Lifeguards face staffing shortage, $50M state fund to help nonprofits hit by federal cuts, military monitors Chinese ship near Hawaii, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Burden For Preventing Drownings In Hawaiʻi Falls On Counties — And Residents. Ocean safety efforts are left up to individual counties, leading to big disparities in drowning prevention across the islands. The state does little to help them. Hawaiʻi’s lifeguards and emergency services are managed and funded at the county level. Neighbor islands, in particular, feel the impact of funding and staffing crunches.  Civil Beat.

Gov. Josh Green signs construction, funding bills into law. Gov. Josh Green finished off the bill signing season by holding two bill signing ceremonies on July 9, signing legislation regarding construction processes and funding for nonprofits.  KHON2.

Special $50M state fund authorized to help Hawaii nonprofits. Hawaii nonprofits affected by federal funding cuts should get ready to apply for grants from a special $50 million state fund created by a bill signed into law Wednesday.  Gov. Josh Green authorized the new fund by signing Senate Bill 933, which he said will help prevent fraying of the social safety net that nonprofits help provide largely in areas of health care, food security, housing support, child care and emergency relief. Star-Advertiser.

Military watching Chinese naval ship near Hawaii. On Wednesday, a spokesperson for the Oahu-based U.S. Indo-Pacific Command confirmed that it is “monitoring a (Chinese People’s Liberation Army) vessel which was operating in international waters in the vicinity of Hawaii.” Star-Advertiser.

Controversial CEO Of Domestic Violence Action Center Steps Down. Monique Ibarra resigned as chief executive officer of the Domestic Violence Action Center last week, according to a news release from a public relations firm representing the agency.  Laurie Tochiki, a Hawaiʻi family law attorney and former executive director of EPIC ʻOhana, will serve as interim CEO.  Civil Beat.

Oahu

Property owners willing to pay for sanitation, safety improvements in downtown Honolulu. Bill 51 focuses on creating a business improvement district funded by property owners and investors who say they are willing to pay to help revitalize the area. Hawaii News Now.

Council advances Haleiwa expansion project. A proposed Haleiwa housing and commercial development project that has sparked community opposition over the loss of agricultural land, increased traffic congestion and the high cost of living advanced Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

Demolition begins in Waikiki to make way for new affordable housing project. Demolition began Wednesday at a long-abandoned apartment building on Ala Wai Boulevard, clearing the way for a new affordable housing project. Hawaii News Now.

Plans to demolish Ward Centre begin. Built in the 1980s, Ward Centre is home to over a dozen businesses including shops, boutiques, a co-working space and eateries.  KITV4.

Koko Head Crater Hiking Trail to reopen to public. The popular Koko Head Crater Hiking Trail is set to reopen on the morning of July 10, following a temporary closure by the city. KHON2. KITV4. 

Hawaii Island

What is HPD’s role in ICE raids? Island residents, ACLU seek answers.  Numerous individuals have provided the Tribune-Herald with their written testimony asking the Police Commission to bar local police from assisting the federal government in immigration enforcement raids. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaiʻi Island lawmakers consider fining those who feed stray animals. Bill 51 proposes fining those who are caught feeding stray and feral animals on County of Hawaiʻi land — $50 for first-time violators and up to $500 for repeat offenses. Hawaii Public Radio. Big Island Now.

Final phase of Uncle Billy’s hotel demolition underway. This second phase will focus on comprehensive site preparation at the ground level and below. This includes the removal of soil impacted by pesticides, the extraction of underground utilities, surface grading of the entire site and the placing of fresh topsoil and grass. Tribune-Herald. Hawaii News Now. KHON2. 

Maui

Maui Fires Settlement: Kamehameha Schools Poised To Pay $872 Million. A state court will decide soon whether to allow one of Hawaiʻi’s oldest and largest charitable trusts to settle claims related to the fires that destroyed Lahaina. Civil Beat.

