Hawaiian Electric seeks smart-grid revamp, another super delegate for Hawaii Democrats, bill denying rapists parental rights clears committee, Big Island council to mull general excise tax surcharge, Kauai Rep. Kawakami leaving Legislature, skyscraper OK'd for Waikiki, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Honolulu at night © 2016 All Hawaii News

Hawaiian Electric Co. asked the state Thursday to approve a $340 million smart-grid system that would improve reliability, allow for increased use of renewable energy sources and give customers more control over their electrical use. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. David Ige’s administration concluded in filings Thursday that 22 days of hearings on NextEra Energy Inc.’s proposed purchase of Hawaiian Electric Industries proved the plan is a bad fit for the state. Star-Advertiser.

A proposed law passed through the House Committee on Judiciary Thursday would allow the courts to deprive rapists of parental rights as long as there’s “clear and convincing evidence” that a child was conceived during a sexual assault. Associated Press.

Legislation backed by groups who want to reduce homelessness and create more affordable housing cleared the Senate Ways and Means Committee on Tuesday. Civil Beat.

The Senate Senate Ways and Means Committee moved 22 bills forward Thursday, the latest batch to clear the crucial money committee chaired by Sen. Jill Tokuda. On Tuesday, the committee passed bills to reduce homelessness and create more affordable housing. Civil Beat.

Senate Bill 3034 has been moving along at the Hawaii Legislature, but the bill called “Marsy’s Law” faces a deadline next week or it’s likely dead for 2016. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Democrats discovered last week that they have another superdelegate for the party’s national convention in Philadelphia this summer. The news comes as pressure builds on Hawaii’s superdelegates to support U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Gets Another Superdelegate For Democratic Convention. In a surprise to local party officials, Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui was added just before the presidential preference poll, bringing the total to 10. Civil Beat.

Some of Hawaii’s most dynamic teachers are reaching out to inspire colleagues and enhance their profession as part of a new corps of “teacher leaders.” Star-Advertiser.

It’s no coincidence that April is Tsunami Awareness Month in Hawaii. Seventy years ago today the islands were pounded by one of the most destructive tsunamis in the 20th century, a series of massive waves that took 159 lives and caused more than $26 million in damage across the state. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii hotel rates rose 5.1 percent last week to an average daily rate of $270.77 as hotel occupancy across the Island srose 4.5 percentage points to 83.9 percent, according to the weekly report from Hospitality Advisors LLC and STR Inc. Pacific Business News.

What really happened at the ʻAha, part IV. The international committee struggles to have its alternative documents to the federal-recognition constitution put before the participants for consideration. Hawaii Independent.

Oahu

The Honolulu City Council zoning committee has unanimously approved plans for a hotel-condo tower to be built at King's Village in Waikiki that's 110 feet higher than current zoning allows. Hawaii News Now.

Neighborhood Concerns Face Off Against Honolulu’s Need For Affordable Housing. The City Council considers a development moratorium that would postpone a project in Moanalua, while another in Chinatown has been delayed for months and still faces obstacles. Civil Beat.

Kirk Caldwell has a new campaign commercial playing on local radio stations. Star-Advertiser.

The solar airplane grounded in Hawaii last year flew back into action today. The solar impulse went for a training flight at Kalaeloa Airport. KITV4.

Hawaii

The public will get its chance to weigh in on a taxing question next week, when the County Council Finance Committee considers a half-percent general excise tax surcharge for transportation projects. West Hawaii Today.

A judge’s decision was reported incorrectly Thursday in West Hawaii Today regarding a neighbor dispute over ocean views in the Alii Heights subdivision. The judge ruled in favor of the couple who sought remedy from their neighbors whose shrubbery they claimed obstructed their ocean view. John S. Gailliard and Jodi L. Gailliard prevailed in their civil suit against Elizabeth Rawsthorne and William Bates, Judge Melvin Fujino wrote in an order filed Wednesday. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Although hundreds of Makena Beach & Golf Resort employees will be without jobs beginning July 1, their prospects for regaining employment are bright in Maui's burgeoning hotel industry, Maui County officials said Wednesday. Maui News.

Discovery Land Co. said Thursday that the $300 million redevelopment of the Makena Golf & Beach Club will will create 400 new construction jobs, and that about 20 percent of the 385 employees who will be affected by the hotel's closure will remain at the resort to assist with operations. Pacific Business News.

Still in its early stages, a project calling for the development of 32 private rental townhomes, along with retail, dining and office space, is being proposed for a 1-acre parcel on Vineyard Street near the back parking lot of Maui Medical Group in Wailuku.Maui News.

Kauai

Calling it the easiest decision he has ever made, Kauai Rep. Derek Kawakami, D-Kapaa, announced Thursday he not run for another term in the state House and will instead seek a two-year term on the Kauai Council. Garden Island.

State Rep. Derek Kawakami announced Thursday that he’s going to give up his seat in the Legislature and run for the Kauai County Council. Civil Beat.

Saturday started in sewage for a few guests at The Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas when a system failure spilled raw human waste into the bathrooms of one of the resort’s guest buildings, affecting about 5 percent of all of their rooms. Garden Island.

Public Utilities Commission curtails solar credits, criminal charges dropped against Mauna Kea protesters, Micronesian immigrants seek better life, Health Department pushes medical marijuana laws, new Navy chief says U.S. could patrol South China sea, Maui panel drops cane-burning plan, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Solar panels in Honolulu

A controversial program that has been one of the main drivers behind the record-breaking growth of rooftop solar in Hawaii is getting curtailed, according to a ruling this week by state regulators. Pacific Business News.

The state Public Utilities Commission cut the credit amount that new rooftop solar owners on Oahu will receive for the excess energy their photovoltaic systems send to the grid. Star-Advertiser.

Advocates of Net Energy Metering call it the most successful method so far to get people off fossil fuels. Now the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission has ended the program for new solar customers. Hawaii News Now.

There’s a major shake-up in how homeowners are paying for solar systems. Some homeowners will now have to pay more for keeping their systems on the grid, thanks to a new pricing structure approved by the Public Utilities Commission. KHON2.

New Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson said that if international law allows freedom of navigation near China’s man-made islands in the South China Sea, then it should come as no surprise that the United States would exercise that right. The U.S. government is said to be preparing to send a surface ship within 12 nautical miles of the artificial islands China has created in the contested Spratly Islands as a freedom-of-navigation demonstration. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s first system of medical marijuana dispensaries are slated to open next summer, but certain rules adopted this past July are already in effect for current patients and caregivers. Pacific Business News.

Medical marijuana plants are to be tagged with the patient’s state registration number and expiration date, under rules adopted by the state in July. West Hawaii Today.

Outnumbered by Democrats 24-1, Sen. Sam Slom can’t even make a motion on the state Senate floor without a Democrat’s help; otherwise it will die for lack of a second. Civil Beat.

An Untold Story of American Immigration. First we nuked their islands and then we took control of the whole region. In exchange, Micronesians can move to the U.S. without restriction. And they are coming  — by the tens of thousands — for health care, education and jobs. Civil Beat.

It’s hard to miss the growing numbers of Micronesians pitching tents and temporary shelters in Honolulu’s burgeoning homeless camps. Why are so many moving to Hawaii and ending up in what seems like worse conditions than they left behind in their islands? Civil Beat.

Despite pending litigation and concerns about disrupting international agreements, the U.S. government has decided Hawaii’s longline fishing fleet can reel in an extra 1,000 tons of bigeye tuna by making payments one of the Pacific island territories. Civil Beat.

Oahu

The Honolulu Police Commission is trying to figure if it has the legal authority to put Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha on paid leave while he's under federal investigation. Hawaii News Now.

City crews completing a block-by-block sweep in Kakaako cleared the remaining two dozen homeless people from Ohe Street on Tuesday morning. Star-Advertiser.

The University of Hawaii Cancer Center has received $5.5 million from the National Cancer Institute for its collaborative research with the University of Guam. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

Criminal charges under the now-defunct Mauna Kea emergency rules will be dismissed, Hawaii County’s top prosecutor said Tuesday. Tribune-Herald.

The Hawaii County prosecutor’s office has filed a motion to drop charges against seven individuals arrested Sept. 8 for violating the state’s emergency rule that prohibited camping near the summit of Mauna Kea. Star-Advertiser.

Some low-lying major roadways and beloved landmarks on Hawaii Island are destined to sink beneath the waves, according to a new study on sea-level rise. Tribune-Herald.

The state director of the Humane Society of the U.S. says the county should be denied a state permit to acquire two Bengal tiger cubs for the Panaewa Zoo and Gardens, while the zoo’s director says the organization is basing its opposition on misinformation. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

The Maui Planning Commission denied a petition Tuesday that would have the panel consider sugar cane smoke when evaluating special management area use permits for projects near shorelines. Maui News.

The burning of large sugar cane fields on Maui has been linked to acute respiratory distress in a new study by health professionals. The study was the first of its kind to separate symptoms caused by cane burning from vog, said Dr. Lorrin Pang of the Maui Department of Health, a co-author. Civil Beat.

Shan Tsutsui restless as Lt. Gov, but will there be a Maui Mayor job for him in 2018? MauiTime.

Windward Community College is preparing more graduates to enter Hawaiʻi’s veterinary work force by expanding its Vet Assisting Certificate program to Maui. Maui Now.

Rising sea levels in the next 200 years could swallow up the homes of nearly 10,000 current Kihei residents, according to a study published online Monday that analyzes how cutting carbon emissions could protect millions of homes in the U.S. Maui News.

Reducing carbon emissions might be the only way Maui residents and visitors can help reduce the devastating effects from unprecedented levels of coral bleaching the island has seen in the last two years. Maui News.

Another “Aloha Aina Unity March” is being planned Sunday in Lahaina, Maui, organizers announced Tuesday. Civil Beat.

Kauai

Lepeuli Beach, popularly known as Larsen’s, has for years been the center of a dispute over a controversial fence that went up in 2011, blocking off the easiest access to the narrow strip of sand on the North Shore. Beachgoers eventually tore the fence down. Garden Island.

Young birds and young people came together at Lydgate Park Tuesday for the ceremonial release of fledgling Native Newell’s Shearwater birds. Garden Island.

Transparency a problem for Hawaii Gov. Ige, lieutenant governor wants more responsibility, death with dignity petition gathers names, two-year-old issues surface for Maui mayor, weakened ethics bill advances on Big Island, Lanai short of affordable housing, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Gov. David Ige at 2014 inauguration, courtesy photo

Gov. David Ige made open government an important part of his campaign for governor. But since assuming the governorship 10 months ago, Ige has fallen short on some of his key campaign promises when it comes to government transparency. Star-Advertiser.

Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui  is pushing for a bill in the Legislature that will change the election process for lieutenant governors. Instead of running separately, the governor would select a lieutenant governor as a running mate. Star-Advertiser.

The state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations continues to smooth out the process of keeping elevators safe and up to code. Tribune-Herald.

‘Death With Dignity’ for Hawaii? An online petition aims to persuade House Speaker Joe Souki to take up physician-assisted suicide at the Legislature. Civil Beat.

A government council says Hawaii’s longline fishing fleet is suffering a big economic impact because of quotas and that in turn means consumers are paying a high price at the market. KHON2.

Oahu

Ansaldo Honolulu JV, the firm that won the largest contract in state history to deliver rail’s train cars and signaling system, recently understaffed key job positions at a “critical juncture” of the transit project, according to the agency overseeing rail. Star-Advertiser.

A Honolulu City Council idea to provide property tax breaks to businesses suffering from construction of the rail project is being panned by the Caldwell administration for lacking specific details. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell often gets showered in mochi, manapua and mangoes. But he also gets treated to an occasional free meal or gift basket. While some of these goodies come from colleagues on neighbor islands — such as Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa, who gave Caldwell some lychee and guri guri ice cream in June — other gifts come from well-heeled business types, a review of his gift log shows. Civil Beat.

