Active lava lake mesmerizes Hawaii visitors, water quality warnings posted on Kauai, ag tax break loopholes tightened, Ige meets with Microsoft, Alaskan Airlines, potable water at issue, road woes plague Oahu, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Kilauea volcano lava lake, USGS

In this Sept. 10, 2016, photo released by the U.S. Geological Survey shows the east edge of Halemaumau Crater spattering lava at the south corner of the Kilauea's summit lake after it rose over the weekend, to within about 5 m (16 ft) of the floor of Halemaumau Crater, before dropping back down slightly with the onset of spattering in the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, in Hawaii. (Tim Orr/U.S. Geological Survey via AP)

The lava lake at the summit of Kilauea volcano has been rising in recent days, offering visitors a dramatic view of rolling, spattering hot rock. Associated Press.

VIDEO: Kilauea Volcano Lava Lake Level Fluctuates. Big Island Video News.

Hawaii organizers of the World Conservation Congress are still smiling from a successful gathering that brought more than 10,000 delegates from 192 countries to Honolulu from Sept. 1 through Saturday for the largest such event ever. Star-Advertiser.

How Hawaii Plans To Make Sure It Doesn’t Run Out Of Water. The goal is to come up with an extra 100 million gallons of potable water a day in Hawaii. Civil Beat.

Gov. David Ige was in Washington state on Monday for briefings and meetings with Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT) executives and the president and CEO of Alaska Airlines. Pacific Business News.

Gov. David Ige has pledged to double local food production in Hawai‘i by the year 2030.  To help meet that demand the University of Hawai‘i is expanding its “GoFarm Hawai‘i” agriculture program to Hawai‘i island.  The program currently maintains teaching fields on O‘ahu, Maui and Kaua‘i. Hawaii Public Radio.

Announcing Hawaii's Best Workplaces 2016 (Video). Pacific Business News.

Oahu

Honolulu taxpayers could be on the hook for nearly $1 million in legal fees involving a landmark lawsuit over how the city has been conducting homeless sweeps. Civil Beat.

The needle-exchange CHOW Project and University Health Partners of Hawai‘i began handing out the first of 50 free anti-overdose kits to Oahu drug users on Monday to try to keep opioid abusers alive. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu law prohibits peddling in city parks. Yet the city continues to allow so-called First Amendment permit holders to sell merchandise in Oahu parks in violation of the city’s own rules. Civil Beat.

Large crowds will gather in front of the federal building on Ala Moana Boulevard on Tuesday afternoon to protest the controversial North Dakota oil pipeline. Hawaii News Now.

A nine-person military team has been digging up mud four days a week in the Koolau range in search of a missing World War II pilot whose fighter crashed in cloud cover during a night training flight. Navy Reserve Ensign Harold P. DeMoss was circling the island with two other F6F Hellcats on June 23, 1945, when his plane became separated from the others near Kahuku Point. Star-Advertiser.

A Honolulu woman accused of stealing more than $37,000 in school lunch money from an Oahu public school is scheduled to appear in court Sept. 19 on theft charges. Star-Advertiser.

It was meant to be a temporary solution to ease traffic for those heading east and home to West Oahu, but the contraflow lane running through Nanakuli continues to cause headaches for those drivers. KHON2.

It's been five weeks since the state Department of Transportation began its contraflow lane pilot project in Nanakuli and some residents still have concerns. Hawaii News Now.

There are about 800 traffic signals on Oahu, and enough driver frustration with them to fill a freeway. Hawaii News Now.

A mound of trash at an apartment building in Moiliili is reported to be crawling with rats. Residents and neighbors say it’s been an ongoing problem and now the city is taking action. KHON2.

Hawaii

Some farmers and ranchers are feeling the pinch as Hawaii County tightens loopholes in its generous property tax breaks for farmers and ranchers. West Hawaii Today.

Native Hawaiians, fishermen and divers who opposed the recent creation of a marine reserve at Kaupulehu, which includes a no-take period for the next 10 years, aren’t interested in waiting a decade before getting back to fishing the reef. West Hawaii Today.

A judge will decide Friday whether Hawaii County attorneys must turn over 40 emails sought by the attorney general’s office in Mayor Billy Kenoi’s theft case involving alleged abuse of a county credit card. Star-Advertiser.

It’s going to remain dark at parts of the Old Kona Airport Recreation Area a little longer yet. The new and improved lights slated for the field won’t be ready by Thursday, the originally scheduled turn-on date. West Hawaii Today.

It took three dives — one down to where the only light is the stabbing ray of a flashlight or the biolumensce of sea life — to check if the seawater pipes at the National Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority are staying put. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Current construction on locked gates that would restrict vehicle access to Kanaha Beach Park at night isn't sitting well with fisherman, who say the gates will deter night fishing at one of the most easily accessible fishing grounds on Maui's north shore. Maui News.

A protest is planned today at the site of a shoreline hardening project just north of Olowalu near mile 15.9 of the Honoapiʻilani Highway. Albert Perez, executive director for the Maui Tomorrow Foundation, Inc. said the project calls for a 900 foot long boulder revetment up to 40 feet offshore with construction scheduled to start at 7 a.m. Maui Now.

Maui County's real estate market showed signs of stability in August, albeit at the high end of the market with the median price of a single-family home reaching $669,125, the highest for any month so far this year and nearly 22 percent higher than August 2015, according to statistics released last week by the Realtors Association of Maui. Maui News.

Kauai

Three signs have been posted at Niumalu Beach Park in Lihue warning of high bacteria levels in the water. Garden Island.

Steering toward solutions. Kauai residents, council members discuss funding options for backlogged road repairs. Garden Island.

Ige postpones food sufficiency goal, green sea turtles decline, attorney general says Kenoi bought 'exorbitant' amount of alcohol on taxpayer dime, $10B estimate for Honolulu rail, Maui mulls parking charge, Kauai closes homeless camp, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Farmer in Hawaii, courtesy Sonia Martinez

Gov. David Ige has pushed back by a decade his campaign pledge of doubling local food production in Hawaii by 2020. Star-Advertiser.

With the newly expanded Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument taking center stage at the World Conservation Congress in Honolulu, a conservation group is warning of a “dangerous drop” in the number of nesting Hawaiian green sea turtles in the Northwest Hawaiian islands. Star-Advertiser.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is investigating a complaint that Hawaii’s public housing authority doesn’t provide enough units that are accessible to disabled people. Civil Beat.