Plans To Improve Lahaina Evacuation Routes Are Slowly Inching Forward. Nearly three dozen people died trying to escape the Kuhua Camp neighborhood, where the county is now working to extend and widen roadways. Civil Beat.

Uncertainty clouds Maui housing market with slow sales and lingering inventory. Condo sales and sale prices are down, listings have decreased and single home sale prices are flat. Maui News.

Lahaina rebuilding dilemma: Commission debates parking lot rezoning for Moku Roots. After three failed attempts to reach an agreement, the Maui Planning Commission finally secured a 5-2 vote Tuesday recommending rezoning of a Front Street lot crucial for customer parking for the new Moku Roots vegan restaurant planned for the former Chart House site in Lahaina. Maui Now.

Debris truck traffic adjusted in hopes of addressing concerns. In response to concerns expressed by members of the public, traffic patterns have been changed for the 50 to 70 trucks hauling Lahaina wildfire debris from West Maui to the Central Maui landfill daily, according to Maui County officials. Maui News.

Kauai

Kauaʻi has a plan for the changing climate. Here are 5 things to know. When a thunderstorm brought record-breaking rainfall to Kauaʻi in April 2018, the county didn't have a formal plan for how it would address the impacts of global warming. After seven years, that's about to change. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kaua‘i County to launch wildfire outreach education in communities vulnerable to blazes. A Kaua’i County wildfire preparedness outreach effort kicks off next week in Kaumakani. Kauai Now.

Back to School Bash this Saturday. Nearly 8,900 students will return to class on Aug. 4, according to estimates from the new Kauai Complex Area Superintendent Leila Maeda-Kobayashi. Garden Island.

Koko trail viewing platform to be repaired, not removed; bill advances allowing nurses to perform abortions; Maui grappling with rising COVID-19 infections, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Koko Crater Trail PC:Honolulu Parks & Recreation

Viewing platform atop Koko Crater Trail won’t be torn down. The city announced Thursday that the metal grate platform at the top of the hike will not to removed until a new one is constructed. Hawaii News Now. Star-Advertiser. KHON2. KITV4.

Swelling inmate populations prompt new fears about COVID outbreaks. Although pandemic rules to lower the number of inmates eased overcrowding last year, officials worry more prison COVID outbreaks could spread as inmate populations swell again. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Lawmakers Seek Exemption From Political Ad Disclosures. House Bill 144 and House Bill 674 would exempt candidates for office from filing reports on ads with the state.  Civil Beat.

A matter of access: State Senate committees consider bill that would let APRNs perform abortions. Legislation that would allow advanced practice registered nurses to perform abortions passed through the state House and is now before the state Senate. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaiʻi Senate Committee Passes Resolutions Denouncing Racism Acts against Asian-Americans. District 16 Sen. Bennette E. Misalucha introduced resolutions SCR66 and SR48 that condemn and denounce all forms of anti-Asian sentiment and all acts of racism, xenophobia, intolerance, discrimination, hate crime and hate speech against Asian Americans and Asian individuals in the United States. Maui Now.

Gov. Ige orders flags to fly at half-staff in memory of Atlanta shooting victims. Governor David Ige has ordered that the flags of the United States and State of Hawaii shall be flown at half-staff at all state offices in honor of the eight victims who were killed in three Atlanta-area massage establishments on March 16. KHON2.

House Majority Leader Della Au Bellati to lead investigation of colleague Rep. Sharon Har. House Majority Leader Della Au Belatti will chair a special House Committee tasked with investigating state Rep. Sharon Har following her arrest on suspicion of drunken driving on Feb. 22. Star-Advertiser.

Department of Health refines COVID-19 vaccine priority list for essential workers in Phase 1C. Effective immediately, only essential workers at hotels, restaurants and bars are eligible. It's a drastic cut to the priority list initially deemed eligible under Phase 1C. KITV4.