A “God bless the military” sign is staying up at the Marine base in Kaneohe, despite cries from a religious freedom group that the message is unconstitutional. Star-Advertiser.

Friday was supposed to be the last day of the Kakaako homeless encampment. But the remnants of what was once the biggest homeless community in Honolulu will remain until Tuesday, as the city’s maintenance crew needs an extra day to finish the cleanup work. Civil Beat.

Large homeless camps along the Kapalama Canal and in Kakaako are being swept away, but to where? Hawaii News Now.

The Hawaii Department of Agriculture hopes to start construction in about a year on its 150-acre, $23 million Kunia Agricultural Park project in Central Oahu, which would afford 23 lessees the ability to farm and live on the property. Pacific Business News.

Family and friends say 25-year-old Colin Cook lost most of his leg in a shark attack off Oahu’s North Shore. Associated Press.

Hawaii

A weakened bill attempting to tighten county ethics standards is trudging toward its eighth hearing this year before the Hawaii County Council, as council members work to hack off all the offending pieces. West Hawaii Today.

An East Hawaii developer says he hopes to jump-start the economy along the Hamakua Coast with a new, multiuse project rooted in the property’s history. Meanwhile, some neighbors of the 9-acre parcel in Hakalau are awaiting a decision regarding their request that the county purchase the land to preserve it as a park. Tribune-Herald.

Following a strong showing at a public listening session last month, proponents of a ratepayer-owned electric utility on Hawaii Island continue to push what they see as a superior alternative to the proposed $4.3 billion acquisition of Hawaii Electric Light Co. by Florida-based NextEra Energy Inc. Tribune-Herald.

While it’s not clear where it will be placed, University of Hawaii at Hilo still plans to buy a new teaching telescope after being told to remove its tiny observatory from Mauna Kea. Tribune-Herald.

The emergency rules enacted by the State of Hawaii restricting access to Mauna Kea have been invalidated by the Circuit Court of the Third Circuit. Judge Ronald Ibarra made the ruling Friday. Big Island Video News.

You can see the imposing mass of Mauna Loa from space. It encompasses more than half of Hawaii Island, rises 13,680 feet above the Pacific, and is so heavy it depresses the ocean floor below it almost 5 miles. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

A secretly recorded conversation exposes unguarded talk among four officials in the administration of Mayor Alan Arakawa in March 2013 - more than a year before Arakawa would seek re-election for an unprecedented third four-year term. Maui News.

It's no secret that film producer Ryan Kavanaugh was generous to Mayor Alan Arakawa and those close to him, which was something the mayor discussed publicly during the March 9, 2013, Mayor's Kokua Ball at the King Kamehameha Golf Course clubhouse in Waikapu. Maui News.

The agency that measures air quality from pollutant-producing businesses is fining Maui County along with seven businesses and two Kauai agencies for failing to pass air quality tests. Associated Press.

An old Pioneer Mill cane haul road is being planned as a new roadway to relieve congestion on Honoapiilani Highway, where southbound traffic is expected to increase by 50 percent over the next five years, according to construction plans. Maui News.

The Upcountry water meter priority list has gone from 1,887 properties in 2013, when the list was closed, to 1,765 as of Friday, about a year after the water department began issuing meters to long-waiting applicants. Maui News.

Kauai

A pair of state lawmakers said a pay raise resolution passed this week by the County Council probably won’t amount to much any time soon. Garden Island.

There’s a new sugar plantation on Kauai. The waving fields of cane cover 7 acres, and they represent one new-but-old facet of the broad diversity of agriculture on the island. Garden Island.

Lanai

Lanai residents frustrated with the shortage of affordable housing on the island confronted Mayor Alan Arakawa during his administration's annual community budget meeting Thursday night on Lanai. Maui News.

Tropical disturbance threatens Hawaii, state Supreme Court overturns Waikiki hotel variance, Kaiser Permanente picked for Maui hospitals, Kakaako tech park advances, Sandwich Isles ousts Hee, Kauai to learn about coral bleaching, Kona timeshare project cleared, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

2:02 a.m. Thursday Hawaii storm track, courtesy Central Pacific Hurricane Center

A developing weather system about 800 miles southeast of Hilo has a high chance of forming into a tropical cyclone in the next few days, according to forecasters. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s long-term care ombudsman is lobbying the federal government to take action that better protects the elderly from inadvertently signing away their right to sue a nursing home should a dispute arise during their stay there. Civil Beat.

President Obama’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders arrived in Hawaii on Tuesday for the first time on a mission to better understand issues facing the Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities. Star-Advertiser.

Sandwich Isles Communications Inc. is planning a corporate restructuring that will remove owner Al Hee from “any management responsibilities or involvement” with the company in the wake of Hee’s convictions this summer on federal tax charges, the Hawaiian Homes Commission was told Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

The Hawaii Supreme Court on Wednesday overturned a city variance that was necessary for Kyo-ya to replace the existing eight-story Moana Surfrider Diamond Head Tower with a 26-story hotel and residential tower. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Supreme Court has ruled that the city shouldn’t have granted a variance to allow a 26-story hotel and residential tower to encroach on a Waikiki shoreline. Civil Beat.

Hawaii’s highest court has overturned a city variance granted to Kyo-ya Hotels that would have allowed them to construct a new building along Waikiki Beach outside the developmental restrictions enacted for the Waikiki Special District. Hawaii Independent.

State officials heading a technology park in Kakaako published a draft environmental assessment Wednesday that estimates an initial $39 million phase of what is being called the “Innovation Block” could be completed by 2018, followed by two more perhaps equally costly phases in 2020. Star-Advertiser.

A technology park meant to boost tech industry jobs in the state could be coming to Honolulu as soon as 2020 under a plan being pushed by a state development agency. Hawaii News Now.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources  and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Honolulu District are holding a public meeting on Wednesday, September 30, 2015 to present the Draft Feasibility Study and Environmental Impact Statement on the proposed Ala Wai Canal Project. KHON2.

Honolulu paid $167,500 to two hikers who said they were brutalized by officers, but its Police Department overruled a finding that excessive force was used. Civil Beat.

