Hawaii Legislature ponders invasive species, bed bugs in state Kapolei building, lawmakers seek delay in unemployment insurance, Native Hawaiians have day in court, Caldwell jumps back in Honolulu mayoral race, Kauai has $57M budget surplus, safer motorcyclists for Maui, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Iolani Palace (c) 2012 All Hawaii News

Native Hawaiians who believe they are citizens of the Hawaiian Kingdom — not the United States — nonetheless spent Thursday in an American court defending themselves against charges they trespassed on the grounds of their rightful seat of government, Iolani Palace. Civil Beat.

The state Reapportionment Commission plans to meet Jan. 20 to begin redrawing political boundaries, following a Hawaii Supreme Court ruling last week that invalidated new maps approved by the nine-member panel in October. Star-Advertiser.

Wary of undermining economic recovery, state House lawmakers want to forestall a scheduled increase this year in the unemployment insurance tax rate that would force businesses to pay $180 to $650 more for every employee. Star-Advertiser.

Teacher Agreement Better Than 'Last, Best and Final'? Too Soon To Say. Civil Beat.

Reptiles and other invasive species invaded the capitol today as part of a legislative briefing on environmental concerns. KHON2.

The biggest threat to the state’s economy, natural environment and the health of island residents, according to state lawmakers, comes from destructive plants and pests originating elsewhere. Hawaii Public Radio.

A wildlife revival around the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands is giving scientists a glimpse of what the main Hawaiian Islands looked like thousands of years ago -- and researchers said Thursday they hope the environmental renaissance of sorts will spur similar endeavors around the world. Star-Advertiser.

State building hit by bed bug problem. KHON2.

State roundup for January 13. Associated Press.

Oahu

Former acting Mayor Kirk Caldwell, looking to reclaim the post permanently, wasted little time in criticizing the incumbent, characterizing Mayor Peter Carlisle's first year in office as little more than photo opportunities and traveling with a singular focus on pushing the rail transit project at any cost. Star-Advertiser.

Caldwell's First Promise: Soap In Bus Stop Bathroom. Civil Beat.

Former Hawaii Gov. Ben Cayetano is considering a run for Honolulu mayor at age 72 for one main reason: to stop the rail project. Civil Beat.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie has released $2 million in general obligation bond funds for the planning, design and construction of a flood alleviation project for Oahu's Waianae Coast. KITV4.

Up to 100 truckloads per day of used asphalt has been dumped at the site of a proposed cemetery in Hawaii Kai in the past several weeks, resurrecting environmental concerns about what is being stockpiled on the property. Star-Advertiser.

Kaneohe Pier Declared Unsafe. Officials Condemn Portion Of Main Access Pier To Coconut Island. KITV4.

Great white shark spotted off Oahu. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii

The year 2011 ended on a soggy note in East Hawaii, but that was not enough to keep most of the Big Island from recording another year of below-average rainfall. Tribune-Herald.

North Hawaii Community Hospital has received $680,000 to improve its health information technology, joining a national health care industry trend to improve information technology. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Hawaiian Airlines is adding flights at Kahului Airport for both interisland and Mainland destinations, creating a "Maui hub" to improve connections. Maui News.

One of the leading Democratic candidates vying to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka decided to brown bag it to work Wednesday in Wailuku. Maui News.

A state-authorized motorcycle safety program will now be available on Maui with the opening of Hawaii’s newest motorcycle safety training site in Kahului. Maui Now.

An ordinance to prohibit alcohol consumption at the new South Maui Community Park in Kihei went into effect this week. KHON2.

Kauai

The County of Kaua‘i ended Fiscal Year 2011 on June 30 with a budget surplus of $57.26 million, according to the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report released Dec. 15. Garden Island.

Amanda Barretto has filed suit against a Kaua‘i elementary school and the state Department of Education in 5th Circuit Court on behalf of her 7-year-old child. Garden Island.

The mayor recognized Kamehameha Schools’ third-grade students in the  Kali‘imamo Program on Wednesday afternoon for their participation in creating and dedicating a new bus shelter fronting Kapa‘a Neighborhood Center. Garden Island.

