LGBTQ+ students added to Hawaii Title IX, high-tech economy boosted by cyber spies, Sensei Farms transforms Lanai agriculture, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Gay pride parade in Hawaii ©2020 All Hawaii News

Hawaii's new Title IX law includes protection for LGBTQ+ students. Hawaii's new Title IX law is the first in the nation to include protection for LGBTQ+ students. Activists say this addition is a positive step forward in expanding rights in educational programs. KITV.

State senators grill University of Hawaii on salary funding details. University of Hawaii officials Friday were unable to answer pointed questions from state senators about who should pay for what could be more than $14 million worth of “fringe” employee benefits for an estimated 1,076 UH salaried positions paid through tuitions rather than the state’s general fund. Star-Advertiser.

Cyber Spies Are Quietly Boosting Hawaii’s High Tech Economy. Can the state build on a massive base of National Security Agency and other government cyber jobs? Civil Beat.

Hawaii's New Asset Forfeiture Rules Take Effect Jan. 17. New requirements will apply to local enforcement authorities in seizing cars and other property of criminals under long-awaited asset forfeiture rules issued by the Hawaii attorney general on Dec. 31. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii bankruptcies in 2019 hit highest level in 5 years. The U.S. stock market had a record bull run in 2019. But not everyone shared in the wealth. Star-Advertiser.

Pay Hikes for Special Ed, Hawaiian Language, Rural School Teachers Start On Tuesday. Pay increases for public school teachers in hard-to-fill positions, including those for special education, rural areas and Hawaiian language immersion, start on Tuesday. Hawaii Public Radio.

A $75,000 Settlement Is Scaring Hawaii Charter Schools. A recent legislative directive that forces state agencies to cover the costs of legal claims could have a big impact on charter schools. Civil Beat.

New law on reporting inmate deaths exposes alleged prison homicide. A new law that requires prison officials to report to the governor each time an inmate dies in custody has already revealed the case of a prisoner who died on Christmas morning after being assaulted at Oahu Community Correctional Center.  Star-Advertiser.

Maunakea Looms Over American Astronomical Society Meeting. The Thirty Meter Telescope controversy will be a major topic of discussion during the four-day conference being held at the Hawai‘i Convention Center on Oʻahu. Big Island Video News.

TMT supporters rally at Hawai‘i Convention Center. Supporters of the Thirty Meter Telescope waved signs and flags Sunday outside of the Hawai‘i Convention Center while a major astronomy conference was being held inside. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Honolulu Board Of Water Supply Fined For Stream Pollution. The Board of Water Supply failed to notify state health officials about a sediment discharge for 15 days, according to the state health department. Civil Beat.

Honolulu Board of Water Supply faces $420K penalty for polluting Nuuanu Stream. The Honolulu Board of Water Supply and a trio of contractors face a possible $420,000 fine for polluting the Nuuanu Stream over an 18-day period last year. Star-Advertiser.

Dead Koi fish led to a $420K fine from the Department of Health. The Department of Health announced a notice of violation for the Board of Water Supply and some of its consultants and contractors carrying a $420K fine. KITV.

=====

Hauula residents want long-term fix for collapsed road. Repair crews began work Sunday morning along a portion of Kamehameha Highway that collapsed into the ocean in Hauula, but some residents questioned why the state allowed the road’s condition to deteriorate to that extent. Star-Advertiser.

Traffic in Hauula still impacted as crews make emergency repairs to crumbling roadway. A lane of Kamehameha Highway in Hauula remains closed Monday morning as crews make emergency shoreline repairs to the crumbling roadway. Hawaii News Now.

=====

Development firms to build affordable housing through state resolution. A development partnership is positioned to start building a low-income housing tower in Pawaa later this year following a recent tentative endorsement by the state to finance the $89 million project. Star-Advertiser.

New rules for tent installers impact vendors at Aloha Stadium Swap Meet. Vendors of the popular Aloha Stadium Swap Meet say they were caught off guard when trying to set up Saturday, leading to tensions over the market. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Herbicide ban not a sure thing. While the County Council had voted 6-3 to approve Bill 101 — the same number of affirmative votes needed to override Mayor Harry Kim’s veto — there’s no guarantee all six council members who previously voted yes on the bill will also agree to override the veto. West Hawaii Today.

Kim to meet with governor, TMT officials this week. Although the protesters at Maunakea Access Road have physically changed their position, their philosophical position remains the same as in July. Tribune-Herald.

Charges dropped against retired police captain. Charges against a retired Hawaii Police Department captain accused of tipping off arcade owners prior to a gambling raid have been dropped. Tribune-Herald.

Charges in a 2-year-old drug case have been dropped because of officer misconduct, a judge ruled. ose Miranda was charged in December 2017 with 11 counts of first-degree promoting a dangerous drug, class A felonies punishable by up to 20 years in prison. West Hawaii Today.