The University of Hawaii is moving ahead with plans to lease more than 150 acres of vacant land next to the UH-West Oahu campus for mixed-use development to help support the growing Kapolei university. Star-Advertiser.

Transit-oriented developments key in addressing Honolulu's housing crunch, state official says. Pacific Business News.

The City continues its sidewalk enforcement in Kaka’ako and has placed nearly one-third of the homeless individuals and families into emergency shelters. Hawaii Public Radio.

The 77-foot sunken fishing vessel Judy K — covered in mud, algae and barnacles — was floated Tuesday for the first time in eight months at Pier 16 thanks to the Army’s 7th Engineer Dive Detachment taking on the recovery as training. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

The alala hasn’t been seen in the wild for about 13 years, but an effort to prevent Hawaii Island’s native crow from going the way of the dodo could soon begin to pay off. According to a draft of the state’s revised Wildlife Action Plan, there are now 114 alala being raised in captivity — enough to begin reintroducing the birds to the island’s forests as early as next year. Tribune-Herald.

A planned condominium timeshare development mauka of Alii Drive has been downsized slightly to accommodate neighbors’ concerns about a family graveyard. West Hawaii Today.

The $60,000 that the IRONMAN World Championships pay to use the Kailua Pier for four days would be cut in half, under a request that the state Board of Land and Natural Resources will consider on Friday. West Hawaii Today.

County workers are piecing together a flood-damaged road shoulder on Kuakini Highway in Kailua-Kona — again. West Hawaii Today.

A Kailua-Kona man who punched a shark and saved a surfer friend has been awarded a Carnegie Medal for heroism. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The Maui Region board of the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation has selected Kaiser Permanente as a potential partner for Maui's three public hospitals. Maui News.

The state’s public hospital system has selected Kaiser Permanente to operate and manage three Maui county hospitals. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Health Systems Corp.’s Maui Regional System Board announced Wednesday that it has selected Kaiser Permanente to enter negotiations with the state and the Maui board to manage the three state-owned hospitals in Maui County. Pacific Business News.

Lieutenant Governor Shan Tsutsui today raised concerns over the selection of Kaiser Permanente by the Hawaiʻi Health Systems Corporation’s Maui Regional System Board as its choice to operate its facilities under a planned partnership. Maui Now.

Maui resident Christopher Profio is asking the Maui Planning Commission to include sugar cane smoke as a factor when granting special management area use permits. Maui Now.

The Water Resources Committee on Wednesday recommended adoption of a resolution approving land purchase agreements for the expansion of the ʻĪao Water Treatment Facility and development of Wailuku Well 1, Committee Chair Gladys Baisa announced. Maui Now.

Short-term rental approved for Helen Hunt, denied for Fleetwood. Planning commission hears requests. Maui News.

Kauai

Researchers reported a successful result from this week’s bait experiment to eliminate the rat population on Lehua Rock. Garden Island.

Bleachapalooza, a statewide effort to train Hawaii residents how to identify and report sightings of coral bleaching, is coming to Kauai. Garden Island.

Inauguration Day: Ige sworn in as governor still seeking a Cabinet, Hawaii and Kauai counties seat councils, lava flow picks up steam, deadly pig virus confirmed, more government and political news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Gov. David Ige inauguration, courtesy photo

The wind-swept, cool afternoon on inauguration day was a dramatic change from the hot and dry outdoor ceremony four years ago that brought a new Hawaii governor into power. Star-Advertiser.

David Ige was sworn in as Hawaii’s eighth governor on Monday following a patriotic ceremony that culminated in a 19-cannon salute reverberating through the Capitol halls. Standing on a stage with Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui, Ige introduced himself to the hundreds of people seated in the open-air rotunda. Civil Beat.

Democrat David Ige was sworn in Monday as Hawaii’s eighth governor, taking the oath of office in the state Capitol in a ceremony that featured hula dancers, conch calls and ukulele serenades. Associated Press.

Democrat David Ige was sworn in as the eighth Governor of Hawaii during an inauguration ceremony at the State Capitol Monday afternoon. Hawaii News Now.

Democrat David Ige was sworn in as Hawaii's eighth governor since statehood Monday, calling for members of his administration to work together to engage the public with the state government. Pacific Business News.

Hawai’i’s new Governor was sworn in today at the State Capitol. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaiʻi’s newly sworn in Governor, David Ige and Lieutenant Governor Shan Tsutsui of Maui delivered their inaugural addresses at the Hawaiʻi State Capitol this afternoon. The theme, “Honoring the Past, and Charting a New Tomorrow,” was apparent as both honored their family history and spoke of their hopes for the next generation. Maui Now.

Hawaii entered a new era on Monday with a new leader in charge of our state. Gov. David Ige was sworn into office at noon Monday on the rotunda of the State Capitol. KHON2.

During Monday's inauguration celebration, David Ige talked about Hawaii's future years from now. The new governor also outlined what will happen in the next few weeks, after being on the job for just a few hours. KITV4.

Inauguration Day Slideshow: ‘I’m David Ige’ A day of pageantry and celebration unfolds at the Hawaii Capitol before the new governor gets down to the business of running state government. Civil Beat.

TRANSCRIPT: Ige's 2014 Inaugural Address. KITV4.

New Gov. David Ige plans to spend the next few days with his closest advisers looking over resumes and reviewing the state's fiscal situation as he fills out his Cabinet and puts together the executive budget to submit to the Legislature in three weeks. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. David Ige had just two members of his cabinet in place as he took office Monday, far fewer than his predecessor, fellow Democrat Neil Abercrombie, had on board when he was sworn in four years ago. Hawaii News Now.

David Louie’s term at Hawaii’s attorney general ended when David Ige was sworn in as governor Monday at the State Capitol. David Louie is no longer Hawaii’s attorney general. Ige will not keep Louie in his cabinet, and instead will be relying upon Russell Suzuki on an interim basis until a successor is chosen. Civil Beat.

Gov. David Ige has selected Rachael Wong as the next director of the state Department of Human Services. Star-Advertiser.

