Election officials plan for in-person voting option, Pearl Harbor gates closed after explosives scare, monkeypox now community spread, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii polling place in 2014 ©2022 All Hawaii News

Plans are underway to prevent delays at Hawaii voting sites. State and county election officials are working to prevent a repeat of the November 2020 general election, which saw every in-person voting site overwhelmed despite Hawaii’s otherwise successful first attempt at mail-in ballots. Star-Advertiser.

NTSB: Pilots At Fault For Fatal Hawaii Air Tour Crashes, But So Is FAA. The National Transportation Safety Board analysts are raising concerns about small plane and helicopter pilots taking greater risks when they encounter bad weather. Civil Beat.

Hawai‘i’s Home Insurance Premiums Are Lowest in Nation. Hawaiʻi has the lowest home insurance premiums in the United States, according to several national websites. But those rates have risen in recent years – and not because of skyrocketing home prices. Hawaii Business Magazine.

Third probable case of monkeypox identified in Hawaii. The state Department of Health has identified a third probable case of monkeypox in Hawaii, and because the patient has no travel history connected to the disease, officials said it is likely spreading locally. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Hawaii Public Radio. Maui Now. KITV4.

Oahu

Security incident shuts Pearl Harbor gate for nearly 2 hours. A Pearl Harbor gate was closed for nearly two hours on Thursday after a military working dog smelled something suspicious during a routine inspection of a civilian contractor's vehicle. Associated Press.

‘Glamping’ business scrutinized for luxurious setup just yards from homeless Waimanalo families. The business, Glamping Hawaii, specializes in glamorous camping services. They’re now under investigation by the city for illegally operating in a county beach park — a violation of the newly enacted law banning commercial activities at beaches from Makapuu to Bellows. Hawaii News Now.

Pilot Program seeks to rehab houseless arrestees in Chinatown. The rehabilitation program is called SUDA-fast, which stands for Substance Use Disorder Assessment, fast. KITV4.

Grand jury to consider criminal charges against officers involved in near-fatal Makaha crash. An Oahu grand jury will consider criminal charges against several HPD officers who allegedly took part in an illegal chase in Makaha last September. The incident left a teenager paralyzed and a driver with serious brain injuries, said officials. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Land Board Approves Milolii Community-Based Subsistence Fishery. The new rules call for size and bag limits for specific fish species, seasonal and gear restrictions, and no commercial aquarium fishing. Civil Beat. Tribune-Herald. Hawaii News Now.

Feds to investigate Big Island tour helicopter crash. A Bell 407 helicopter occupied by six people — five passengers and a pilot — crashed in a remote lava field between the Ranchos subdivision and South Point Road at about 5:29 p.m., the Hawaii County Fire Department said. Star-Advertiser. Associated Press. West Hawaii Today.

Mainland News Outlets, Facebook Posts ID Some Victims of South Point Helicopter Crash. According to an article from The Chattanoongan in Chattanooga, Tenn., a Chattanooga auto dealer and two family members were among the six people aboard the Paradise Helicopters Bell 407 helicopter, operated by K&S Helicopters, when it crashed Wednesday. Big Island Now. KITV4.

Maui

Analysts: Even with an incumbent, there’s no clear frontrunner in Maui mayoral race. Current Mayor Michael Victorino is facing three high-profile challengers and four lesser-known candidates. Hawaii News Now.

Another Prisoner Dies By Suicide At The Maui Jail. Staff at Maui Community Correctional Center say it’s the fifth suicide at the jail in less than five years. Civil Beat.

Man cited for illegal structure and storing personal belongings at Maunalua Bay. State officials with the Department of Land and Natural Resources say the man had allegedly cited lineage to various Polynesian monarchies, and yelled at and argued with Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement officers claiming, because of his heritage, he was not subject to the laws or rules of the State. Maui Now.

Sen. DeCoite announces resources for Maui County residents facing axis deer issues.  In collaboration with State and County agencies, Senator Lynn DeCoite (District 7 – Hāna, East and Upcountry Maui, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi, and Kahoʻolawe) is working to provide the public with information and resources on who to contact regarding axis deer issues. Maui Now.

Kauai

Wailua River Bridge work to begin. The $55.7 million project will get underway in July and should wrap up by the end of 2024. Most funding, $44.6 million, will come from the federal government, while $11.2 million will come from the state. Garden Island.

Kauai Residents Unload About Overtourism At DOT Meeting. State transportation officials had a hard time winning over the north shore residents despite proposals for eight projects. Civil Beat.

PMRF holds Change of Command Ceremony. When U.S. Navy Capt. Brett Stevenson walked onto the stage at the Pacific Missile Range Facility aircraft hangar Thursday morning, he was in charge of a military school in Nevada. When he left the stage, he was PMRF’s commanding officer. Garden Island.

Hayashi tapped as interim schools chief, DeCoite heading to Senate, only 56% of Hawaii residents vaccinated, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Keith Hayashi

Trailblazing principal Keith Hayashi is selected to lead Hawaii’s public schools. Keith Hayashi, the pace-setting principal of Waipahu High School who is credited with raising public education to new heights, will take the reins as interim superintendent of public schools Aug. 1. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

A Potential Shakeup At OHA Is Clouding The Agency’s Budget. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees is struggling to approve a new budget in the face of a major staff reorganization that has some employees and advocates worried workers could lose their jobs. Civil Beat.

