Luke exceeds budget with staff raises, Green aids 3rd medical victim in less than a month, tax break for Oahu homeowners, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke Has Already Overspent Her Budget — On Staff Raises. The overage comes as Luke, the former longtime House Finance chair, is poised to more than double her office budget to more than $2.3 million for the next fiscal year. Civil Beat.

Gov. Green comes to aid of passenger ejected from pickup bed.  Gov. Josh Green, a medical doctor, treated another victim of a traffic accident today when a 25-year-old Kauai man was ejected from the back of a pick-up truck and suffered an apparent concussion while traveling in front of Green’s vehicle.  It was the third time the governor has come to a victim's aid since May. Star-Advertiser.

It’s a first for the state. The transportation department’s “Freeway Service Patrol” is now sponsored by GEICO. It’s a first for the state. The transportation department’s “Freeway Service Patrol” is now sponsored by GEICO. KHON2.

Luke: Despite progress, domestic violence survivors still grapple with stigma, lack of support. Hawaii has made progress in addressing domestic violence and broadening support to survivors, but there’s most work to be done, Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke told advocates Thursday. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Gas strike forcing several businesses to close. The ongoing Hawaii Gas strike is beginning to take its toll on local businesses that are being forced to close because of interrupted service. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

Officials warn of Hawaii wildfire risks with extended drought. Drought conditions are expected to kick in later this summer and last longer than usual, extending the high fire risk, according to National Weather Service forecaster Derek Wroe. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii Public Radio.  Tribune-Herald.  Big Island Now. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Council approves $350 rebate for owner-occupants and say they’re just getting started. The $3.4 billion budget passed by the Honolulu Council on Wednesday night included a $54 million tax break for owner-occupant property owners. Hawaii News Now.

Electronic filings of building permits to be required. Beginning July 1, the city’s Department of Planning and Permitting will require all building permits needing plans and all building permit applications for commercial projects to be submitted only through its electronic plan review system. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Rail: Trains, Tracks And Base Yard To Be Officially Turned Over To The City. The transfer of billions of dollars in assets clears the way for the Department of Transportation Services to open the Honolulu rail system to the public on June 30.  Civil Beat. KITV4.

Honolulu Conspiracy Trial Pushed To October 2024. Ex-city attorney Donna Long, former managing director Roy Amemiya and former Honolulu Police Commission chair Max Sword stand accused of improperly executing a retirement payout to disgraced police chief Louis Kealoha in 2017.  Civil Beat.

After nearly 5 years of repairs, Pearl City public pool finally reopens. The Pearl City District Park pool reopened for public use Thursday after being closed for nearly five years due to numerous improvements. Hawaii News Now.

King Kamehameha Day celebrations kick off today. The holiday celebrates the legacy of King Kameha­meha I, who is known for unifying the Hawaiian Islands under a single governance in 1810. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now

Hawaii Island

State judge rules officer accused of harassment can’t carry firearms. A state judge has ruled that a Hawaii County police officer who pulled a gun on a Big Island man in a police station parking lot cannot carry firearms. Hawaii News Now.

Kilauea advisories lowered as eruption resumes, wind vortex forms. Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists lowered Kilauea’s alert level from warning to watch and aviation advisory code from red to orange. Star-Advertiser. Big Island Now.

Kona Community Hospital moves forward on supplemental wastewater treatment facility. According to the DEA, KCH is proposing a redundant wastewater treatment system with a capacity of 50,000 gallons-per-day (gpd) to supplement its existing 50,000-gpd system, which requires a shutdown to perform critical repair and maintenance.  West Hawaii Today.

Weekend events in Hilo, Kona to honor King Kamehameha I. The event will start with the ceremonial ho‘okupu and lei draping beginning at 9 a.m. Sunday at the statue on Kamehameha Avenue. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Committee to discuss general excise tax and Central Maui’s wastewater facilities. Maui County Council’s Budget, Finance and Economic Development committee will meet June 9 at 9 a.m. to discuss the county’s new authority on general excise tax. Maui Now.

Shoreline advocates block machines at Kā’anapali Beach, seek community input on dune restoration. The groups want the state to issue a stop work order, expressing concern saying cumulative impacts of multiple resorts “stockpiling sand” in front of hotels covers up encroaching dirt fill and vegetation that they say is causing the steep erosion scarp.  Maui Now.