Richard Rapoza, the longtime communications director for U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, starts a new job today as director of strategic communications for Hawaii Pacific University. Civil Beat.

Landlords’ Rejections Keep Hawaii Homeless on the Streets Longer. Many Hawaii property owners refuse to accept renters using vouchers from Housing First and Section 8 programs. Civil Beat.

The number of University of Hawaii freshmen taking 15 or more course credits has increased by 50 percent over the past three years — an improvement the university says will help more students graduate on time and enter the workforce more quickly. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

The theft of the Honolulu police chief's mailbox not only brought allegations of undue influence after a crack police squad made an arrest, but also exposed a messy family financial dispute. Star-Advertiser.

A bill expanding the city's sit-lie ordinance into downtown Honolulu and 14 other business districts throughout Oahu will be signed by Mayor Kirk Caldwell on Tuesday morning. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii officials confirmed the first outbreak of a deadly pig virus on a farm on Oahu, Reuters reported on Monday. According to the state agriculture department, the outbreak of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus, or PEDv, occurred on a farm with about 150 pigs, and about 25 percent have died. The state quarantined the infected farm, but officials are still uncertain how the virus arrived in Hawaii. Civil Beat.

Friends of Hanauma Bay say the City has been mismanaging the nature preserve for years and they want the facility's budget separated from the general fund. Hawaii News Now.

The developer of a planned $500 million regional shopping center in Kapolei has signed a 65-year lease with the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, overcoming a major hurdle for the ambitious project. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Tears, joy, controversy and even silly hats marked the changing of the guard Monday, as three members of the County Council were replaced by newcomers eager to get on with the people’s work. West Hawaii Today.

After staying far upslope for the past two weeks, the lava flow advanced hastily over the weekend with a fresh ribbon of red molten rock establishing itself as its new front. Tribune-Herald.

An active lava breakout near an abandoned geothermal well has been declared the new flow front, a stream of lava that could threaten the Pahoa area in as soon as 12 days if it continues on its current pace. Star-Advertiser.

A plan to use an abandoned pipe to transport biofuel from ships docked at Hilo Harbor to a nearby storage facility will likely be approved after it cleared an environmental assessment. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui started a pilot project to encourage more recycling by offering curbside pickup, but the economics have not worked out. Hawaii Public Radio.

Lui Hokoana said he brings a "student-centered" philosophy, or one that "puts students first," to his role as the University of Hawaii Maui College's new chancellor. Maui News.

Kauai

It’s back to basics for the County of Kauai. That’s the common concept that Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. and newly selected County Council Chair Mel Rapozo say is needed to heal past wounds, regain the trust of residents and strengthen community bonds. Garden Island.

Two staunch opponents of a controversial and yet-to-be-implemented county law that regulates some pesticide use and cultivation of genetically modified crops will lead the new Kauai County Council. Garden Island.

Under the new Pay-as-You-Throw ordinance, which takes effect in July 2015, customers can choose between a 64- or 96-gallon cart for their automated curbside refuse collection. These options are available to customers who have 96-gallon carts, as well as to the 9,000 residents around the island who will begin to receive the automated service come July. Garden Island.

The County Planning Director can be subpoenaed for deposition as a witness in a civil matter, even if the county was already dismissed as a defendant in a negligence case brought by former Hanalei boatyard owner Michael Sheehan against his neighbors. Garden Island.

Tropical storms shouldn't disrupt Hawaii elections, support wanes for state-funded preschool, lieutenant governor candidates in dead heat, GMO motivates candidates, drone regulation sought, Maui mayor's seat safe, property taxes at issue, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hurricane Iselle, Tropical Storm Julio courtesy NOAA National Weather Service

A tropical storm expected to bring heavy rain and wind to Hawaii this week shouldn't significantly affect the state's primary election based on current weather forecasts. Associated Press.

Hurricane Iselle weakened slightly and Tropical Storm Julio maintained its intensity as both storms continued on a path toward Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Government officials kicked storm planning into a higher gear Monday as Hurricane Iselle appeared to be taking aim at the Hawaiian Islands and another powerful storm was following in its tracks. Star-Advertiser.

Nineteen Hawaii super PACs have spent more than $1 million in the current election season to sway voters and influence the state’s political atmosphere, according to the most recent campaign spending commission data. Civil Beat.

A nonpartisan candidate for the U.S. Senate is suing Hawaii television stations KHNL and KGMB for not allowing her to appear in a televised debate. Joy Allison of Waikoloa filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court on Friday. Associated Press.

With 5 days to go before the primary election, our Hawaii News Now/Star Advertiser Hawaii poll shows a dead heat between Shan Tsutsui and Clayton Hee in the Lieutenant Governor's race.

The race for the Democratic Party's nomination to be the state's next lieutenant governor is in a statistical dead heat, and could come down to last-minute appeals from the campaigns to swing a large number of undecided voters, according to one analyst. Star-Advertiser.

GMO Issue Spurs Candidates to Seek Election, But It’s Ugly Out There. Hawaii political observers are watching bellwether races on Kauai, Maui and the Big Island. Sentiments run high on both sides, and sometimes the campaigns get edgy. Civil Beat.

A majority of voters favors a constitutional amendment on the November ballot that would allow public money to be spent on private preschool, according to a new Hawaii Poll, but the degree of support has weakened since February. Star-Advertiser.

The Department of Veterans Affairs continues to whittle down the wait times for patients in the military medical system in Hawaii and other parts of the Pacific. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii's tourism industry is in a good position to match or break visitor arrival and spending records this year after gains in June and an expectation that airline capacity serving the state from North America will expand over the remainder of the year. Star-Advertiser.

State officials announced the successful sale of nearly $164 million in Highway Revenue Bonds, with an estimated $120 million to fund various highway projects, and more than $65 million allocated to refinance existing bonds for interest savings. Maui Now.

Pesky Drones Snap Photos on Private Property. Should a small model airplane with a camera on it be allowed to fly into your space and take pictures of you? Civil Beat.