Commentary: Hawaii Democrats are increasingly aggressive in imposing partisan purity on party members, even in nonpartisan elections. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Oahu taxpayers will foot the bill to hire three Honolulu law firms at up to $100,000 each to defend the city Ethics Commission, former Executive Director Chuck Totto and former investigator Letha DeCaires in a case filed by Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha and his family. Star-Advertiser.

The rail route to Ala Moana will easily cost $10 billion, according to people who have worked directly on the project, and they say HART’s management of the project is to blame as much as if not more than inflation. KHON2.

The Hawaii State Department of Health has given approval to Genki Sushi to reopen all of its restaurants after closing them during the hepatitis A outbreak that had sickened 252 people as of Wednesday. Pacific Business News.

Summit finds ways to protect Waikiki, Ala Wai in disasters. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

The deputy attorney general prosecuting Mayor Billy Kenoi for theft said in a court document the mayor used his county-issued credit cards to buy “exorbitant amounts of alcohol.” Tribune-Herald.

The prosecutor in the theft case of Mayor Billy Kenoi is seeking the judge’s permission to treat the state’s witnesses as hostile at trial. Tribune-Herald.

A proposed spaceport at the Kona International Airport could open up new economic opportunities for “space tourism” on the island. West Hawaii Today.

A small room meant to greet cruise ship passengers at Hilo’s Pier 1 remains locked and off limits, more than three years after renovations were expected to be complete. Tribune-Herald.

State highways officials say they are trying to determine whether it is possible to re-stripe or make other modifications to Highway 130, a major, clogged Big Island highway that serves the fast-growing Puna region as a temporary substitute for widening the highway, as residents were promised. Star-Advertiser.

State officials say the fungal disease called Rapid ‘Ōhi‘a Death is continuing to threaten native ‘ōhi‘a trees on the Big Island. 'Ōhi'a covers about 865,000 acres statewide. Recent surveys show the disease has now impacted nearly 50,000 acres on the Big Island, an increase of a little more than a third from earlier this year. Hawaii Public Radio.

A nonprofit hoping to build senior housing and a veterans service center say plans are underway with early phases of construction set to finish this month. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui County is looking at charging for parking in municipal lots, instead of having police officers monitoring time limits and writing tickets, and it has put out a bid for a consultant to study the possibility. Maui News.

The state Department of Transportation will hold a public informational meeting Sept. 22 on the Kahului Airport master plan update, but the plan itself wasn't available as of Friday, officials said. Maui News.

The Hana Highway, particularly the portion that stretches from Paia to Hana, is scenic and popular, but that appeal among tourists is causing problems that appear to be escalating, as motorists slow or stop to take pictures or park on both sides of the highway, including its narrow bottlenecks. Maui Now.

Hana High and Elementary School is running the state's first off-the-grid public school classroom, built by youths in the community and equipped to handle the school's growing energy needs for years to come. Maui News.

Kauai

A homeless encampment that at one point housed about 20 people was shut down by the county early this month. Garden Island.

A $2.5 million project to provide a pedestrian and vehicle bridge over Keahua Stream at the end of Kuamo’o Road in Keahua Arboretum in the Lihue-Koloa Forest Reserve is set to begin. Garden Island.

Sunscreen is killing coral reefs, Jane Goodall addresses World Conservation Congress, Djou beats Caldwell in campaign money, Sam Choy battles to keep his brand, Kenoi attorneys block email release, Maui mulls charging for rescues, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Kona beach scene © 2016 All Hawaii News

State officials called for a united effort in battling the negative effect of oxybenzone, a common sunscreen ingredient, on coral reefs during an afternoon media briefing at the World Conservation Congress at the Hawai‘i Convention Center. Star-Advertiser.

Fearing cancer, many beachgoers slather their bodies with sunscreen in hopes of blocking the sun’s sometimes deadly rays. While the practice may be good for humans, it’s deadly for coral reefs. Civil Beat.

Jane Goodall sure knows how to draw a crowd. On Saturday, the famed primatologist packed hundreds in of adoring fans into a large ballroom at the Hawaii Convention Center in Honolulu for the International Union for Conservation of Nature World Conservation Congress, the largest environmental symposium in the world. Civil Beat.

Hawaii received grim news Sunday when the International Union for Conservation of Nature declared that 38 plant species found only on our islands had gone extinct and that hundreds more were on the brink. Civil Beat.

On Sunday at an all-star panel at the World Conservation Congress in Honolulu, Kathryn Sullivan, the first American woman to walk in space, described the Earth’s atmosphere as a “thin veneer” and an “ocean of air” that looks as slim as the peel of a tangerine. Civil Beat.

Former Harvard biology professor E.O. Wilson is one of the world’s most respected and revered conservationists alive today. So you might find it curious that his biggest fear isn’t climate change or the ongoing mass extinction that decimates an estimated 150-200 species every day. Nope. It’s Donald Trump. Civil Beat.

Hawaii-based marine biologists Randall Kosaki, Richard Pyle and Brian Greene plan to name a colorful, newly discovered fish species after President Barack Obama. Civil Beat.

About two dozen protesters assembled peacefully outside the Hawaii Convention Center Saturday with a message to those meeting inside: The U.S. military is destroying the planet. Civil Beat.

The World Conservation Congress in Honolulu is making a concerted effort at being green and could set a new standard for the tourism industry here. The International Union for Conservation of Nature event underway now through Saturday is taking ambitious measures to reduce paper, eliminate plastic, avoid food waste, decrease energy use, ramp up recycling and take other sustainability measures that are likely to set a new standard for Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s hepatitis A outbreak, which has sickened 241 people so far, is the worst in the country since 2003 and a sharp reversal from the downward trajectory of the disease in recent decades. Star-Advertiser.

Under Hawaii’s civil asset forfeiture program, law enforcement agencies can seize property suspected of being connected with criminal activity, even if they don’t obtain a conviction or file a criminal charge. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

While Mayor Kirk Caldwell received more votes in last month's primary, Charles Djou raked in more money. Filings with the state Campaign Spending Commission show Caldwell's campaign received $57,000 in contributions in the two weeks before the Aug. 13th election.  In that same period, Djou's campaign received nearly three-times as much: $167,000. Hawaii News Now.

More than a year after three controversial measures tied to the last undeveloped phase of Haseko’s 1,100-acre Ewa Beach development were introduced, the City Council is still trying to reach a resolution on certain issues. Star-Advertiser.