Maui County Is Trying To Bring Relief To Farmers And Ranchers During Times Of Drought. Amid forecasts of less available water, officials want to ensure food producers have enough for their crops and livestock. Civil Beat.

Long-awaited farmland on horizon for lessees. More than 30 years ago, 58 native Hawaiian beneficiaries were selected by the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands for leases on Molokai and have been waiting to occupy their agricultural lots ever since. Maui News.

Maui County waitlist reopening for Section 8 rent subsidy program. The County of Maui is reopening its waitlist for the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program that provides rental assistance to eligible low-income households with federal funding from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. Maui Now.

Kauai

Green signs law for community-based concessions in state parks. This Revamped State Park On Kauai Is A Case Study For Beating Overtourism, Officials Say. New crowd control and parking enforcement measures at Haena could help bring special places back into balance statewide. Civil Beat. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News.  Hawaii News Now.

Road closures for King Kamehameha Day Parade on June 10. The King Kamehameha Day Parade will be held in downtown Lihu‘e on Saturday. The parade starts at 9:30 a.m.  Garden Island. Kauai Now.

Hawaii Legislature to take up police misconduct bill, Ige asks participants in Black Lives Matter rallies to self-isolate, military travel restrictions lifted, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Police on parade, file photo, ©2020 All Hawaii News

Hawaii House Speaker Says Cop Misconduct Bill Is ‘On Our Radar’. The House and Senate are reviewing a measure requiring more disclosure on the part of police agencies that stalled last year after passing both chambers. Civil Beat.

Gov. Ige asks protesters from weekend Black Lives Matter rallies to voluntarily self-isolate. Gov. David Ige today requested that participants in Black Lives Matter protests over the weekend consider self-isolating a few days in order to protect others from possibly getting the new coronavirus. Star-Advertiser.

Ige concerned about how gatherings such as recent protests will impact the state’s COVID-19 case counts. Gov. David Ige is asking those who rallied during recent Black Lives Matter protests throughout Hawaii to self-isolate as the state continues its fight against COVID-19. Tribune-Herald.

More push to require a negative COVID test before flying to Hawaii. A group of UH experts is warning the state that opening up to mainland tourism - without required testing before travel - will overwhelm Hawaii's health care system. Hawaii News Now.

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State loosens restrictions and announces reopenings of camping, parks. The state is loosening up restrictions and reopening state parks in conjunction with each county’s specific rules and guidelines, the Department of Land and Natural Resources announced this afternoon, providing updates on the latest changes. Star-Advertiser.

LIST: Hawaii State parks to reopen in phases by July 1. DLNR says most overnight state facilities will reopen by July 1. Hawaii News Now.

DLNR Lessens State Parks Restrictions. The DLNR Division of State Parks is lessening restrictions and reopening park areas in conjunction with various county-specific rules and guidelines. Big Island Now.

Some Hawaii State Parks Still Closed, But Restrictions Lessening. Big Island Video News.

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Pentagon OKs increased travel to Hawaii amid unclear rules. A total of 1,125 military members arrived in the first week of June. Another 1,191 came to Hawaii in the last two weeks of May. The transition of service members to Hawaii is normally much greater during spring and summer, officials said. Star-Advertiser.

Travel restrictions lifted for military service members in Hawai'i. The Department of Defense is lifting travel restrictions for military service members in Hawaii because of the low number of COVID-19 cases here. KITV4.

Federal funding for National Guard at Hawaii airports will end in August. The federal government says it will stop paying for the National Guard to screen passengers in Hawaii airports on August 10. Hawaii News Now.

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King Kamehameha celebrations canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic. This year there will be no Kamehameha Statue lei draping or floral parade. All King Kamehameha celebration events have been canceled statewide because of the pandemic. KHON2.

Doctors worry that patients are neglecting their regular visits as well as their health. Despite fears surrounding the new coronavirus, Hawaii health officials are urging the public to go to the doctor for routine checkups, vaccinations and to manage chronic diseases to prevent a spike in other ailments. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii gets 1 new virus case; 667 visitors fly into the state. State Department of Health officials said Monday that the state’s tally of coronavirus cases has risen to 676, up one from Sunday. The lone infection case is on Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

VIRUS TRACKER — JUNE 8: 1 New COVID-19 Case In Hawaii. The case was found on Oahu. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Honolulu Police Department reviewing vascular neck restraint policy in wake of Minneapolis. A submission hold known as a “vascular neck restraint” used by Honolulu police officers was halted pending a review of the department’s use-of-force policy, Police Chief Susan Ballard said Monday. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Police To Temporarily Halt Use Of Vascular Neck Restraints. George Floyd’s death prompted HPD to review its use of force policy.Civil Beat.