Hawaii's first plan to address Alzheimer's disease and dementia forecasts effective prevention of Alz­hei­mer's by 2025 while calling on volunteer caregivers, health care professionals and others in the near term to step up training in the complicated issues tied to both conditions. Star-Advertiser.

State roundup for August 5. Associated Press.

Oahu

A new proposal would allow residential owner-occupants on Oahu to petition the city for one-time property tax compromise bills if they got shoved into the new Residential A tax class, requiring them to pay at a much higher rate. Star-Advertiser.

A source within the State Senate has informed the Independent that State Senator Rosalyn Baker is the “chief legislative supporter of [Dr. Michele] Carbone,” the Director of the University of Hawaiʻi Cancer Center (UHCC) who has come under fire for his mismanagement of the center and for his unheard of amount of ethical and academic violations against his own researchers. Hawaii Independent.

The fierce elements brought on by hurricanes and tropical storms are a big threat to people who live in the elements. The efforts to warn and find homeless shelter is already underway. KITV4.

A Honolulu insurance agent has purchased nearly 30,000 square feet of vacant, foreclosed property in Kailua in Windward Oahu for about $2 million that could be redeveloped as apartments, retail, offices or assisted-living facilities. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

Incumbents are flexing their financial muscles in the Big Island state House and Senate races ahead of the primary election Saturday. With a few exceptions, those running for re-election are outspending and out-fundraising their opponents by large margins. Tribune-Herald.

Farmers taking advantage of county property tax breaks could soon be required to dedicate the land to farming for at least three years to qualify. West Hawaii Today.

The Center for Food Safety and Big Island organic farmers Rachel Laderman, Nancy Redfeather and Marilyn Howe are seeking to help Hawaii County defend its law restricting the use of genetically modified crops. Tribune-Herald.

Two Hawaii Island telescopes captured images of several eruptions that are changing scientists’ understanding of volcanic activity on Io, one of Jupiter’s moons. West Hawaii Today.

Maui
Five candidates are trying to unseat Mayor Alan Arakawa, a Hail Mary proposition that even Maui's most established politicians decided to take a pass on this year. Maui News.

Maui state Senate candidates are debating how to help local public hospitals amid news the Maui Memorial Medical Center will shut down its adolescent behavioral health unit to save money. Associated Press.

Life on Maui has changed, at least when it comes to trash collection. And you can blame it on budget cuts. Money problems are squeezing everything from trash pickups to hours of operation at county landfills. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kauai

Jay Furfaro has seen a number of issues come across his desk during the nearly 12 consecutive years that he has been on the Kauai County Council. Garden Island.

Hawaii’s tourism economy is on pace with last year’s record-breaking year in spending and arrivals, but Kauai saw fewer visitors and spending in June. Garden Island.

Hawaii's largest newspaper endorses Schatz, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Haleakala, generate millions, Maui vacation rentals illegal, Kauai council to tackle GMO and pesticides, saving Ka'u hospital, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Ohia blooms at Kileaua volcano ©2014 All Hawaii News

A new National Park Service report for 2013 shows that the 1,583,209 visitors to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park spent $124,937,400 in communities near the park. This spending supported 1,476 jobs in the local area. Tribune-Herald.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie, haunted politically by an unpopular pension tax proposal, has sought to assure seniors he will not support taxes on pensions or senior benefits if re-elected. Star-Advertiser.

Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui is unlikely to appear at any public forums or debates with his top Democratic challenger, state Sen. Clayton Hee, before the Aug. 9 primary election due to scheduling conflicts. Star-Advertiser.

Giving birth on the islands is relatively cheap, but the high cost of goods and services makes raising a child here an expensive proposition. Civil Beat.

An exchange of letters between a Hawaiian political leader and a U.S. senator in 1897 reflects the central questions of today's Hawaiian sovereignty movement. Hawaii Independent.

The Hawaii Office of Veterans Services is surveying women veterans to determine how to better meet their needs. Associated Press.

Air Force Lt. Gen. Lori J. Robinson has been nominated to be the new commanding general of Pacific Air Forces, which would make her the first U.S. female four-star commander of combat forces, the Pentagon announced last week. Star-Advertiser.

The Star-Advertiser endorses Brian Schatz, who has held the seat since his appointment in 2012, for the Democratic nomination to the U.S. Senate.

Opinion: In this year's election, a big question is whether voters are ready to start transferring power to younger lawmakers who will have to live with the future we're building. Our state has lost a generation of potential leaders as the old have jealously clung to power, leaving many of our best and brightest waiting for their turn that never came. Star-Advertiser.

If residents of Hawaii are going to have affordable electricity, the state needs to break up Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc., the parent of the Hawaiian Electric Co., a former lawmaker contends. Hawaii Reporter.

As the largest animals on Earth, great whales play a role in maintaining Hawaii's ecosystems by bringing in nutrients from their migrations. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

A former campaign manager for Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell was one of several consultants working on the Pacific Resource Partnership’s 2012 political takedown of former Hawaii Gov. Ben Cayetano. Civil Beat.

Kakaako is an ideal spot for Hawaii's growing homeless population. On a recent weekday, nearly 100 tents crowded the sidewalks and open spaces around the discovery center, the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine, the UH Cancer Center and other buildings and parks in the area. Star-Advertiser.

The former executive director of an organization that encourages people to adopt foster children has been charged with sexual assault involving two girls. Star-Advertiser.

Land use issues, road repairs and the financial health of the city top concerns among the two candidates challenging Honolulu City Council Chair Ernie Martin for the Council District 2 seat. Civil Beat.

Hawaii

The need to keep Ka‘u Hospital operating as a “safety-net” facility was major topic of discussion during a public meeting Saturday of the Hawaii Health Corp. East Hawaii Board of Directors. Tribune-Herald.

The Astronaut Ellison S. Onizuka Space Center had its door open for free on Saturday to celebrate its 23rd year and to put kids in touch with the awe-inspiring forces that shape the universe. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Maui-based mbloom Ventures LLC, which is partially funded with state funds, has been embroiled in controversy since it announced its investment in two companies founded by the fund’s general partners, Arben Kryeziu and Nick Bicanic. Pacific Business News.