The U.S. Department of Transportation on Friday finalized its decision to award Hawaiian Airlines a daytime slot to fly from Honolulu International Airport to Haneda Airport in Tokyo, according to U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono. Pacific Business News.

A Hawaii union says it has filed a complaint with the Environmental Protection Agency over reports of unsafe working conditions after discovering mold at a Waikiki hotel that’s under construction. Associated Press.

Hawaii

County attorneys are seeking to keep the contents of 40 emails, most of them sent in the month after Big Island newspapers reported Mayor Billy Kenoi’s misuse of his county-issued credit card, secret. Tribune-Herald.

Roughly 40 scientists, researchers and business people will convene at Kilauea Military Camp at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Tuesday and Wednesday to discuss the feasibility of the implementation of one or several groundbreaking technologies to curb the mosquito population across the state — if not eradicate it. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii County is seeking a state Department of Health permit for a full-scale composting facility — the first in Hawaii — before breaking ground next year. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald issued a memo to chief judges statewide after ads appeared on the Big Island depicting state Judiciary personnel endorsing a candidate for county prosecutor. West Hawaii Today.

In addition to picking from an assortment of local, state and national candidates on the Nov. 8 ballot, Big Island voters will help decide three ballot questions — two to amend the state constitution and one to amend the Hawaii County charter. West Hawaii Today.

Local chef Sam Choy is disputing an Oahu restaurant’s right to use his name “royalty-free” despite the chef having no connection to the restaurant. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The Maui Demolition & Construction Landfill that has been operating on 15 acres at the corner of North Kihei Road and Honoapiilani Highway for the last 20 years stopped accepting construction debris Wednesday, a landfill official confirmed Friday. Maui News.

Nearly half of the 250 people surveyed by the Maui County Fire Department supported the idea of billing people who require helicopter and mountain rescues by firefighters. Maui News.

The Maui County Council approved a resolution Friday for the county to acquire more than 250 acres near the world famous "Jaws" surf break in East Maui for nearly $9.5 million. Maui News.

The final touches are currently being applied to the nonprofit Maui Ocean Center Marine Institute, which will work on developing rehabilitation facilities for endangered turtles, expanding an existing coral bank at the aquarium and providing marine sciences educational opportunities. Maui News.

Brown Water Advisories have been issued for Baldwin Beach Park and Honokahua Bay on Maui due to recent rains. Maui Now.

Kauai

New technology that could help out Kauai’s endangered forest birds is on the horizon, but questions remain. Garden Island.

Kauai residents are invited to comment on a bill that would allow alcohol sales on the Wailua Golf Course. The Kauai County Council will host a public hearing on Bill No. 2635 at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, which made it legal for alcohol to be consumed on the course. Garden Island.

Kauai Humane Society is reeling after an Alaska Airlines decision to end its pet transfer program was announced Friday. Garden Island.

Hurricane Madeline may play havoc with Obama visit, Hawaii Republicans, Democrats, disavow rebel candidate, prying open secret prison files, scientists leave dome following yearlong Mars simulation, windmills and hoary bat hearing today, county officials get immunity in Kenoi trial, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

5 a.m. Monday Hurricane Madeline forecast, National Weather Service

Madeline has strengthened into a Category 2 hurricane to the east of Hawaii, and continues on a track that will take it close to or over the Big Island around mid week. At 5 a.m. Monday, Hurricane Madeline was about 695 miles east of Hilo or 890 miles east-southeast of Honolulu, and was moving toward the west-northwest at 10 miles per hour. Madeline has maximum sustained winds of 100 miles per hour with higher gusts. Madeline is expected to strengthen slightly through Monday and then begin to weaken Tuesday. Hawaii News Now.

Madeline strengthened overnight to a category 2 hurricane as it continued heading toward Hawaii island. Packing maximum sustained winds of 100 mph, Madeline was centered 695 miles east of Hilo and 890 miles east-southeast of Honolulu this morning while moving west-southwest at 10 mph. Star-Advertiser.

Hurriane Madeline has entered the Central Pacific area where our islands are located, and although the latest forecast has the storm tracking slightly south, Hawaii County Civil Defense is starting to get the word out for residents to pay attention to upcoming forecasts and, as you should be during the entirety of hurricane season, be prepared. KHON2.

Kiplinger, the personal finance company, has released its rankings of the best and worst states for taxes, and Hawaii places near the bottom. Civil Beat.

First Circuit Judge Edwin Nacino on Friday dismissed a lawsuit challenging the legality of Gov. David Ige’s interim appointment of Tom Gorak to the state Public Utilities Commission. Civil Beat.

Civil Beat is examining how the state manages its troubled, overcrowded prison system, which includes four prisons and four jails in Hawaii, and a contract private prison in Arizona. This story looks at the practice of not disclosing information about settlements in lawsuits, including the amount of damages.

The rise of Tulsi: While congresswoman bucks political trends, definitions and her national profile rises, no telling how far independent path will take her. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii Democrats To Challenge Kaaihue’s Candidacy. Civil Beat.

The chair of the Hawaii Republican Party has been urging party members to disavow the candidacy of the GOP nominee for the 2nd Congressional District after she repeatedly made offensive remarks about religion and race toward her Democratic opponent, U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard and other Hawaii leaders. KITV.

Oahu

The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation finally lifted the veil this week on hundreds of millions of dollars of rail-related payments that have gone to subcontractors over the past fiscal year, and that have long been kept secret from the public. Civil Beat.

The Neal S. Blaisdell Center and the Hawaii Convention Center will be hot spots during IUCN's World Conservation Congress, which kicks off this week, and surrounding businesses are bracing for the impacts. Hawaii News Now.

Efforts underway in Hawaii Kai to clear dense foliage from areas where homeless people are suspected of camping out are stoking worries that the homeless might end up encroaching on residential areas. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Five current or former high-level Hawaii County officials will receive immunity for their testimony in the upcoming theft trial of Mayor Billy Kenoi, according to court records. Tribune-Herald.

The federal-state Endangered Species Recovery Committee will visit two Big Island wind farms today and take public testimony on the owners’ plans to protect the Hawaiian hoary bat. Star-Advertiser.

Return from ‘Mars’: Scientists emerge from dome after yearlong simulation. Tribune-Herald.

A year ago six volunteers of different nationalities and personalities — some chattier than others, some neater and cleaner — entered a modest dome two-thirds of the way up this desolate volcanic slope, where they had agreed to spend the next 365 days confined together to study potential effects on crews for future missions to Mars. Star-Advertiser.