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Mayor Caldwell nominates Michael Broderick and Doug Chin to Honolulu Police Commission. Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s two newest nominees to the Honolulu Police Commission say they support some measure of police reform but also stress that they value the work of police officers. Star-Advertiser.

Former Hawaii AG who fought Trump’s travel ban picked for police panel. If confirmed by the Honolulu City Council, Doug Chin will replace one of the two commissioners who recently resigned. Hawaii News Now.

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Iolani Palace reopens June 19. It will start off with self-guided tours on Fridays and Saturdays with more days added in the future. KHON2.

Hawaii teachers union endorses Hanabusa plus Council candidates. The Hawaii State Teachers Association is backing former Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa for mayor, its first endorsement ever in a county-level election. Star-Advertiser.

Teachers Union Endorses Hanabusa For Honolulu Mayor. This marks the first time HSTA has endorsed a candidate for mayor, the union said. Civil Beat.

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Honolulu To Repair Structures Atop Koko Head But Not Tramway. The tramway leading up to the Koko Head summit will be closed from June 15 through the end of July as workers repair “deficient structures” at the top that pose a public safety risk, the city said in a news release on Monday. Civil Beat.

Koko Head to close next week for repairs and improvements. The Koko Crater Stairs in East Oahu will be closed for repairs for about a month and a half. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Hilo judges recuse themselves from hearing former cop’s assault, abuse cases. Both Hilo Circuit judges, Henry Nakamoto and Peter Kubota, filed certificates of recusal for a pair of cases in which the defendant is 56-year-old Ian Lee Loy, the husband of County Councilwoman Sue Lee Loy of Hilo. Tribune-Herald.

Roth alarmed by release of suspect in violent home invasion. A letter from the Big Island’s prosecutor to a special master appointed by the state Supreme Court to oversee an orderly population reduction in the state’s jails and prisons expressed alarm over the release of a pretrial detainee in a violent home invasion after judges twice reduced the man’s bail. Tribune-Herald.

St. Joseph students, faculty, alums thank community for helping school survive. The 151-year-old school, the Big Island’s only Catholic school, announced on its website that it’s nearing the $500,000 in donations and pledges it needs to remain open. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui Hospital Begins Universal Testing, Single Person on Maui with COVID-19 in Home Quarantine.  Maui Memorial Medical Center begins universal testing for COVID-19 on all patients admitted through the Emergency Department and Obstetrics patients. Maui Now.

COVID-19 patient at hospital tests negative. The last confirmed patient with COVID-19 at Maui Memorial Medical Center has tested negative for the virus, a hospital spokeswoman said on Sunday. Maui News.

Kauai

Kaua‘i Restart: Business. Tax relief, speedy permitting processes and fresh marketing strategies are a few of the ideas for helping local Kaua‘i businesses recover from pandemic protocols that have heavily impacted bottom lines and closed some doors for good. Garden Island.

Online county council candidacy forum Wednesday. Of the 22 candidates running for a council seat, 16 are participating at the forum sponsored by Just Transition Hawai‘i Coalition, Community Coalition of Kaua‘i and 350Kaua‘i Climate Action Coalition. Garden Island.

These Kauai Cops Are Tired Of Racist Police Killings, Too. Kauai’s police chief is encouraging officers to attend protests and have candid conversations with citizens — and each other. Civil Beat.

Officers cite 15 at Kalalau area currently closed due to the pandemic. The state says a team of officers on Sunday issued 15 citations to people who were in a closed-off area of the Kalalau at Na Pali Coast State Wilderness Park on Kauai. Star-Advertiser.

Architect Says Time Is Running Out To Save Kauai’s Coco Palms. The resort is likely headed for the auction block, but the building’s remaining concrete frames could lose their structural integrity before a new owner is in place. Civil Beat.