Only a 10th of all short-term vacation rentals currently being marketed in Maui County are legal, according to the Maui County Planning Department. Maui News.

Tourism to Haleakalā National Park in 2013 generated more than $47 million in visitor spending and supported 536 jobs in the area, according to new data released by the National Park Service. Maui Now.

The number of visitors to Haleakala National Park and the spending and jobs supported by those visitors dropped significantly last year due to the 16-day government shutdown in October, a National Park Service report said. Maui News.

The Department of Health is warning residents and visitors to stay out of the waters contaminated with storm runoff. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai

A petition calling for the regulation of the use of pesticides and growth of genetically modified crops on Kauai could face its demise at an upcoming meeting Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

The Kauai County Attorney’s Office is asking the County Council to approve $50,000 for special counsel services for the lawsuit aimed at blocking implementation of a county law targeting pesticides and genetically modified organisms. The council is expected to vote on the matter during its meeting Wednesday. If approved, the money would bring the amount spent on the case to $125,000 so far. Garden Island.

The Kauai County Council will take up a measure on Wednesday that would let general election voters decide whether more taxpayer money should be allocated for public access and open space projects. Garden Island.

In all, there are 60 stretches of roads — distributed across Kauai between Hanalei and Mana — that are, either as a whole or in part, not formally owned by the state or the county, according to the county Department of Public Works. Garden Island.

RIMPAC war games continue, Maui tourism data questioned, Kauai officials want pay hikes, Interior Department reconsidering Native Hawaiian sovereignty rule, Abercrombie scraps debates, condo association rules tighten, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

The Indian navy Shivalik-class stealth multi-role frigate INS Sahyadr, U.S. Navy courtesy photo

Rim of the Pacific maritime exercises in Hawaii are many things to many nations in an increasingly interconnected world. RIMPAC provides the ability to work in large ship formations at sea. For the United States, this year it's a chance to develop better military-to-military working relationships with China, which is participating for the first time. Star-Advertiser.

For both Norway and the U.S. Navy, the firing of a Norwegian Naval Strike Missile during Rim of the Pacific war games was a big deal. Star-Advertiser.

The Interior Department will not pursue a rule creating an administrative mechanism for recognizing a future Native Hawaiian government if the consensus from written and oral testimony is against that path, an agency spokeswoman told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie has backed out of three of the four AARP Hawaii debates with state Sen. David Ige before the Democratic primary. Star-Advertiser.

David Ige and Neil Abercrombie may be longtime Democratic elected officials, but they have clashed repeatedly in recent debates over leadership, policy and the direction of the state. A Civil Beat examination of the campaign finances and spending patterns of the two candidates also reveals dramatically different politicians. It’s entirely lopsided, with the governor raising and spending millions of dollars compared to the senator’s very modest donations and expenditures.

Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui, bidding to win election to the job to which he ascended, raised $357,000 over the past six months, according to his campaign finance report. Star-Advertiser.

With less than a month to go before the Aug. 9 primary, state Senate President Donna Mercado Kim, a veteran campaigner, and human rights activist Kathryn Xian, a political newcomer, are the U.S. House candidates who are stepping away from the pack on key issues. Star-Advertiser.

Here’s a look at the week’s most interesting and important developments in Hawaii’s election campaigns. Associated Press.

The Candidate Advisory Council for the University of Hawaii has begun the recruitment process for six seats on the Board of Regents after two more resignations. Four of the seats need to be filled immediately because the resignation of regents Saedene Ota of Maui County, Carl Carlson of Hawaii County, Tom Shigemoto of Kauai County and John Dean of Honolulu County. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii condominium owners got some help from the Legislature this year in monitoring how condo association boards manage their property and finances -- a sometimes delicate issue that can divide neighbors. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie has appointed three members to the seven-member Board of Land and Natural Resources. The governor said Friday the appointments will fill seats vacated by two members who resigned and another whose term expired. Associated Press.

Rise in human trafficking impacts Hawaii. Hawaii Reporter.

State roundup for July 14. Associated Press.

Oahu

If city Neighborhood Commission Executive Secretary Nicole Velasco had her way, all 437 seats on Oahu's 33 neighborhood boards would be filled. Star-Advertiser.

A staffing shortage forced the city's Emergency Management Services division to close ambulance units Saturday night and Sunday. The shutdowns occurred after two paramedics were injured in an accident at Ala Moana Center Saturday. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii

Hawaii Island could do more to improve mass transit and bolster rideshare programs. That’s according to a new study prepared for the Kohala Center by the Michigan School of Natural Resources and Environment, which called for increased carpooling and clearer county bus schedules. West Hawaii Today.

A new study released this week points to something Hawaii County drivers know already: the roads are in bad need of repair. But there is an additional threat to the state’s transportation system on the horizon — the possibility of a 28 percent cut in federal reimbursements for road projects. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Is There a Conflict of Interest in Hawaii’s Startup World? A venture capital firm's first two investments, supported with public funds, are in companies owned by the firm's founders. Civil Beat.

The veracity of the data used by the Hawaii Tourism Authority to compile reports about Maui’s tourism industry has been the subject of a complaint, delaying reporting for several months. Maui Now.

A county Board of Ethics complaint has been filed against Maui County Council Member Don Guzman for allegedly conducting private business on county time by assisting former mayoral candidate Neldon Mamuad in his last-minute bid to file his papers to run for office last month. Maui News.

Mayor Alan Arakawa issued a gag order to all county employees, including civil service and appointed staff, barring them from communicating directly with members of the County Council and their staff. Maui Weekly.

Lahaina Harbor on Maui is going to be getting a new ferry pier. It’s designed to ease congestion, but the state Department of Land and Natural Resources revised its plans after hearing from the community. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kauai

Several County of Kauai department heads say they will seek pay raises for themselves and other higher-ranking employees. They say the raises will bring the county’s salary scale up to par with other counties and match the worth of their growing responsibilities. Garden Island.

A lot has changed, Daynette “Dee” Morikawa said, since she was elected to her first term in the state House of Representatives. Garden Island.