What Six Scientists Learned In A Year On ‘Mars’. Civil Beat.

The public is getting another chance to weigh in on the designation of Puukohola Heiau as a national historic landmark, as the National Park Service conducts a study that could enlarge or decrease the size of the site itself. West Hawaii Today.

Tina Clothier, executive director of PATH, along with Mayor Billy Kenoi and the Mayor’s Active Living Advisory Council, will officially launch Bikeshare Kona Hawaii Island (BKHI) Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. with the blessing of a bike station at the Hale Halawai Pavilion. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

South Maui state Rep. Kaniela Ing pleaded not guilty Thursday morning in Wailuku District Court to a citation for driving his car without motor vehicle insurance. Maui News.

The Maui Tomorrow Foundation and three individual plaintiffs have filed a lawsuit in the state's Environmental Court to stop the state Department of Transportation from building seawalls along Honoapiilani Highway. Maui News.

Groups struggle to communicate about solar telescope installation. Improved understanding sought between Native Hawaiian organizations and science foundation. Maui News.

Sorghum is a top contender to replace sugar cane in some of Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co.'s 36,000 acres after the plantation closes at the end of this year. Maui News.

Work to replace a nearly 50-year-old walkway at the 105-acre Wai'anapanapa State Park in Hana will begin Sept. 6, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources announced. Maui News.

The Maui Police Department currently is conducting a one-month feasibility study on the use of Axon body-worn cameras, the department announced Wednesday.Maui News.

Takashi Kitaoka was remembered Friday as the first Maui-born judge to serve the Maui County circuit, a first sergeant who fought in the famed 100th Infantry Battalion during World War II and an effective government official who was director of the state Labor Department. Maui News.

Kauai

Because it is unclear who owns part of Anini Road, those who live there say the road is in limbo. Garden Island.

An application for funding for the proposed North Shore High School was denied, but backers said they will continue to support the project. Garden Island.

Molokai

Three decades of transporting workers, tourists and student athletes aboard the Molokai ferry may come to an end in a few weeks as the operator seeks to shut down operations in the face of mounting deficits. Maui News.

Hawaii coalition calls for better conservation, Kenoi lawyer accuses attorney general of leaking information to TV news, raises deferred for school administrators, Maui taro farmer escapes water use fine, Hilo landfill almost full, hepatitis-tainted scallops destroyed, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Cruise ship in Hawaii prisma art © 2016 All Hawaii News

A coalition of 17 Hawaii funders of conservation projects issued a report today that says the state’s environment is under pressure and out of balance, and calls for greater attention to protection of drinking water, renewable energy and marine management. Star-Advertiser.

The biggest issue with feral cats, federal and state scientists said, is the cats’ unique ability to spread toxoplasmosis, a parasitic disease that has killed at least eight critically endangered Hawaiian monk seals, two spinner dolphins, nene geese and native birds over the past 15 years. Civil Beat.

As a Native Hawaiian living in modern Hawaii, one of the times Shad Kane truly felt connected to his ancestors was when he traveled to a remote, 140,000-square-mile area of the Pacific where islands, atolls, islets and coral reefs make up a federally protected marine monument. Associated Press.

A Board of Education committee deferred action Tuesday on proposed raises for 23 senior Department of Education executives, with some board members citing concerns about paying out across-the-board increases. Star-Advertiser.

Members of a Hawaii Board of Education committee tasked with investigating the State Public Charter School Commission are recommending a more formal review of the agency’s performance after finding a “pattern of well-founded complaints” from charter school leaders. Civil Beat.

Scallops suspected of triggering a major hepatitis A outbreak in Hawaii came from the Philippines and were served at Genki Sushi restaurants on Oahu and Kauai but not other islands, state health officials said Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. David Ige said Tuesday he wants Hawaii to deploy more community solar projects — which give those renting or living in condominiums access to renewable energy — by 2018. Star-Advertiser.


Honolulu-Based Young Brothers, Hawaii's largest interisland shipping company, reported that interisland cargo shipping was "essentially flat" in the second quarter of 2016 compared to the same period a year earlier. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

The Pentagon agency that searches around the world for American service members missing from past wars has started a mission to recover one of the last World War II pilots still left on land in Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

On Tuesday, the federal public defender issued a lengthy statement that blasted the Police Commission for its repeated failure to investigate the chief in a case that involves allegations that he helped frame his wife’s uncle, Gerard Puana, for the theft of their mailbox in 2013. Civil Beat.

It will take an estimated $8 billion in infrastructure upgrades alone to get Oahu to 100 percent renewable energy, a former Hawaii regulator told attendees at an energy event in Honolulu. Pacific Business News.

For the first time in 10 years, the state has reopened the wait list for Section 8 rental housing vouchers on Oahu. But the window to apply is short — just three days — and thousands are expected to apply. KHON2.

Pharmacies on Oahu saw long lines for the Hepatitis A vaccine Tuesday, a day after state health officials identified raw scallops served at Genki Sushi restaurants as the source of a Hepatitis A outbreak. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii

Pretrial motions filed by lawyers representing Mayor Billy Kenoi in his felony theft case accuse the state attorney general’s office of leaking confidential information to a Honolulu television news outlet and claim the leaks were intended to prejudice the grand jurors who indicted the mayor and the prospective jury pool for his upcoming trial. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi has asked a Circuit Court judge to dismiss charges stemming from a state investigation of his alleged misuse of a county credit card. Star-Advertiser.

A lawyer for Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi has made several requests to have Kenoi's theft case tossed out before he heads to trial. Associated Press.

In just 36 months, the Hilo landfill will be filled up and all garbage not recycled or composted will be trucked to the Puuanahulu landfill for disposal. West Hawaii Today.

A small group of Kukuihaele residents staged a protest Tuesday afternoon at the site of a controversial county park project. Tribune-Herald.

Building a giant telescope atop Mauna Kea will come with educational opportunities that Hawaii shouldn’t close the door to, the president of a Native Hawaiian group that supports the project said. Associated Press.

Maui
The state Commission on Water Resource Management on Tuesday voted not to impose fines against a family in ʻĪao Valley for their use of water from the Wailuku River to grow taro. Maui Now.

The Genki Sushi restaurant in Lahaina discarded about 21 pounds of raw scallops Monday night after discovering the seafood was likely linked to the recent hepatitis A outbreak at the chain's Oahu locations, state Department of Health officials said Tuesday. Maui News.