Lobbyist spending #fail at Legislature, Slom to seek old Senate seat, Kaneshiro loses bid to drop impeachment case, Big Island councilwoman violated ethics code, Maui mayor vetoes parts of budget, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Today is King Kamehameha Day, a state holiday. King Kamehameha statue lei draping, file photo ©2019 All Hawaii News

Spending Big On Lobbying Didn’t Guarantee Success At Legislature. Opponents of taxes on real estate trusts and vacation rentals couldn’t kill the bills last session, while a retirement savings program was rejected despite AARP support. Civil Beat.

Ige Extends Emergency Declaration on Homelessness. Governor David Ige issued a third supplementary emergency proclamation that extends the disaster emergency relief period for homelessness across the state. Maui Now.

Sam Slom Wants To Be A State Senator Again. He is challenging incumbent Stanley Chang in 2020 for the Hawaii Legislature seat. Civil Beat.

A controversial Hawaiian scholar comes under fire amid calls for an investigation. The state Office of Consumer Protection has made a criminal referral for controversial Hawaiian scholar David Keanu Sai, saying he has committed a felony. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Judge denies request to drop petition to impeach Honolulu Prosecutor Keith Kaneshiro. Honolulu Prosecutor Keith Kaneshiro’s request to have an impeachment petition against him thrown out on procedural grounds was denied Monday. Star-Advertiser.

Judge Refuses To Dismiss Kaneshiro Impeachment Case. The Honolulu prosecutor, who is on paid leave after receiving a target letter in a federal criminal investigation, tried to get the case thrown out on procedural grounds. Civil Beat.

Judge Declines To Throw Out City Prosecutor Impeachment Petition. A state judge on Monday dismissed a motion that aimed to toss out an impeachment petition against Honolulu City Prosecutor Keith Kaneshiro. Hawaii Public Radio.

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City Council Considers Measure To Make Honolulu A ‘Sanctuary City’. A proposal would prevent police from honoring U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainment and information requests in many cases. Civil Beat.

Tensions run high as Waimanalo residents spar over Sherwoods development. At a community meeting Monday night, there were tears, flaring tempers and police as the community argued over the development. The Waimanalo neighborhood board passed a resolution Monday night urging the city to stop the construction of a new athletic field immediately. Hawaii News Now.

Nanakuli residents at wits’ end over volatile homeless camp on federal property. Illegal campers in Nanakuli have once again taken over a piece of land owned by the federal government. Hawaii News Now.

Court for homeless defendants moves to Kaneohe. The idea is to help clear minor offenses from an overbooked court calendar and, perhaps more important, connect the “participants” to social service agencies that staff each court session helping the participants find jobs, get back their IDs and a whole array of services including housing. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Puna Councilwoman Ashley Kierkiewicz violated the county ethics code when she didn’t disclose a potential conflict of interest in a bill being considered by the County Council, the Board of Ethics ruled unanimously Monday. West Hawaii Today.

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Relocating Hawaii Island’s Pohoiki Boat Ramp cheaper than rebuilding, state says. Engineers have recommended that building a new boat ramp, rather than excavating a new channel through the black-sand beach, is a less costly alternative for Pohoiki Bay in Lower Puna, state officials said today. Star-Advertiser.

DLNR: New Boat Ramp For Puna Costly, ‘Challenging’. The Pohoiki Small Boat Ramp was closed after the 2018 Kilauea eruption. Civil Beat.

Engineers recommend new boat ramp for lower Puna. More than a year after Pohoiki boat ramp closed because of the Kilauea eruption in lower Puna, engineers have recommended that rather than reopen the existing ramp, a new boat ramp be built. Tribune-Herald.

New Boat Ramp For Puna Recommended At Malama Flats, Not Pohoiki. The Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources says engineers have identified an alternative location for a boat ramp in Puna, following the 2018 eruption of Kilauea that blocked the Pohoiki boat ramp with a new black sand beach. Big Island Video News.

Engineers recommend new boat ramp vs. re-opening Pohoiki. Representatives from Sea Engineering Inc. are saying that installing a new boat ramp is a better option. KITV.

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Queen’s Health Systems, Kaiser agreement expires. The Queen’s Health Systems hospitals are no longer considered participating providers within Kaiser Permanente’s network after an agreement between Kaiser and The Queen’s Medical Center expired toward the end of last month. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Mayor Victorino Uses Line-item Veto to Strike a Dozen Provisions. Mayor Michael Victorino line-item vetoed the Maui County Council’s fiscal 2020 budget on Monday, providing a measured reduction of what he called the “council’s record-high $823.47 million spending proposal.” Maui Now.