Russian spy ship now reported north of Oahu. A Russian spy ship is again causing a stir off Hawaii — this one after a big Russian naval and air exercise hundreds of miles west of the Aloha State resulted in three missile-armed F-22 fighters scrambling on Sunday but didn’t involve intercepts of any of the exercising aircraft. Star-Advertiser.

Survey: More Than 80% Of Firms Struggle To Find Workers. As of April Hawaii had about 53,000 unemployed workers and 27,400 openings. Civil Beat.

Local high schoolers could help rebuild Hawaii’s employee shortage. The Chamber of Commerce Hawaii is publicizing several efforts aimed at giving students skills to land jobs in different industries, following an informal May survey of business operators showing that 86% of respondents are struggling to hire employees as the state’s economy rebounds from a pandemic-induced recession. Star-Advertiser.

Schatz reintroduces compassionate release legislation. Hawaii U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz on Thursday reintroduced legislation that would accelerate the federal Bureau of Prisons’ approval process for compassionate release during a public health emergency. Tribune-Herald. KITV4.

Hawaii reports 36 new COVID cases; vaccination rate stands at 56%. Of the 36 new cases, 22 were on Oahu, four were on Kauai, three were on Maui, and two were on Hawaii Island. There were also five residents diagnosed out-of-state. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Newly released reports spotlight some evidence being used in Kaneshiro corruption probe. Records turned over to Hawaii News Now reveal engineering and architectural firm Mitsunaga and Associates tried more than once to get a criminal case going on a fired employee who then filed a civil lawsuit for age and sex discrimination. Hawaii News Now.

Lawmaker, watchdog call for investigation into HART’s alleged mishandling of Hanabusa contract. A state lawmaker and a political watchdog are calling for an investigation into the rail authority’s attempt to award a lucrative lobbying contract to former Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa. Hawaii News Now.

Cleaning schedule urged for Oahu city parks. A resolution that would ask the city Department of Parks and Recreation to create and publicly publish a schedule for park maintenance advanced out of the Parks and Community Services Committee and will be sent to the full City Council for a vote. Star-Advertiser.

Centenarians Could Be Exempt From City Fees Under Proposed Council Bill. The proposed legislation says centenarians would be exempt from paying for TheBus, the HandiVan and future rail fares. They also would not have to pay for admission to city park facilities, the Honolulu Zoo and Foster Botanical Garden—nor would they have to pay for municipal golf courses and golf cart rentals. Hawaii Public Radio.

Honolulu Is Revamping How It Prosecutes Domestic Violence Cases. The Honolulu prosecutor says only a small fraction of abusive family members are convicted, but that should change under a new policy. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Vehicle and licensing clerks added to county roster. Relief is on its way for people who’ve complained of long lines and long waits for appointments with the county offices of vehicle registration and licensing. West Hawaii Today.

HCCC inmates transferred to Oahu amid COVID-19 outbreak. Twenty-eight inmates were transferred from Hawaii Community Correctional Center to facilities on Oahu to reduce some overcrowding at the jail, which is currently experiencing a COVID-19 outbreak that has sickened more than 200. West Hawaii Today.

Landmarks on the market: Kona Inn Shopping Village, Kona Bay Hotel up for sale. The 139-room budget hotel and 86,000-square-foot oceanfront shopping village in Kailua-Kona is listed with Eric Kathrein and Geoff Tranchina of JLL, Jones Lang LaSalle Americas Inc, which is a commercial real estate services company with offices in Honolulu.West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Ige Appoints Lynn DeCoite To Fill Vacant Maui Senate Seat. Rep. Lynn DeCoite assumed the Senate seat representing Maui on Thursday, more than a month after it was vacated when J. Kalani English retired due to lingering effects from COVID-19. Civil Beat. Hawaii Public Radio. Maui Now. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

Residents in east Maui beg for relief from visitor boom. As Hawaii experiences an influx in tourists, residents in rural communities in east Maui are begging state and county officials for help. Hawaii News Now.

Slower speed limit on S. Maui highway drives frustration. Some locals are confused and frustrated after the state Department of Transportation made a temporary speed reduction permanent on a lengthy stretch of South Maui’s sole highway. Maui News.

Hawaiian Cement permit for quarry operations approved. The state Land Use Commission unanimously approved a 15-year time extension on a permit that lets Hawaiian Cement continue rock quarry and concrete recycling operations at Pohakea Quarry in Waikapu. Maui News.

Westin Maui Resort Underwent $120 Million Renovation, Participating in Mālama Hawaiʻi Initiative. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Westin Maui Resort & Spa in Kāʻanapali underwent a $120 million renovation of its accommodations in the Hōkūpa‘a tower and upgraded its amenities and programs, according to a news release from the resort. Maui Now.

Kauai

Council supports KPD scanner encryption. The Kaua‘i County Council voiced support for the Kaua‘i Police Department’s continued efforts to encrypt dispatch communications. Garden Island.

Kealia roundabout progress continues. Roundabout use at the intersection of Kuhio Highway and Mailihuna Road intersection has partially opened, eliminating access to the temporary Kapa‘a Stream Bridge. Garden Island.