Genki Sushi in the Maui Mall is expected to reopen in December with touch-screen ordering and a double-rail sushi delivery system, a supervisor said Tuesday. Maui News.

Maui County is a step closer to acquiring more than 250 acres near the world-famous "Jaws" surf break in East Maui after a Maui County Council committee recommended approval Tuesday of a resolution to acquire the lands owned by Alexander & Baldwin. Maui News.

Kauai

Val Faford was concerned when she found out Hawaii’s Department of Health closed Genki Sushi on Monday in connection with the state’s hepatitis A outbreak. Garden Island.

Hawaii Democrats lose bid for closed primaries, hepatitis A linked to frozen scallops at sushi restaurant, overburdened Health Department hasn't hired workers, Kenoi wants theft case dismissed, ground broken for Maui hospital, privatization eyed for Big Island, solar sales drop on Oahu, gender-neutral restrooms at UH, super PAC stays out of campaigns, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Democratic Party rally © 2016 All Hawaii News

A federal appeals court is upholding an earlier decision to support the way Hawaii holds its primary elections, rejecting the Democratic Party’s desire to exclude non-Democrats from advancing candidates to the general election. Associated Press.

The state Department of Health ordered the immediate, temporary closure of all Genki Sushi Restaurants on Oahu and Kauai on Monday after determining that the recent hepatitis A outbreak on Oahu was likely due to imported frozen scallops served raw at Genki locations on both islands. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii State Department of Health has ordered all Genki Sushi restaurants on Oahu and Kauai to close immediately. Hawaii Public Radio.

The Hawaii State Department of Health has ordered an immediate shut down of all Oahu and Kauai Genki Sushi restaurants amid the Hepatitis A investigation. Hawaii News Now.

Health officials will hold a press conference at 9 a.m. Tuesday. KHON2.

As customers walked up to Genki Sushi in Kapahulu, many were surprised to see workers cleaning up instead of serving dinner. KITV.

Health Department Hiring Goes Slow — Will The Mosquitoes Wait? The state recognizes an “urgent” need to fill 20 recently authorized positions, but says some administrative delays are unavoidable. Civil Beat.

When the fall semester gets underway Monday at the University of Hawaii, students at the Manoa, Hilo and West Oahu campuses will have access to more than two dozen gender-neutral restrooms as part of a push to ensure safe and accommodating facilities for all students, including those who are transgender. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii's public housing agency has agreed to take steps to remove language barriers for tenants after a family that speaks little English almost got evicted when they didn't understand the legal proceedings against them. Associated Press.

Oahu

Commentary: Now that it’s clear that former U.S. Rep. Charles Djou will be challenging incumbent Kirk Caldwell in the general election for Honolulu mayor, some political watchers were expecting the building trades group Pacific Resource Partnership to make a full-court press with millions of dollars to take down Djou. Civil Beat.

Newcomer Cedric Gates locked hands on stage with fellow Democrats after unseating Representative Jo Jordan by 52 percent.  Some think Gates’ win is under a cloud because in 2014 he previously ran as a Green Party candidate. KITV.

In what legal observers call a risky strategy, Louis and Katherine Kealoha are using lawsuits and media interviews to take the offensive as they are investigated in a federal corruption probe. Civil Beat.

A proposed settlement to end a landmark lawsuit over how the city has been conducting homeless sweeps cleared a hurdle Monday, with a federal judge recommending preliminary approval of the deal. Civil Beat.

State transportation officials have opened a 2-mile stretch of the H-1 freeway’s eastbound shoulder lane in West Oahu to weekday morning commuters — the latest step in their strategy to employ simpler traffic fixes while deferring costlier large-scale highway projects. Star-Advertiser.

Sewage from the Animal Quarantine Station is pouring into Halawa Stream, and it’s been going on for weeks. KHON2.

Data has revealed that the number of solar building permits issued by Honolulu in July was the city's fewest issued in the past year and a half. Associated Press.

Oahu’s solar energy industry continues to lag with a 54 percent drop in permits issued last month when comparing the same month last year and the fewest number issued in the past 18 months. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

A lawyer for Mayor Billy Kenoi has filed a number of pretrial motions in Kenoi’s felony theft case, most seeking to dismiss the indictment or specific charges contained in the indictment. Tribune-Herald.

While favored most heavily on the windward side, Harry Kim had no trouble winning votes in each corner of Hawaii Island in his landslide victory during Saturday’s mayoral primary. Tribune-Herald.

Blank ballots and no-shows influence elections, too. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Even as Gov. David Ige’s administration struggles to carry out plans to privatize three state-owned Maui hospitals, Ige says he anticipates “similar arrangements” will be put in place to establish public-private partnerships at the Hilo Medical Center and the Kona Community Hospital on the Big Island. Star-Advertiser.

A groundbreaking for the long-awaited West Maui Hospital was held this morning at the project site, located on Kakaʻalaneo Drive, between the Honoapiʻilani Highway and the Kāʻanapali Coffee Farms community. Maui Now.

On a day that some residents thought they wouldn't live to see, officials and developers broke ground Monday on the West Maui Hospital and Medical Center, a decadeslong community vision that will bring critical health care to residents who have limited options in emergencies. Maui News.

In the race for the Wailuku-Waihee-Waikapu residency seat, voters on Molokai and Lanai proved to be one of the deciding factors for winner Dain Kane, pushing him through to the general election Saturday night in the tightest County Council primary contest this year. Maui News.

Kauai

After the dust settled and the votes were counted early Sunday morning, one thing was clear: voter turnout for the island was the lowest since Hawaii became a state in 1959. Garden Island.

The North Shore Shuttle launched Monday will help alleviate congestion. Garden Island.

KIUC eyes power shift. Garden Island.

NextEra Energy quits $4.3B Hawaii electric plan after PUC rebuff, Djou ahead of Caldwell in Honolulu mayoral poll but Caldwell leads in fundraising, Maui audits pCard use, Kenoi's right-hand man Lau has huge money advantage on Big Island, Kauai worries about sacred spots in Pokemon game, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Public Utilities Ciommission Chairman Randy Iwase, Lorraine Akiba and Tom Gorak

NextEra Energy Inc. has ended its plan to buy Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc. and will pay the state’s largest utility $95 million in “break-up” fees and other costs, the two companies announced early today. Star-Advertiser.