State recruiting guards from other islands to help Maui jail. Staffing levels at the Maui Community Correctional Center have grown so bad that the state is trying to fly in guards from other islands to help out with shifts, according to a June 4 internal memo from Nolan Espinda, director of the state Department of Public Safety. Star-Advertiser.

Bottle by bottle, an upcycled zero-waste facility takes shape. Research station aims to help farmers move toward regenerative practices. Maui News.

Spitting Caterpillars From Asia Are The Latest Threat To Native Insects On Maui. People are urged to be on the lookout for the newcomer to Hawaii, which adds to the problems already hindering the rarely seen Kamehameha butterfly and host plants. Civil Beat.

Kauai

Kauai heads for the ‘Hill’. The vibes are great for the sixth annual Hawaii on the Hill. Garden Island.

King Kamehameha statue vandalized, courts hear high-profile cases, Maui crowds oppose Hawaiian Electric NextEra deal, more government and political news from all the Hawaiian Islands

King Kamehameha statue before spear was stolen © 2015 All Hawaii News

Hawaii Island police are seeking the public’s assistance in locating the top section of the Hilo Kamehameha statue spear, taken from the Wailoa State Park area. West Hawaii Today.

To James Kealii Pihana the act of severing the spear of the Kamehameha statue in Wailoa State Park in Hilo this weekend was more than upsetting. It was an act of war. Star-Advertiser.

Having spent hours snoozing by the pools in their pens at Ke Kai Ola, the monk seal hospital in Kailua-Kona, Pearl and Hermes were as content as two seals could be. Star-Advertiser.

An information technology company that allegedly defaulted on a multimillion-dollar contract to set up a new transportation department computer system contends the lawsuit filed against it this week by the state Attorney General’s Office “contains numerous lies and misstatements.” Star-Advertiser.

Telecommunications entrepreneur Al Hee is asking that his seven federal tax convictions be vacated and he be granted a new trial because, he says, Internal Revenue Service investigators misled him about the nature of their inquiry into the finances of his companies. Star-Advertiser.

Opponents of NextEra Energy’s $4.3 billion bid to buy Hawaiian Electric have publicly blasted the merger. But that posturing has sparked negotiations that over the next few months should lead to more benefits and cost-savings for consumers. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii Supreme Court granted a writ of certiorari on Friday in a case of potentially great public interest. Mark H. K. Greer v. Rosalyn H. Baker and State of Hawaii seeks to establish if state senator Rosalyn Baker retaliated against a Department of Health whistleblower by eliminating his position. This means that the Supreme Court will schedule a hearing on the matter. Disappeared News.

Difficult ends to personal relationships aren’t usually news, but when the couple involved are Sam Slom, the sole Republican in the Hawaii State Senate, and reporter Malia Zimmerman, the high-profile co-founder of Hawaii Reporter who pushed a conservative spin on news for well over a decade, there’s legitimate public interest in what might otherwise be dismissed as simply gossip. Zimmerman filed a lawsuit in First Circuit Court two months ago accusing Slom of refusing to follow through with a mutually agreed cash settlement reflecting her share of a Hawaii Kai home where the couple lived together for ten years. Ian Lind.

Oahu

Honolulu City Council Chairman Ernie Martin said Friday that he will ask his colleagues to consider revoting on key bills and resolutions tied to the city’s $6 billion rail project that have been called into question by recent Ethics Commission investigations. Star-Advertiser.

In under a month, nearly 20 percent of the homeless individuals living in the Honolulu neighborhood of Kakaako have been assisted into shelter, the state of Hawaii said Friday. Pacific Business News.

After being told for the past week city crews would remove their belongings from sidewalks in parts of Kakaako Makai Tuesday morning, some of those living in the area began moving out. KITV4.

Parents of some kindergartners at Mokapu Elementary School in Kailua say their kids were denied water in class.  About three weeks into the school year, one 5-year old boy was taken to the emergency room suffering from dehydration. Hawaii News Now.

A new report from The Economist magazine places Honolulu among the top 10 cities worldwide for improved livability — or “liveability,” as it is spelled in the report by the London-based publication. Civil Beat.