Councilwoman seeks affordable housing fund. The Big Island’s shortage of affordable housing is reaching the crisis stage, says a County Council member sponsoring a nonbinding resolution pushing for the creation of an affordable housing fund. West Hawaii Today.

Hilo Woman Pulls Slug From Mouth After Eating Island Naturals Sandwich. A Hilo woman will have to wait about two weeks to find out if she’s contracted rat lungworm disease after nearly ingesting a half-inch slug on New Year’s Eve. Big Island Now.

Maui

Mahi Pono: ‘We are not profiting off water’. Officials offer details of approach to vital resource. Maui News.

New Self-Service Kiosk for Vehicle Registrations at Maui County Building. A new self-service DMV kiosk was installed and blessed today at the county’s Kalana O Maui Building, bringing to five, the total number available in Maui County. Maui Now.

Crab, lobster hearings next week. Hearings are set on Molokai, Lanai and Maui next week on a housekeeping consolidation of rules regulating the take, possession and sale of Samoan crab, Kona crab and lobsters in state waters. Maui News.

Maui fires burned 25,000 acres in 2019. Brush fires took their toll on Maui in 2019, setting ablaze more acres of land last year than in recent years, and in the process destroyed utility poles, amassed hundreds of thousands of dollars in costs by the county and displaced hundreds of people. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai

Hawaii Tour Helicopter Owner Rejects Congressman’s Criticism. Richard Schuman says the industry is safe and does not need increased federal regulation. Civil Beat.

Forums target climate change. The National Tropical Botanical Garden is holding another series of forums on climate change, starting in February, titled “Climate Crisis 2020.” Garden Island.

Lanai

Lanai undergoes agricultural transformation using hydroponic greenhouses. Lettuce, tomatoes and cucumbers are lined up to be part of the first commercial harvest from a pioneering hydroponic greenhouse farm on Lanai developed by technology billionaire Larry Ellison and envisioned for expansion to serve the state and potential replication beyond Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Sensei Farms Lanai’s greenhouses mix old and new technology. Paving over red dirt that was once part of the most productive pineapple plantation in the world might not seem like the way to start a positive transformation of agriculture on Lanai. Star-Advertiser.

Sovereignty group members arrested after storming OHA, hundreds mark Hawaiian Kingdom overthrow at Iolani Palace, Cayetano hospitalized for heart problems, Tulsi Gabbard apologizes for anti-gay stance, Peter Boy's mother dies, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Office of Hawaiian Affairs PC: Andre Perez Facebook photo

Sovereignty group storms OHA. Five people were arrested Thursday after a radical sovereignty group muscled its way into the Honolulu headquarters of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs on the anniversary of the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy. Star-Advertiser.

5 arrested after members of sovereignty group storm OHA offices. At least five people were arrested Thursday after a self-proclaimed Polynesian sovereignty group stormed OHA’s office on Nimitz Highway, prompting an hours-long lockdown. Hawaii News Now.

Four Men Arrested For Assault After OHA Office Occupied. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs says some of its staff members were forcibly removed from the lobby by 12 people. Associated Press.

Five men arrested for storming Office of Hawaiian Affairs. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs was locked down for a couple of hours after a self-proclaimed sovereignty group occupied the facility. KHON2.

Hawaiian group attempts to overtake OHA offices: Five men arrested. Those arrested were booked for third-degree assault, an their bail was set at $100 each. KITV.

Native Hawaiians have mixed reactions to OHA occupation. KHON2.

Hundreds gathered at Iolani Palace on Thursday to commemorate 126 years since the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii. The overthrow happened on Jan. 17, 1893. Hawaii News Now.

Hundreds march to mark 126th anniversary of overthrow. Hundreds marched in solidarity Thursday to commemorate the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii. KITV.

OHA’s Own Audit Is Being Blocked — By People At OHA. The internal audit is supposed to identify areas where the Office of Hawaiian Affairs might be vulnerable to fraud and waste. Civil Beat.

=====

Cayetano hospitalized after suffering heart condition. Former Gov. Ben Cayetano is recovering in the hospital after suffering a rare but dangerous heart condition earlier this week. Hawaii News Now.

=====

Gabbard Apologizes In Video For Past Statements On Gay Rights. She released the video in response to criticism since she declared her candidacy for president. Associated Press.

Tulsi Gabbard releases video apology for past hurtful LGBTQ statements. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, who last week announced she was running for president, apologized today for her record of anti-gay rhetoric and her past work for an anti-gay advocacy group — issues that have emerged as an early obstacle as she pursues a long-shot bid for the Democratic Party’s nomination. New York Times.

Hawaii Congresswoman and presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard is apologizing for past beliefs and comments that she said were “wrong, and worse, hurtful to people in the LGBTQ+ community and their loved ones.” Hawaii News Now.