NextEra Energy Inc. and Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc. have decided not to try to put their merger deal back together again. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc. and NextEra Energy Inc. have ended their plans to merge following the state’s decision Friday to reject the deal. KHON2.

Now that the state has denied Florida-based NextEra Energy Inc.’s $4.3-billion bid to buy Hawaii’s largest electric utility, some see another black-eye to the state’s business reputation while others see opportunity. Star-Advertiser.

The state Public Utilities Commission has rejected the $4.3 billion proposal to sell Hawaiian Electric Industries to Florida-based NextEra Energy. Civil Beat.

Hawaii regulators on Friday shot down one of the biggest business deals in state history, which involved Florida-based NextEra Energy Inc.'s proposed $4.3 billion acquisition of Hawaiian Electric Co. Pacific Business News.

The Public Utilities Commission rejected the purchase of Hawaiian Electric Company by Florida-based NextEra Energy on Friday. Hawaii Public Radio

The state Public Utilities Commission voted to not approve a merger between Florida-based NextEra and Hawaii’s largest utility, saying the companies didn’t show they would provide adequate benefits to ratepayers or help the state meet its aggressive renewable energy goals. Associated Press.

The $4.3 billion deal for control of Hawaii’s power company has been rejected by state regulators. Big Island Video News.

Hermina Morita, former chair of the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission and an ex-state representative, filed a lawsuit on Friday against Thomas Gorak, who was appointed by Gov. David Ige to the PUC to replace Commissioner Michael Champley when his term ended June 30. Pacific Business News.

Press release: In a 2-0 decision, the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission (“PUC” or “Commission”) today dismissed without prejudice the Hawaiian Electric Companies (“HECO Companies”) and NextEra Energy’s (“NextEra”) (collectively, the HECO Companies and NextEra are referred to as the “Applicants”) Joint Application for the Change of Control (“Application” or “Change of Control”). Commissioner Thomas C. Gorak abstained from signing the Decision and Order.

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The controversial Pono Choices sex education program taught in some Hawaii middle schools has helped increase students’ knowledge of preventing teen pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections, as designed, but students were not significantly deterred from engaging in risky sexual behaviors, an external review of the program released Friday concluded. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s delegates to the Republican National Convention have gathered in Cleveland this week to help adopt a sharply conservative new party platform and to join what they expect will be a grand celebration of the presidential nomination of Donald Trump. Star-Advertiser.

Tulsi Gabbard raised more than $420,000 in the April-June period. According to her July quarterly filing with the Federal Election Commission, the Hawaii Democrat is sitting on $1.88 million in cash. Civil Beat.

University of Hawaii President David Lassner’s salary ranks in the bottom two-thirds of salaries paid to the nation’s public college presidents, according to a report released today by the Chronicle of High Education. Lassner’s $375,000 base salary is No. 152 out of 260 leaders of public colleges and university systems. Star-Advertiser.

How many missiles, bombs and torpedoes does it take to sink a U.S. frigate? More than 10, a Rim of the Pacific exercise showed. Star-Advertiser.

What Happened When HECO Went To Wall Street. Energized by statehood and a booming economy, Hawaiian Electric began to reach beyond Oahu for investors and investments. Civil Beat.

Oahu

The latest Hawaii Poll shows former U.S. Rep. Charles Djou ahead in the race for Honolulu mayor, garnering more support among likely voters than incumbent Mayor Kirk Caldwell and former Mayor Peter Carlisle. Djou was the choice for 39 percent of poll participants — ahead of Caldwell at 30 percent, and Carlisle at 15 percent. Star-Advertiser.

If money were the only factor in an election, Mayor Kirk Caldwell would be re-elected in a landslide. The Honolulu mayor received $425,200 in campaign contributions in the first half of this year, far more than the next-highest amount for any state or city candidate. Charles Djou, who is also running for Honolulu mayor, came in second with $233,535. Civil Beat.

A solid majority of Oahu voters maintain the island’s rail transit project still should be built to Ala Moana Center as planned, the latest Hawaii Poll found. Star-Advertiser.

Most Oahu residents want the see the entire 20-mile rail system built all the way to Ala Moana Center. But even more people oppose raising property taxes to pay for the construction.  Hawaii News Now.

People on Oahu generally feel that the island’s homeless situation has gotten better in the year since the beating of a state representative in the heart of an entrenched encampment in Kakaako, and far fewer believe the problem’s gotten worse, results of the latest Hawaii Poll show. Star-Advertiser.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton retains a solid lead among Oahu voters as Republicans and Democrats prepare for their national conventions, with 49 percent of likely voters here saying they would vote for Clinton if the election for president were held today. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu police are hoping to begin a body camera pilot program by the end of this year. Star-Advertiser.

They live on the wrong side of Honolulu’s traffic jams and like everyone on the island they think housing costs too much, but it’s hard to find Mililani residents who are dissatisfied with their community. Civil Beat.

Thurston Twigg-Smith, a scion of missionary descendants who helped make the once-weaker Honolulu Advertiser Hawaii’s dominant newspaper, died Saturday at the age of 94. Star-Advertiser.

Road repaving projects to begin in Iwilei, Kalihi, Kapalama, Liliha, Punchbowl and Pu‘unui. KITV.

Hawaii
If elections were won by money alone, mayoral candidate Wally Lau would be a shoo-in for the top Hawaii County post. Lau, Mayor Billy Kenoi’s former right-hand man, accumulated $183,705 in campaign contributions in the first six months of the year, eclipsing the rest of the 13-member field seeking the open seat.  West Hawaii Today.

Lawmakers are expecting a gas tax hike to be on the table again next year following the deferral of major highway improvements, including further widening of Highway 130 in Puna. Tribune-Herald.

Little Fire Ants, first discovered on Hawaii Island in 1999, likely arrived as hidden passengers in imported nursery plants. And there’s little sign they’re letting up in West Hawaii. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The Maui County auditor will be reviewing county employee travel expenses after an investigation into government purchasing cards, known as pCards, revealed about $850,000 in travel spending from September 2014 to October 2015. Maui News.

Maui County Council hopefuls Yuki Lei Sugimura and Keith Regan, candidate newcomers, took in $54,000 and $42,000 respectively from January to June - the highest total of campaign donations received during the reporting period among all council candidates, according to campaign spending reports. Maui News.

Lawmakers are tentatively planning to close out their special veto override session Monday without taking any further action on a proposal for special severance payments and retirement benefits for the Maui hospital workers who will lose their state jobs when Gov. David Ige’s administration privatizes three hospitals in Maui County. Star-Advertiser.