March 18, 2021 COVID-19 Update: The state Department of Health reports that there were 88 additional COVID-19 cases reported in Hawai‘i on Thursday, including 38 on O‘ahu, 39 on Maui, two on Molokaʻi, seven on Hawai‘i Island, and two in Hawai‘i residents diagnosed out of state. Maui Now.

Oahu

City prosecutor wants COVID-era policy changed so judges can jail misdemeanor offenders. City Prosecutor Steve Alm wants to restore some of the power Oahu judges had taken away during the pandemic. Hawaii News Now.

Possible Transfer Of Oʻahu EMS System Causing Concern At Honolulu Hale. A state proposal would transfer the responsibility and costs of emergency medical services on Oahu from the state Department of Health to the City and County of Honolulu. Hawaii Public Radio.

Proposal to rename McKinley High School and remove statue stalls at Hawaii Legislature. A push to change the name of McKinley High School and remove its towering bronze statue of President William McKinley ran aground Thursday at the Legislature after passionate testimony on both sides. Star-Advertiser.

Wedding industry rally seeks Oahu reopening. Oahu’s wedding industry rallied Thursday at Honolulu Hale to urge Mayor Rick Blangiardi to reopen weddings under the city’s new Tier 3 structured-events mandate. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

Larger rail budget packs generous contingency plans. The new $12.449 billion price tag to build the city’s troubled rail project all the way to Ala Moana Center is based on more “conservative” budgeting expectations that include “every foreseen unknowables,” the board of directors of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation was told Thursday. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

HART, Hitachi At Odds Over Wheel Defect As Rail Costs Soar. The wheel rims are narrower than the track crossings, causing renewed headaches on what’s now a $12.4 billion transit project. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

CIP projects by district a no-go. One councilman’s request for the others to prioritize the top five capital improvement projects for their districts turned into a discussion Tuesday about whether the nine council members should stay focused on their own districts or take a countywide perspective. West Hawaii Today.

Nearly 21% of Hawaii County’s total population vaccinated as of Thursday. As of Thursday, 63,721 people in the county had been vaccinated with at least one dose, which is 20.9% of the county’s total population. Tribune-Herald.

Bed and breakfast approved on Alii Drive: Leeward Planning Commission allows project despite cesspool concerns. A five-bedroom Alii Drive home a half mile south of Laaloa Beach Park won approval Thursday to become a bed and breakfast establishment, despite concerns about sea level rise and wastewater issues. West Hawaii Today.

Big Island Scales Back Plans For Recycled Water. The lower category of recycled water could still be used on golf courses and for some types of farm irrigation. Civil Beat.

Hilo Seaside Hotel under new ownership. Hospitality company Soul Community Planet, or SCP, on Thursday announced the purchase of the 138-room Hilo Seaside Hotel. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui mayor says uptick in COVID cases shows residents have grown ‘complacent’. Maui Mayor Mike Victorino expressed frustration Thursday following an uptick in COVID cases on the island linked to “complacent” behavior. Maui saw 41 new COVID cases Thursday. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

Rickard to serve as acting police chief. Deputy Police Chief Dean Rickard will serve as acting police chief while a search gets underway for a new chief to replace Police Chief Tivoli Faaumu, who is retiring at the end of next month. Maui News. Maui Now.

Nonprofit seeks protected fishing area for Kipahulu. East Maui residents are proposing the creation of a protected fishing area for Kipahulu to help regulate harvesting practices and increased foot traffic and to protect depleting resources that once fully sustained nearby communities. Maui News.

Kauai

Ige assesses North Shore flood, landslide damage. As work continues to repair Kuhio Highway after the landslide last week above the Hanalei Bridge, officials gathered for a blessing of the site early Thursday morning. Garden Island.

Council moves forward on Ag land use bill. A bill making its way through the Kaua‘i County Council to allow produce stands on adjacent agricultural lands is moving to a final reading next week. Garden Island.