Election maps won't be ready in time, Hirono raises big bucks, Hawaii foreclosures halved, teachers to continue pay cut, 3-way Honolulu mayoral race heats up, papayas bound for Japan, Hawaii County fires election workers, Kauai grapples green waste, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono and Sen. Daniel Akaka campaign photo

U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono raised more than $624,000 during the past three months for her Democratic primary for U.S. Senate, her campaign announced today. Star-Advertiser.

Former U.S. Rep. Ed Case said Wednesday that he would bridge a "yawning chasm" between business and government, describing government as too intrusive and an obstacle to economic growth. Star-Advertiser.

Former Gov. Linda Lingle said Tuesday that she would work with members of both parties if elected to the U.S. Senate, but also said Hawaii would benefit from having a Republican in its congressional delegation. Maui News.

Maps for new House and Senate districts are not likely to be ready by Feb. 1, the day when candidates can begin filing for elective offices. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii teachers will see 5 percent pay cuts lifted after two years in exchange for annual evaluations and performance-based pay, if they ratify their tentative agreement with the state. Civil Beat.

Public school teachers would continue to take a 5 percent pay cut under a proposed contract but would move to a new salary schedule and evaluation system in July 2013 and would be eligible for annual pay raises based on their performance. Star-Advertiser.

Facebook and Twitter could become the virtual town square for spirited public debate if the state’s public information watchdog agency has its way. The Office of Public Information Practices has submitted two legislative proposals to Gov. Neil Abercrombie to be included in his administration’s package for the coming session, which begins next week. Civil Beat.

Rewards of up to $30,000, the largest of their kind in Hawaii, are being offered for confidential tips that lead to the arrest and conviction of whoever killed three critically endangered Hawaiian monk seals on Molokai and Kauai since November. Star-Advertiser.

The number of foreclosures in Hawaii dropped by half last year as lenders grappled with a state law that changed the way they could file nonjudicial foreclosures, according to new data from RealtyTrac. Pacific Business News.

Local Oil Expert Questions Hawaii’s Renewable Energy Market. KITV4.

Hawaii's papaya industry is now exporting the genetically engineered Rainbow papaya to Japan after the Japanese government approved commercial shipment of the fruit on Dec. 1. Tribune-Herald.
http://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/sections/news/local-news/papayas-shipped-japan.html

Hawai’i small business owners participated in their 36th annual conference today on O’ahu. Hawaii Public Radio.

State roundup for January 12. Associated Press.

Oahu

A looming three-way race for Honolulu mayor poses a dilemma for voters, who could be forced to choose between allegiance to political party or their position on the biggest public works project in the city's history. Star-Advertiser.

Former Hawaii Gov. Ben Cayetano is considering a run for Honolulu mayor at age 72 for one main reason: to stop the rail project. Civil Beat.

A historic downtown building with a storied past may have a new chapter ahead in the arts, and it could have State departments on the move. KHON2.

A former Hawaii Pacific University administrative assistant was sentenced to five years probation for stealing more than $13,000 in school parking fees. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii

Hawaii County has fired four elections workers, including the program administrator, following an investigation into alcohol storage and private business activities allegedly conducted at a Hilo elections warehouse. Tribune-Herald.

China and India are catapulting to the forefront of astronomy research with their decision to join as partners with the Thirty Meter Telescope, which will be the world's largest when it's built later this decade. Associated Press.

The Hawaii Board of Education has agreed to hear an appeal by organizers of the Laupahoehoe charter school, who claim that their charter has effectively been revoked by the school's oversight body. Tribune-Herald.

The Kealakehe Elementary School library will soon get air conditioning, and other Big Island schools will see other maintenance projects begin, after Gov. Neil Abercrombie released $14.2 million for capital improvement projects. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Former Hawaii governor Linda Lingle (R) began the first official day of her campaign for a seat in the US Senate by visiting some local businesses in the Haiku Cannery on January 10, 2012. Maui Now.

The Maui Planning Commission decided Tuesday that former interior designer Xorin Balbes can follow his dream after putting everything he has into renovating Makawao's Fred Baldwin Memorial Home to turn it into the Lumeria Maui educational retreat. Maui News.

Kauai

Two nonprofit organizations and an anonymous donor have teamed up to offer a reward of up to $30,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the suspected slayings of at least three Hawaiian monk seals in the past two months. Garden Island.

Kaua‘i County officials are urging the public to remove green waste from plastic bags when delivering them to green waste drop sites at a county transfer station or the Kekaha Landfill. Garden Island.