The median price of a single-family home in Maui County for the first half of 2016 was $630,000 - with mostly local residents buying properties below that price and off-islanders snarfing up listings above that amount, the president of the Realtors Association of Maui said last week. Maui News.

Kauai

Kauai Mayor Bernard Carvalho has nominated Syngenta spokeswoman Beth Tokioka to the county’s Board of Water Supply despite concerns about the seed company’s record on water quality. Civil Beat.

The deadline for commenting on the latest paperwork from Hawaii Dairy Farms and their plan to establish a 699-cow dairy in the Mahaulepu Valley is a little more than a week away. Garden Island.

The fate of an amendment to a bill that would prohibit smoking in cars with minors could be settled Wednesday. When the Kauai County Council meets, it is expected to make a decision on amending Bill No. 2629, which would make it illegal for adults to smoke in a car if they are riding with keiki under the age of 18. Garden Island.

Computer Hospital owner Jeff Elkins’ troubles began when he received a warning letter from the Hawaii Department of Health asking him to cease and desist his “unpermitted operation of a solid waste management system.” Garden Island.

Two people searching for the augmented reality game “Pokemon Go’s” pocket monsters wandered into a sensitive heiau on Kauai where a cultural protocol was underway, according to the state’s Department of Land and Natural Resources. Garden Island.

Ige vetoes Airbnb tax, six other bills, lawmakers call special override session on Maui hospital, Biden stopping in Hawaii, Kenoi ethics case delayed again, Anaergia seeks to sell energy to Maui Electric, revamp for Kauai Black Pot park, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Kauai short-term vacation rental © 2016 All Hawaii News

Gov. David Ige has vetoed a bill that would allow short-term accommodations brokers, such as Airbnb, to act as tax collection agents for the state, along with six other measures that he found problematic for various reasons. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige dropped the veto hammer Tuesday on seven bills, including one that would have allowed vacation-rental companies like Airbnb to collect taxes on behalf of the state. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige vetoed a bill that would have allowed online lodging services like Airbnb to collect taxes, delving into a debate about whether websites should be held responsible for the listings people post on their sites. Associated Press.

Gov. David Ige announced the vetoes of seven bills Tuesday, including one that prompted the Hawaii State Legislature to call for a special session. West Hawaii Today.

Governor David Ige announced the veto of seven bills on Monday, a day ahead of Tuesday’s July 12th deadline. Maui Now.

The Hawaii Legislature convened a special session on Tuesday in an effort to save a bill aimed at providing benefits for unionized employees at three state-owned Maui hospitals who risk losing their jobs due to privatization. Pacific Business News.

Lawmakers gathered at the state Capitol on Tuesday for a special “override” session to consider Gov. David Ige’s veto of a bill to provide severance payments or retirement bonuses to workers at three Maui County hospitals, but quickly recessed without voting. Lawmakers are scheduled to return to the Capitol on Monday to continue their deliberations on whether to amend the bill or allow the governor’s veto to stand. Star-Advertiser.

Lawmakers back in special session to salvage Maui hospitals deal. KITV.

David Ige Vetoes Far Fewer Bills Than His Predecessors. Hawaii’s governor has vetoed 16 bills from the first two legislative sessions of his term. Former governor Linda Lingle has him beat – by a lot. Civil Beat.

Hawaii lawmakers convened a special session Tuesday to revive a bill providing financial assistance to public employees at three hospitals in Maui County that was vetoed by Gov. David Ige on Monday. Civil Beat.

The legislature convened a special session today to consider the Governor’s veto of a bill to help Maui hospital workers.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Vice President Joseph Biden will make a brief layover in Hawaii this week on his way to state visits in Australia and New Zealand, the White House announced Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

State Public Utilities Commission Chairman Randy Iwase said Tuesday he is hopeful the commission will announce a decision on NextEra Energy Inc.’s $4.3 billion proposed purchase of Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc. this week. Star-Advertiser.

A 10-page unsigned document titled “ODC COMPLAINT” that was distributed to some media outlets late last week has blown up into a request for a full-fledged investigation amid concerns over its impact on the sale of Hawaiian Electric to NextEra Energy, the biggest business deal in Hawaii’s history. Civil Beat.

Why Hawaii Has A Double Standard On Isolating Prison Inmates. Hawaii lets its for-profit prison contractor set its own rules for what it terms segregated, instead of solitary, confinement. Civil Beat.

A fighter pilot and former U.S. Air Force commander in South Korea has taken over as the top U.S. Air Force leader in the Pacific. Associated Press.

A group working to raise $2 million to bring the newly created Native Hawaiian constitution to a ratification vote by the end of the year says they’re running behind schedule. Associated Press.

Items confiscated at Hawaii airports now up for sale. KHON2.

Oahu

The reams of paperwork in Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha and his prosecutor wife, Katherine's lawsuit against the Honolulu Ethics Commission include records that reveal new details about what provoked the federal probe. Civil Beat.

A group whose stated purpose is to lobby and educate government officials, property owners, vendors and the public about the vacation rental industry is suing to invalidate the way the city enforces its bans on some bed-and-breakfast and transient vacation rental units. Star-Advertiser.

In an effort to build on existing plans for transit-oriented development in Waipahu, the city is holding a meeting today to identify short-term projects to enhance Waipahu town. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Attorney General’s Office said Tuesday that former state Rep. Richard Fale pleaded no contest July 1 in state District Court for failing to file “a complete and accurate candidate committee report.” Civil Beat.

With the number of hepatitis A cases on Oahu climbing to 52 adults, state health officials are urging all residents to consider getting vaccinated — and especially anyone who consumed food or drinks at a Waipahu ice cream shop between June 17 and July 3. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

The county Board of Ethics moved Tuesday to defer until November a complaint that Mayor Billy Kenoi’s use of a county-issued credit card for personal expenses violated the Ethics Code, while a petition alleging the panel’s vice chairman is biased toward Kenoi and shouldn’t be allowed to hear the matter won’t be considered until next month’s hearing. Tribune-Herald.

A lingering ethics complaint against Council Chairman Dru Kanuha could be revisited next month, just a few days before the primary election. The unresolved ethics issue is one reason Kanuha, who’s never had an opponent in his four-year political career, faces a challenger for his Kona council seat. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Anaergia Services is seeking local buyers for its biogas and engaging in talks with the state's only franchised gas utility, Hawaii Gas Co., as it awaits a ruling from the state Public Utilities Commission on its efforts to get Maui Electric Co. to consider purchasing its product, a company official said. Maui News.

