Ammo age ban likely, German navy joins RIMPAC, Honolulu mulls fake farm bill, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii to ban those under 21 from buying ammo. Gov. Josh Green is expected to sign a new bill into law that will ban those under 21 from purchasing ammunition. KHON2.

German navy makes its debut at RIMPAC in Hawaii. German navy makes its debut at RIMPAC. This year at the biennial Exercise Rim of the Pacific — the world’s largest naval exercise — the German navy has dispatched ships to participate for the first time as Berlin begins putting its ambitious new Pacific strategy into action. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii urged to prepare for wildfire power shutoffs. This week marks the start of Hawaiian Electric’s program of proactively shutting off power in specified areas to protect the public if and when there is a high risk of wildfires on all the islands it serves. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Electric launches new searchable maps for Public Safety Power Shutoff program. Hawaiian Electric customers can now use a new online search feature to determine if their address is within the high-risk wildfire areas within the company’s Public Safety Power Shutoff program. Maui News. Big Island Video News.

New law boosts funding for Hawaiian language immersion education. Hawaiian language immersion education is getting a boost in funding to create new positions for kaiapuni teachers and curriculum specialists with the state Department of Education. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Honolulu Bill To Rein In Fake Farms Threatens Real Ag Enterprises. Beekeepers, kennels and livestock owners say a proposed change to Honolulu's land use ordinance would drive them out of business. Civil Beat.

City seeks to terminate tow contractor after audit finds hundreds of drivers overcharged. All Island Wreckers, also known as All Island Automative Towing, was contracted by the city in January 2023 and city officials were made aware of the complaints about the fees during the mayor’s town hall in Mililani on April 6, 2023. Hawaii News Now.

EPA fines 2 Oahu nurseries for worker protection standard violations. According to the EPA, the state in 2021 conducted inspections at the nurseries: Olomana Orchids Inc. of Kaneohe and Mari’s Garden’s in Mililani. Both cases were referred to the EPA in 2023 for resolution. Star-Advertiser.

Popular Oahu trail to temporarily close for much-needed maintenance, upgrades. Manoa Falls Trail, one of the most popular hikes on Oahu, will temporarily close for maintenance this month. The closure will run from Monday through July 13.  Hawaii News Now.

A Tale Of 12 Shopping Carts And The Man Who Retrieves Them. It's a dirty business, even in suburban Kapolei. But somebody's got to do it. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Aircraft Alert Issued For Pōhakuloa Training Area, RIMPAC. Residents around Hilo airport have already noticed an increase in military aircraft taking off and landing.  Big Island Video News.

Hawai‘i County park returns to its original place name. A Pāhoa park sign now bears its original place name. On Wednesday, community leaders, students elected officials and local residents held a blessing for Waiakahi‘ula Beach Park, formerly known as Kahakai Park. Big Island Now.

Maui

Moratorium on disconnections of electric service for non-payment for Maui customers extended through Aug. 31. Suspension of service disconnections for all Hawaiian Electric customers on Maui has been extended through at least Aug. 31, 2024, in accordance with the extension of Gov. Josh Green’s emergency proclamation. Maui Now.

Over 30 rebuilding permits have been issued after the fire. Here’s how some Lahaina homeowners did it. A total of 31 disaster recovery permits for residential structures have been issued as of Wednesday, including 28 in Lahaina and three in Kula, according to Desilee Santiago, one of four permit technicians with 4LEAF, which received a three-year, $16 million contract to help Maui County with the permitting process following the fires. Maui Now.

Lahaina Fire Survivors Prepare To Test Maui County’s Rules On Living In The Burn Zone. With the trailer on a barge en route to Hawaii, two business partners plan to set up a makeshift home on the now-cleared property. Civil Beat.

Oahu Coral Group Gears Up To Help Maui’s Battered Reefs. Started by fishermen and firefighters, Kuleana Coral Restoration prioritizes workforce development to aid coral reefs stressed by warming oceans, urban runoff and more. Civil Beat.

Maui chef who served community during fires now fighting for his life. Riko Bartolome was recently diagnosed with leukemia. The specific form he is battling is high risk that affects his blood and bone marrow. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

Fireworks determined to be cause of motel lanai fire on Kauai. Kaua'i Fire Department firefighters extinguished a structure fire on Papaloa Road in Wailua on Wednesday, July 3. KITV4.

Kaua‘i Sushi Station crowned best in nation – for the second year in a row. That’s according to popular business review website Yelp, which recently placed Kaua‘i Sushi Station at the summit of its “Top 100 Sushi Spots” of 2024. Kauai Now.