Hawaii

Lease payments from the TMT International Observatory are rolling in, but that won’t necessarily mean more funds for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, which receives a share of revenue from Mauna Kea and other ceded lands. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

More than 200 people filled an elementary school cafeteria Friday evening to take three-minute turns telling the state Public Utilities Commission what they think about the proposed $4.3 billion sale of Hawaiian Electric Industries to NextEra Energy. Civil Beat.

Some Maui residents are hesitating to support a utility merger that NextEra Energy says would lower electric bills. Associated Press.

Promises of lower electric bills might not be enough to sway Maui residents to support NextEra Energy Inc.'s pending $4.3 billion acquisition of Hawaiian Electric Industries, especially if it means less rooftop solar and loss of local control. Maui News.

Over the last-minute outcries of some Hana residents, the Maui County Council on Friday approved a bill on second and final reading allowing some commercial structures, including roadside stands, as accessory uses in county agricultural districts. Maui News.

Upcoming Maui County hearings on Time Warner-Charter Communications cable franchise transfers. MauiTime.

Kauai

A Kauai man is suing his health insurer over a $36,000 air ambulance bill — a case that illustrates the high costs of emergency air transport, which is essential for people living on the neighbor islands. Associated Press.

A Kauai man is suing his health insurer over a $36,000 air ambulance bill. Garden Island.

The Hawaii Department of Transportation in partnership with the Federal Highway Administration, Central Federal Lands Highway Division will be holding a public meeting to share information on the Kuhio Highway-Mailihuna Road Intersection Improvements and Kapaa Stream Bridge Replacement project. Garden Island.

Aloha and happy Kamehameha Day, a state holiday in Hawaii

Traditional draping of King Kamehameha statue with lei, Hilo, Hawaii © 2015 All Hawaii News

Kamehameha Day, June 11, was established by royal decree on December 22, 1871 by King Kamehameha V as a national holiday. Kamehameha Day was created to honor the memory of Kamehameha, the king’s great grandfather, who united the Hawaiian Islands in 1810 and became Hawai‘i’s first king. Kamehamehafestival.org.

Kamehameha Day, a state holiday to honor a king

2010 Kamehameha lei draping ceremony in Hilo © 2014 All Hawaii News

Kamehameha Day was established by royal decree on December 22, 1871 by King Kamehameha V as a national holiday.

Kamehameha Day was created to honor the memory of Kamehameha, the king’s great grandfather, who united the Hawaiian Islands in 1810 and became Hawaii’s first king. The first celebration occurred on June 11, 1872.

Today, celebrations, parades and hula are held throughout the island chain. Events generally kick off with a ceremony draping long strands of lei over the King Kamehameha statues present on several Hawaiian Islands.

Hawaii celebrates King Kamehameha Day; U.S. Supreme Court rejects Obama birther case; Case-Hirono debate set for Wednesday; Oahu recycling program at risk; more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hilo Kamehameha statue draping (c) 2012 All Hawaii News

The King Kamehameha Celebration Commission started a week of statewide celebrations in honor of King Kamehameha I. KITV4.

Kamehameha Day festivities on Maui will kick off Monday morning with a march in Kahului by Native Hawaiian royal societies and culminate with a parade and hoolaulea Saturday in Lahaina. Maui News.

The sunny weather Saturday was a welcome sight for thousands who lined the streets of Honolulu to take part in a colorful tradition, the 96th Annual King Kamehameha Floral Parade. Hawaii News Now.

Hula at Coconut Island (c) 2012 All Hawaii News

King Kamehameha celebrations: Hawaii News Now.

The Supreme Court has refused to hear an appeal challenging President Barack Obama's U.S. citizenship and his eligibility to serve as commander in chief. Associated Press.

Politically influential local attorney Andrew Winer is at the  top of the three-name list of nominees to fill a federal court judicial vacancy here. Hawaii Reporter.

Hawaii Public Radio will host and broadcast a live debate between Mazie Hirono and Ed Case, the Democratic candidates who are in the primary for the open U.S. Senate seat. Hawaii Public Radio.

After spending $2 million to restore and refurbish one of its Manoa studios, which was destroyed by a fire seven months ago, PBS Hawaii will air its first broadcast from the new facility tonight. Star-Advertiser.

U.S. Senate candidate, Linda Lingle, will be added to Oceanic Cable's digital lineup on Monday, June 11. KHON2.

Hawaii school officials may get some help meeting a legislative mandate to cut rising bus costs by hiring a consultant to explore sustainable solutions to the state's escalating student transportation troubles. Civil Beat.