South Maui Rep. Kaniela Ing pulled no punches Monday evening in his first face-to-face forum with challenger Deidre Tegarden, questioning her campaign support and endorsements. Maui News.

The Maui Mall Service Center will reopen Monday after a four-month closure following rain damage from a leaky roof, the county announced. Maui News.

Kauai

The Department of Parks and Recreation is leading a public planning effort to develop a master plan for the future expansion of Black Pot Beach Park. Garden Island.

Solar power incentive programs can useful, according David Bissell, president and CEO of Kauai Island Utility Cooperative, but they need to undergo periodic evaluation. Garden Island.

Hawaii last U.S. state to ban sex trafficking, RIMPAC war games kick off with 26 nations, employees' marijuana use rises, he said, she said in Kenoi ethics case, Maui doctors leaving, Kauai police body cameras at issue, Kilauea lava marches to the sea, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

USS America at Pearl Harbor (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Jacob Holloway)

Hawaii has become the last state in the nation to explicitly ban sex trafficking. Gov. David Ige signed the bill into law Tuesday. It makes sex trafficking a violent crime and class A felony, expands the statewide witness protection program to include sex trafficking and provides victims access to criminal injury compensation. Associated Press.

County police departments have until Sept. 1 to report to the Hawaii attorney general’s office the number of untested rape kits that they have in storage under legislation signed into law Tuesday by Gov. David Ige. The measure is among seven bills that Ige signed into law Tuesday that were backed by the Hawaii Women’s Legislative Caucus, a bipartisan group composed of female legislators in the House and Senate. Star-Advertiser.

Starting in January, moped owners in Hawaii will need to pay for annual registration and inspections, plus get plates for their vehicles — similar to the state’s existing requirements for cars, trucks and motorcycles. Star-Advertiser.

U.S. Pacific Fleet commander Adm. Scott Swift said Tuesday he wants all 26 nations participating in RIMPAC military exercises in Hawaii to leave better prepared to respond to humanitarian crises. Associated Press.

The head of U.S. Pacific Fleet opened the big Rim of the Pacific exercise Tuesday by downplaying a South China Sea rift with China and talking not about what divides navies in the region, but what unites them. Star-Advertiser.

RIMPAC is the largest international maritime exercise and it happens right here in Hawaii waters. KITV.

The use of marijuana among Hawaii workers is the highest it’s been in three years, a new study shows. Star-Advertiser.

Friends In High Places Helped HECO Tighten Its Grip On Hawaii. The federal government’s takeover of Hawaii proved extremely fortuitous for Hawaiian Electric. So was the involvement of leading local families. Civil Beat.

Commentary: Two of Gov. David Ige’s most decisive moments are not winning legislative praise and both may be in trouble. Star-Advertiser.

Commentary: The Hawaii Ethics Commission has been through some tough times recently. It’s had to deal with hostile public reaction to an unpopular ruling that had effectively blocked educational trips for public school students, the departure of its executive director and continued pressure from legislators who believe several commission rulings improperly impinge on legislative prerogatives. And two recent court rulings — one local, one federal — indicate more troubles ahead for the commission. Civil Beat.

Oahu

On July 1, Kirk Caldwell received a 5 percent pay increase as Honolulu mayor. His base salary is now $164,928 a year. But the mayor draws his biggest paycheck not from city and county taxpayers but from a major financial institution in the state. Civil Beat.

Faced with huge weekend crowds and growing piles of rubbish at Makua Beach, state parks officials say they plan to impose restrictions on camping at the remote coastal area near Kaena Point. Star-Advertiser.

Median prices hit record highs for both single-family homes and condominiums sold on Oahu during June, according an analysis by the Honolulu-based real estate company Locations LLC. Pacific Business News.

Honolulu is the ninth-most expensive rental market in July among the 100 largest U.S. cities. The average monthly rent payment in Honolulu is $1,840 for a 1-bedroom apartment, down 1.1 percent from June, and $2,600 for a 2-bedroom apartment, up 1.2 percent. Pacific Business News.

A global conference with thousands of dignitaries and attendees will be hosted by the state in less than 60 days.   As HPR’s Wayne Yoshioka reports, the City and County unveiled its general plans today. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii

An ethics complaint was filed against one of Hawaii County’s Board of Ethics members. Kapaau resident Lanric Hyland, who is pursuing a separate ethics complaint against Mayor Billy Kenoi for misuse of his county purchasing card, is alleging board vice chairman Ken Goodenow has not been impartial on the issue. Tribune-Herald.

Developers of a 58-home subdivision planned for Alii Drive are asking for a pass on some of the conditions that were set when they first applied for rezoning. West Hawaii Today.

Lava is less than 1.1 miles from the ocean as the 61g flow has crossed half way across the coastal plain near Kalapana. Big Island Video News.

The lava flow from Kilauea’s Pu‘u ‘O‘o vent doesn’t appear to be wasting much time getting to the ocean. As of Tuesday afternoon, the flow had traveled about halfway across the coastal plain with about a mile of terrain separating it from the island’s edge, according to the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

The future of Maui Medical Group's obstetrics and gynecology department grew more uncertain last week, with a third, part-time physician now scheduled to leave by July 31, Maui Medical officials said Thursday. Maui News.

Maui Medical Group is scrambling to fill positions in its obstetrics and gynecology department in response to the loss of yet another doctor. Associated Press.

Ka Hale A Ke Ola Homeless Resource Centers has launched a new phone line for community members who need to inquire about homeless services. Maui News.

Gov. David Ige has ordered that US and state of Hawai‘i flags today will be flown at half-staff out of respect for the late former Maui County Mayor Elmer Cravalho, who died on June 27, 2016. Maui Now.

Kauai

The Office of the Mayor is examining a ruling by the Intermediate Court of Appeals which said that the Kauai Police Commission — not the mayor — has the power to suspend and discipline the police chief. Garden Island.

Hawaii’s police union is taking its fight over officer-worn body cameras to state court, in a case that could have ramifications for how the technology is used by county police departments across the islands. Civil Beat.

Lanai

Habitat for Humanity Maui has extended its reach across the Auau Channel to enable low-income Lanai residents to own homes through their "sweat equity" and help from their neighbors. Maui News.