Urban Forestry decided to cut down seven of the beachfront date palms Thursday after certified arborists determined the continual undermining of the trees by erosion made them a hazard to the general public and motorists. Star-Advertiser.

The City and County of Honolulu agreed to pay three service members for towing and auctioning off their vehicles while they were deployed. It's part of a settlement with the Department of Justice that cost the city over $100,000 so far. KITV.

Hawaii Island

Hawaiians, astronomers, UH oppose bill to create Maunakea management authority. Tribune-Herald.

Hirano Store celebrates a century of goods, community and flying chili bowls. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

The County of Maui Department of Planning will hold an informational meeting on the permitting process and land entitlements on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2018, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the West Maui Senior Center in Lahaina. Maui Now.

As state legislators weigh spending $500 million for a new prison, they also could consider funding a less costly treatment program with a 20-year track record of “remarkable” change, state Supreme Court Associate Justice Michael Wilson said Thursday. Maui News.

Although he was introduced as a singer, songwriter and founding member of the legendary rock band Aerosmith, Steven Tyler offered another description when he spoke to Maui Drug Court graduates Thursday. Maui News.

A group of Native Hawaiian protesters and college students seized the American and Hawaiian flags Wednesday morning at the University of Hawaii Maui College campus. Maui News.

Two West Maui properties have taken emergency measures to halt the growing shoreline erosion that threatens their buildings. Associated Press.

Kauai

Activists delay rebirth of Hawaii hotel with Elvis ties. Developers rebuilding a storied, hurricane-ravaged Hawaii hotel with a Hollywood connection were looking forward to the Coco Palms' rebirth when two men showed up last year, claiming to own the property because they descend from King Kaumualii, the last ruler of Kauai. Associated Press.

Over 100 oppose Wainiha bridges project. The final environmental assessment for a project to replace temporary bridges on Kauai’s North Shore has been completed and is available to the public. Garden Island.

Critics are blasting the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for dramatically lowering a fine on agribusiness company Syngenta for violations of pesticide regulations. Associated Press.

Molokai

All Clear: Re-sampling at Ualapue Meets Federal Standards. Maui Now.