A scientific team exploring the beginnings of the universe through telescopes on Hawaii island has found the oldest, most distant galaxy yet detected — about 12.91 billion light-years away. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie signed legislation Friday that creates the Hawaii Interagency Council on Homelessness as part of the state Department of Human Services. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii human resource firms say they're perplexed by proposed legislation that would impose tens of thousands of dollars in added operating costs and require companies be backed by a bond of up to $1 million in an effort to regulate the local industry. Maui News.

Hawaii-based commercial longline fishers would be able to take a larger number of endangered sea turtles under a proposal from the National Marine Fisheries Service. Tribune-Herald.

Oahu

The first of many columns for Honolulu's multi-billion dollar rail transit system is finally finished. Hawaii News Now.

The Honolulu City Council inserted $2.4 million into the city's $1.96 billion operating budget last week to restore and expand the city's "white bin" community recycling program at Oahu schools, but that doesn't mean Mayor Peter Carlisle will continue it. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii's largest charter school has been directed to come up with a plan to be financially self-sufficient in its dealings with a mainland corporation as the next step in its recovery from a turbulent year that saw its principal fired and its money management faulted by auditors. Star-Advertiser.

The State Land Use Commission voted Friday to approve the controversial development Ho'opili, which hopes to add 11,750 homes on 1,500 acres of the Ewa plain over a 20-year span. KITV4.

The state land use commission approved D.R. Horton’s Ho‘opili project this afternoon. Hawaii Independent.

The fate of the Haleiwa Farmers' Market has been in limbo since April. After several extensions, Sunday, June 10, is technically the last day they are allowed to operate on state property. But they have no plans of leaving just yet. KHON2.

Hawaii

Hawaii County has spent $646,407 purchasing homes near Puna’s geothermal power plant, but that number could soon be about to rise. Tribune-Herald.

Officials that operate Hawaii's largest ocean science and technology park said they are taking steps to tackle a long list of deficiencies cited in a state audit that criticized the facility in Kona for failing to achieve its potential after nearly 40 years in existence. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

The median price of single-family homes in Maui County dropped last month to its lowest level in at least five years, according to the latest data from the Realtors Association of Maui that goes back to 2007. Maui News.

Kauai

The growing movement of pop-up restaurants using locally produced food continues with a Father’s Day steak house night at the Eastside restaurant in Kapa‘a. Garden Island.

Hawaii 'canoe districts' sunk, Abercrombie disses Pro Bowl, state seeks nonprofits' assets, Head Start a go, direct flights to Hilo celebrated, Hanabusa mulls Senate, more news from the Hawaiian Islands

Kamehameha statue draping in Hilo (c) 2011 All Hawaii News

Lei draping ceremonies are due to be held in Hilo and Honolulu on Kamehameha Day, while most government offices are scheduled to be closed. Associated Press.

Hawaii's island counties will continue being represented by lawmakers who live there, according to Thursday's vote preventing districts from crossing from island to island. Associated Press.

Hawaii's reapportionment commission should not allow multimember state House or Senate districts, nor should the state allow the return of "canoe districts." West Hawaii Today.

Members of the Maui County Reapportionment Advisory Council unanimously recommended Tuesday not to count nonresident military personnel and their dependents, convicted felons in custody and students living away from home when voting districts are redrawn this year. Maui News.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie threw into question the future of the state's 32-year partnership with the Pro Bowl on Thursday, sharply questioning the $4 million the state annually pays the NFL to hold its popular all-star game here. Star-Advertiser.

The governor is plain wrong when he says civil unions would generate more money in a weekend than the state gets from the Pro Bowl. Civil Beat.

The State Campaign Spending Commission has fined two Hawaii lawmakers.Hawaii News Now.

The state attorney general’s office wants to know whether any of the 1,528 Hawaii groups that lost their federal tax-exempt, nonprofit status this week have assets that could be redistributed to other nonprofit organizations with similar goals. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie on Thursday introduced the woman he picked to head up the early education of Hawaii's children. KITV4.

The State’s Chief Executive underscored his commitment to Hawai’i’s young children today. He announced the appointment of a cabinet-level official to plan and implement a system for keiki. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hilo's newest pipeline to the mainland opened with great fanfare Thursday as Continental/United Airlines Flight 281 from Los Angeles arrived at 7:31 p.m. Tribune-Herald.

Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. on Thursday announced his approval of the $269 million budget for Fiscal Year 2012, despite criticizing the final version approved May 25 by the Kaua‘i County Council. Garden Island.

Oahu beat the Neighbor Islands last year for the amount of solar energy per customer installed on Hawaii’s electric grids in 2010, according to a new study by the Solar Electric Power Association, a Washington, D.C., nonprofit dedicated to helping utilities integrate solar power into their energy portfolios. Pacific Business News

U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa is assessing her grass-roots support and fundraising ability and will decide by August whether to enter the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate. Star-Advertiser.

University of Hawaii's School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene is to offer a doctorate of nursing practice degree next year. Associated Press.

What should the future hold for Kalaupapa after the last Hansen’s Disease patients are gone? The National Park Service is charting the future of the National Historical Park, and asking for public input. KITV4.

Kona Community Hospital's emergency room was evacuated and closed for several hours Thursday morning after chemical fumes apparently sickened 13 people. West Hawaii Today.

Two opinions on a plan for health care on Molokai emerged last week: residents want a patient-centric, easy-to-navigate system with choices, while providers are concerned about finding funding to keep their services available. Molokai Dispatch.

A pocket of the higher-elevation koa forest that once covered the land from Makawao to Kaupo has gained a "higher priority" status for conservation by being designated Maui's fifth Natural Area Reserve. Maui News.

ThinkTech Hawaii and Hawaii Reporter Launch New News Partnership. Hawaii Reporter.

A collective of community groups on Kauai will hold the Seed and Plant Exchange on Sunday, June 12 at Keiki o Ka Aina in Kapaa. Hawaii Independent.

Kamehameha festivities on all islands, HSC: shoreline belongs to the public, cables from Molokai and Lanai to feed power-hungry Oahu, brushfires on Hawaii, Maui persist, more news from all the isles

President Obama signs King Kamehameha Day proclamation

This year marks the 200th anniversary of King Kamehameha's unification of the Hawaiian Islands, and Honolulu festivities that kick off today to celebrate the monarch will be accordingly bigger, breathing new life into gatherings that have in recent years struggled to secure funding and volunteers.

With the theme “E Ho‘okahi Ka Mana‘o, Ho‘okahi Pu‘uwai, Ho‘okahi Ke Aloha” (Be of one mind, one heart, one love), Lahaina’s Na Kamehameha Commemorative Pa‘u Parade and Ho‘olaule‘a will be held Saturday, June 12.

The public owns lands formed along the Hawaii's shoreline decades ago that are now above the beaches, according to a Hawaii Supreme Court ruling this week that left intact a lower court's decision.

Most sectors of Hawaii's economy are starting to grow again but it will take years to recover the tens of thousands of jobs that were wiped out during the recession.

Six more Hawaii state parks will soon begin charging parking or entry fees to visitors and tour companies

Hawaii is planning to lay power cables along the ocean floor to connect yet-to-be-built wind farms on the gusty and rural islands of Molokai and Lanai to power-hungry Oahu.

The state administration is moving ahead with its long term plans to use less imported oil to meet Oahu's power needs.

The state Com- mission on Water Resource Man- agement has ordered 12.5 million gallons of water per day be restored to the Na Wai Eha streams, about one-third of the water that was being considered for restoration a year ago.

Honolulu City Council members said a proposed ban on smoking at Oahu bus stops will address a loophole in city law.

Plumes of smoke began billowing into the air in the subdivision of Ocean View late Thursday afternoon.

Maui firefighters appeared to have gained the upper hand Wednesday in battling a wild-land blaze that had consumed an estimated 5,800 acres of brush in the West Maui Mountains above Maalaea.

The state's leading business organization is urging Gov. Linda Lingle to veto House Bill 444, the civil unions measure.

Hawaii County's first Furlough Friday is just three weeks away, and department heads are attempting to minimize the effect on the public.

Big Island taxpayers spent $470,000 extinguishing three fires in South Kona earlier this year, Fire Chief Darryl Oliveira said Wednesday.

Nearly four years after earthquakes damaged West Hawaii reservoirs, the completion date for one of the most severely damaged locations has been pushed back -- again.

In October, Hawaiian Airlines will begin a twice-weekly, nonstop service between Kahului and Las Vegas

The farm-worker-housing bill seemed to have reached the end of its rope Wednesday.