Strong start to summer travel season at Lihu‘e Airport.  A busy start to the summer travel season at Lihu‘e Airport saw more passengers arriving via domestic flights and longer wait times for people leaving the island of Kaua‘i. Garden Island.

Ige and Tupola agree to debate, Gabbard presidential run rumors persist, circus animal ban mulled, Kauai voters to consider term limits, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

David Ige, Andria Tupola ©2018 All Hawaii News

Democratic Gov. David Ige and Republican state Rep. Andria Tupola have agreed to a televised debate shortly before the general election, but Tupola wants Ige to commit to a “six-island debate.” Star-Advertiser.

Tulsi Gabbard encouraged to run for president in 2020. In the words of one longtime Hawaii political observer, Gabbard has been leaving a “trail of breadcrumbs” that suggests she is laying the groundwork to seek higher office, and at least some of her supporters hope that will be the presidency in 2020. Star-Advertiser

This Ballot Measure Is Sparking Intense Debate Over Hawaii’s Schools. The proposed constitutional amendment is already one of the most contentious issues to go before voters in the 2018 election. Civil Beat.

Commentary: Much to discuss in Constitutional Convention — if voters can muster hope and engagement. Star-Advertiser.

State board to re-consider circus animal ban. A ban on bringing circus animals into the state heads to the Hawaii Board of Agriculture again. KITV.

Effort to curb opioids alarms pain patients. The limits on prescription drugs are resulting in situations where many say their pain is not being controlled. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

New Report Reveals Hawaii’s Not-So-Booming Economy. A declining population and weak increases in personal income have helped keep a lid on inflation in Honolulu, economists say. Civil Beat.

North Shore homes are in danger from erosion and homeowners say the state isn’t doing enough to help. Star-Advertiser.

Armed Drug Suspect Is Fourth Person Fatally Shot By HPD Since June. Officers were serving a search warrant inside a residential high-rise apartment when the shooting occurred. Civil Beat.

Manoa Falls Trail to remain closed after dangerous rock slide. Friday afternoon, a 100-foot rock slide happened in the upper pool area sending debris and boulders crashing down to the Aikuilama Trail as well as the lower pool area of the main Manoa Falls Trail. Hawaii News Now.

4 foreign tourists cited for ignoring Manoa Falls Trail closure. The Department of Land and Natural Resources said four men were cited Sunday for allegedly attempting to enter the Manoa Falls Trail, which is currently closed due to hazardous conditions from a large landslide late last week. Hawaii News Now.

Approximately 614,400 gallons of raw sewage overflowed in Waipio after a 48-inch force main broke Saturday night. Star-Advertiser.

More than $65,000 raised in weekend fundraisers for Kapiolani Medical Center. The Ko Olina Children's Festival took place Saturday to benefit the Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

After 134 days of closure, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park reopened its gates to the public Saturday, with a flood of visitors and residents alike eager to see a park reborn. Tribune-Herald.

On Saturday morning, the day of the highly anticipated reopening of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, the National Park Service gave a media briefing, Public Affairs Specialist Jessica Ferracane spoke to media outside the Kilauea Visitor Center. Big Island Video News.

You Need To Be Tough To Explore These New Volcanic Beaches. Kilauea volcano created a dramatic new landscape including black-sand beaches. But “it’s a rough walk” to get there. Civil Beat.

Judge dismisses suit against Hu Honua, county. A judge granted Hu Honua Bioenergy’s request for a summary judgment in a civil suit that sought to halt construction of the 30-megawatt biomass power plant in Pepeekeo until an environmental review is completed. Tribune-Herald.

Double-decker buses to hit the road. Hawaii County will soon have not one, but two, double-decker buses running between Hilo and South Kohala, County Council members learned last week. West Hawaii Today.

The state Department of Health has notified the Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Corporation of possible water violations in their water system, a company spokesperson said Saturday. Hawaii News Now.

Lanric Hyland dies at 79: Ethics advocate pushed for housing rights, government accountability. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Finding farming matches for old cane fields not so simple. A&B official says scale, location, water among obstacles. Maui News.

Na Puuwai sets new course for Lanai senior care. New partner Johns Hopkins School of Nursing takes over after Arcadia ends its collaboration. Maui News.

Kauai

Residents mull term limits for councilmembers. When Kauai voters head to the polls in November, they’ll be deciding on a charter amendment that could end term limits for members of the County Council. Garden Island.

The public is invited to join Community Coalition Kauai on Monday for a mock County Council meeting as a way to get to know what the County Council candidates think about growth management and future land use for Kauai. Garden Island.

Kapaa portable toilets haven’t been cleaned for 3 weeks. Garden Island.