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard apologizes to LGBTQ community for earlier views. Gabbard's father ran The Alliance for Traditional Marriage, a political action committee aimed at opposing pro-gay lawmakers and legislation. KITV.

Less than a week after U.S. Representative Tulsi Gabbard confirmed she would be running for President of the United States in 2020, the Democratic Congresswoman from Hawaii has posted her first video apology to social media. Big Island Video News.

=====

A Hawaii businessman has been charged with bribing state employees and officials in the Federated States of Micronesia in order to receive multi-million dollar government contracts. Frank James Lyon, of LYON Associates Inc. in Honolulu, allegedly bribed the Hawaii government workers with at least $240,000 in order to land a $2.5 million contract, according to a federal court filing. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii School Superintendent’s Contract Extended For One Year. Some education advocates are concerned that the evaluation of Christina Kishimoto wasn’t tied more closely to data about school performance. Civil Beat.

School Board votes to extend Superintendent's contract. The Hawaii Board of Education voted to extend the School Superintendent Christina Kishimoto's contract by a year. KITV.

Fighting Climate Change Will Cost The State Millions. The state Department of Land and Natural Resources says money is urgently needed to protect beaches, watersheds, native species and more. Civil Beat.

The use of e-cigarettes among high school teens in Hawai’i is two times higher than the national average, according to the latest surveys.  And, the state legislature will be asked again to tighten Hawaii laws this session. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii’s unemployment rate rose in December for the fourth straight month as evidence mounted that economic growth in the state is slowing. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

The agency constructing the $9 billion Honolulu rail project violated state procurement law multiple times, according to a report by the city auditor. Star-Advertiser.

Rail Project Director Doesn’t Fully Meet Expectations — But Still Gets A Bonus. Andrew Robbins has proven a “quick study” in his first year leading the project but needs to improve, according to his job evaluation. Civil Beat.

Rail CEO won’t see a raise this year, but he did get a hefty bonus. The chief executive of Honolulu’s rail transit project won’t get a raise this year, but the rail authority’s board did vote to give Andrew Robbins a $10,000 bonus. Hawaii News Now.

The board of directors of the Honolulu rail authority granted CEO Andrew Robbins a $10,000 bonus Thursday as part of his evaluation for his first year on the job but declined to give him a pay increase. Star-Advertiser.

=====

City, Kealohas battle over secrecy of ethics investigation evidence. The city is going to court to protect evidence uncovered by ethics investigations of Kathy and Louis Kealoha. It's findings that later played a role in the ongoing federal criminal investigation. KHON2.

Dozens of government workers and union supporters gathered Thursday morning at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport for a silent march to protest the partial government shutdown. Star-Advertiser.

Oceangoers spotted walking on sperm whale carcass off Oahu. Video captured Wednesday shows a swimmer climbing on the carcass and then falling into the water. Hawaii News Now.

Star-Advertiser forms exposition, trade fair division. The Honolulu Star-Advertiser is expanding its line of expositions and trade fairs through a new events division, Star Events. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

The County Council has resurrected an old general excise tax hike that was postponed last May and put it on Wednesday’s council agenda for consideration. But officials say it’s on the agenda only as a procedural move, because the previous council in May had postponed it to the second council meeting in January. West Hawaii Today.

New leadership: Maui Electric Co.’s president will also oversee HELCO as Jay Ignacio retires. Hawaiian Electric is appointing one person to lead its Hawaii Island and Maui subsidiaries as the private power utility seeks to consolidate administrative positions. Tribune-Herald.

A proposed 11-unit condominium on the makai side of Alii Drive is moving forward again, but some residents are speaking out about it and one petition for standing in a contested case hearing has already been filed in the case. West Hawaii Today.

Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Commissioners recently got an update on the status of the Amy B.H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden in South Kona, which was identified by the commission as the number 2 priority for acquisition in its 2018 Report to the Mayor. Big Island Video News.

Jaylin Kema, mother of ‘Peter Boy,’ dead at 48. Jaylin Kema, the mother of fatal child abuse victim Peter Kema Jr., aka “Peter Boy,” died Wednesday night. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Servco Lexus Maui and Servco Subaru Maui held a blessing and grand opening ceremony for its new dual dealership location in Kahului at the Maui Business Park II. Maui Now.

Beginning in February, Maui County girls ages 11 to 17 may join the Boy Scouts, part of a nationwide change that began in October 2017 when the Boy Scouts announced that it would accept girls into the program. Maui News.

Kauai

Many hands have removed large amounts of the invasive aquatic plant salvinia from the Kilauea River over the past few years, but nature’s April flooding really swept it downstream. Garden Island.

Director sought for Grove Farm Museum. Garden Island.