The new slate of Kauai Farm Bureau officers and board of directors represents more than 200 years of combined farming experience, said Jerry Ornellas, outgoing president. Garden Island.

Molokai
Molokai Has the Most to Lose, But Least Say in GMO Debate. A November ballot initiative could shut down its biggest employers, but the island's population is dwarfed by voters elsewhere in Maui County. Civil Beat.

Dirty politics in 2012 Honolulu mayoral race, Kauai GMO pesticide law postponed, 'American Jungle' film crew cleared by DLNR, aquarium collectors targeted, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Moorish Idols © 2014 All Hawaii News

A Hawaii organization is working with a national one to provide more education about the impact of aquarium fish collection on the state’s reefs. West Hawaii Today.

By the Numbers: A Statistical Snapshot of the 2014 Elections. 303 candidates are seeking 102 seats up for grabs this fall in Hawaii. Civil Beat.

Clayton Hee Buys First TV Ads This Season. His opponent in the Democratic primary for lieutenant governor, incumbent Shan Tsutsui, is spending a lot more, however. Civil Beat.

Democratic Honolulu City Councilmember Stanley Chang said Thursday if he's elected to represent Hawaii's First Congressional District, he would live up to his "Agenda for Change" mantra by keeping Hawaii at the forefront of a progressive movement. Hawaii News Now.

Veteran lawmaker Romy Cachola is agreeing to negotiate a settlement with the state Campaign Spending Commission involving charges that he misused political contributions for personal use. Star-Advertiser.

If congressional candidate Kathryn Xian is elected to the U.S. House, she has vowed to donate half her salary to charity. The Democrat, running in Hawaii’s 1st Congressional District, said she wants to put her money where her mouth is as a politician and as a human being who cares about her community. Associated Press.

The Hawaii Campaign Spending Commission decided Thursday to give attorneys more time to reach a settlement before determining whether state Rep. Romy Cachola improperly used his campaign funds. Civil Beat.

Dozens of Hawaii Department of Education employees are on paid leave pending investigations that can drag on for several years. Associated Press.

Hawaii's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate held steady at 4.4 percent in May to match the previous month's rate and remain at its lowest level in nearly six years. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

With former Gov. Ben Cayetano ahead in the polls for mayor and the rail project he vowed to block in trouble with voters, the Pacific Resource Partnership turned to high-powered political consultants in 2012 who devised a calculated strategy to portray Cayetano as corrupt. A trove of private emails, poll memos, advertising scripts and opposition research, obtained by the Honolulu Star-Advertiser from James Bickerton, an attorney for Cayetano, offers a peek inside PRP's $3.6 million campaign to prevent Cayetano from being elected mayor. Star-Advertiser.

An Inside Look at the Hawaii Super PAC That Helped Defeat Cayetano. Emails detail the political strategies employed in 2012 by the PRP, an organization determined to undermine the mayoral candidacy of the former governor. Civil Beat.

More than 200 people from firms around the world interested in developing energy storage projects on Oahu to help Hawaiian Electric Co. add more renewables to its grid showed up either in person or via teleconference to take part in the utility’s pre-bid conference on Thursday morning in Honolulu. Pacific Business News.

Acquiring properties in Honolulu to build Oahu's rail transit system could involve "judicious" use of eminent domain, officials say, as those overseeing the project scramble to secure ownership of all the properties they'll need to keep construction on schedule. Star-Advertiser.

Here in Honolulu, or anywhere for that matter, after you call 911, you expect to get help quickly. That’s dependent upon a reliable radio system for first responders. The city’s system, known as the Enhanced Digital Access Communication System, is almost 20 years old, and city officials say it is time to develop a new one. KHON2.

A group of military moms have filed a lawsuit saying their families were exposed to dangerous chemicals and they weren't properly notified of the risk. Hawaii News Now.

A man known as the Manoa Rapist is suing state Department of Public Safety Director Ted Sakai and Corrections Division head Max Otani for refusing to let the inmate enter the department's work furlough program. Star-Advertiser.

A recent NerdWallet study that found Honolulu among the nation's worst cities for drivers, taking into account the number of hours of traffic delay per commuter, the population density, gas prices, insurance prices and precipitation rates. Hawaii Reporter.

Hawaii

The Department of Land and Natural Resources was unable to prove filmmakers were on state land during the production of a reality television show that aired last fall, a spokeswoman said Thursday. Still, the creator of “American Jungle” said, the way the department handled its concerns has disrupted discussions about another season of the Hawaii Island program. West Hawaii Today.

Two women inmates in Hilo’s jail say the bathrooms there are inadequate, unsanitary and potentially dangerous. Tribune-Herald.

A team of consultants hired by Kona Community Hospital say the organization is making strides toward more efficient operations and money savings. Three months into a nine-month process, consultants told the West Hawaii Region Board of Directors on Wednesday that they’ve identified at least $4.5 million in savings and revenue opportunities. West Hawaii Today.

A civil lawsuit alleging a company and three individuals sold undeveloped land in Puna to Japanese nationals under fraudulent pretenses and at inflated prices will go forward, at least for now. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

The Maui Police Department confirmed Wednesday that it had concluded an investigation on the county Department of Parks and Recreation and its former director Glenn Correa. Maui News.

Kauai

Implementation of Ordinance 960, a new county law regulating the use of pesticides and genetically modified organisms on Kauai, has been delayed to Oct. 1 via a court order issued last week. The ordinance (formerly Bill 2491) was passed in November and slated to take effect Aug. 16. However, a lawsuit challenging the legality of the law was filed in February by four companies — Syngenta, DuPont Pioneer, BASF and Dow AgroSciences — that would be directly impacted by the measure. Garden Island.

A recent analysis of government pesticide databases and data from the state Department of Agriculture’s Kauai Good Neighbor Program shows that the agrochemical industry is applying pesticides at higher rates on Kauai than most U.S. farms. Garden Island.

The completion of the Lydgate Beach Park refurbishment project was celebrated with a blessing on Thursday. Garden Island.