Hirono battling stage 4 kidney cancer, Honolulu vehicle tax, parking fees advance, Kim defends Big Island property tax hikes, rail authority condemns Blood Bank land, Maui sugar lands going to cattle, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono © 2017 All Hawaii News

U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono has been diagnosed with advanced kidney cancer and is scheduled to undergo surgery today to remove one of her kidneys. Hirono, 69, says she expects to make a full recovery and plans “without question” to run for re-election in 2018. Star-Advertiser.

U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono on Tuesday announced that she has kidney cancer. Civil Beat.

U.S. Sen. Mazie K. Hirono, D-Hawaii, said on Tuesday that she will undergo treatment for kidney cancer. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Sen. Mazie Hirono is undergoing treatment for kidney cancer and says she has a favorable prognosis from her doctor in Washington. Associated Press.

Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, has been diagnosed with kidney cancer, according to a statement she released Tuesday morning. Garden Island.

Hawaii U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono announced plans to undergo treatment for kidney cancer. Big Island Video News.

Recently diagnosed with renal cell cancer, Senator Mazie Hirono will have her kidney removed Wednesday. KITV.

US Senator Mazie Hirono today announced plans to undergo treatment for kidney cancer.  Maui Now.

The incidence of kidney cancer in Hawaii has been rising steadily since the 1970s, and today more than 200 people are diagnosed with the disease annually in Hawaii, according to the National Cancer Institute. Hawaii News Now.

How House Leaders Scuttled Better Pay For Foster Parents. House Speaker Scott Saiki said attorney fees were too high in a multi-million-dollar settlement of a lawsuit challenging foster care payment rates. Civil Beat.

The agency in charge of the Honolulu rail project has filed a lawsuit to take property where the state’s non-profit blood bank manufactures, stores and distributes Hawaii’s blood supply. Civil Beat.

Delta Air Lines had an on-time arrival rate of 86.9 percent in March, besting Hawaiian Airlines by 2.2 percentage points, according to the Department of Transportation’s Air Travel Consumer Report. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

The City Council Budget Committee on Wednesday restored funding for seven staff positions in the new Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency, and agreed to do away with two of three planned rate increases for TheBus and TheHandi-Van riders. But in order to balance the city’s $2.45 billion operating budget, the committee also agreed to raise the city’s motor vehicle weight tax as well as metered parking rates. Star-Advertiser.

Proposed increases in parking meter fees, bus fares and the vehicle weight tax were moved ahead Tuesday by the Honolulu City Council Budget Committee. Civil Beat.

Higher downtown parking fees, increased vehicle weight taxes and a fare hike for Handi-Van users were among the proposals approved by the Honolulu City Council's budget committee Tuesday. Hawaii News Now.

In a City Council meeting held Tuesday, one of the topics on the table was whether or not to raise Hawaii's vehicle weight tax. KITV.

A new gate blocking a path to the beach at Portlock has renewed a decades-old dispute over access to the ocean. Star-Advertiser.

Aloha Green Holdings is the first medical marijuana dispensary in Hawaii to harvest its first crop. Pacific Business News.

Who’s on furlough? New decision favors public’s right to know. On Tuesday, years after our initial filing and back-and-forth, submitting additional points and requests for review, the OIP instructed public safety to release the list of furloughed inmates. KHON2.

The state’s chief executive addressed Rotary Club of Honolulu members today during their weekly meeting in Waikiki. Hawaii Public Radio.

West Oahu residents are calling for solutions to curb speeding and reckless driving following recent accidents on the Leeward Coast. Hawaii News Now.

Howard Hughes’ Ward Village was recently named the "Best Master Planned Community in the Nation” by Architectural Digest, which applauded the Kakaako community for its design, materials and location. Pacific Business News.

After selling food at the 2017 Waikiki Spam Jam without a Temporary Food Establishment permit, Kona Grill operated under Kona Macadamia Inc. is facing a fine from the Department of Health. Hawaii News Now.

A Hawaii company gained ground in the first quarter selling what it promotes as a new synthetic remedy for inflammation after years of research and development that has consumed $56 million of investment capital. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Mayor Harry Kim, a self-described fiscal conservative, spent the afternoon in Kona explaining reasons behind tax hikes set to accompany Hawaii County’s budget for next fiscal year. West Hawaii Today.

Last June, at a mayoral campaign event in Kailua-Kona, then-candidate Harry Kim criticized property tax increases by his predecessor. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii County Council members slammed a resolution claiming discrimination against Puna and Ka‘u, saying Tuesday they found it unnecessarily divisive. Tribune-Herald.

The chief financial officer of an international nondenominational Christian school in Kona admitted Monday in U.S. District Court to stealing more than $3 million from the school. Star-Advertiser.

The state Department of Transportation now expects a road improvement project at Shower/Pohaku Drive and Highway 130 in Puna to resume in late June after a storm water discharge permit expired. Tribune-Herald.

Schofield Barracks officials have identified the soldier who was killed in a training incident on the Big Island. The soldier was identified as Sgt. Terrence Hinton of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team in the 25th Infantry Division. KITV.

Maui

Alexander &Baldwin Inc. announced Tuesday that it is moving ahead with a long-range plan to establish a cattle ranch on Maui after shutting down Hawaii’s last sugar cane plantation there in December. Star-Advertiser.

Alexander &Baldwin Inc. has established a grass-fed cattle pasturing operation on the 36,000-acre Hawaiian Commercial and Sugar Co. plantation on Maui, which closed in December of last year. Pacific Business News.

Alexander &Baldwin Inc. today announced the establishment of Kūlōlio Ranch, a grass-fed cattle pasturing operation that is situated on approximately 4,000 acres of former sugar lands in Central Maui. Maui Now.

A grease blockage in a sewer lateral caused a 1,237-gallon wastewater overflow in Kahului on Sunday morning, the county Department of Environmental Management reported. Maui News.

Maui veterans are hoping the World War II Veterans Memorial will be up at the Maui Veterans Cemetery in Makawao by next week. Maui News.

Kauai

A $500,000 project to add electricity and infrastructure to the island’s drag racing strip is on the agenda for a May 23 Planning Commission meeting. Garden Island.

Taps played in the background while flags flew at half mast and people bowed their heads to honor police officers around the nation who died on the job. Garden Island.

Kauai police on Tuesday recognized the retirement of K-9 Simon, a 10-year-old Belgian malinois who has been a part of the K-9 unit since 2008. Garden Island.

Reef fish population ebbs; Legislature to vote on pesticide buffer, university smoking/vaping ban, Oahu homeless, concussion education, more bills; DLNR officer convicted of rape fired; Honolulu looks at distracted pedestrians; Maui's Iao Valley slowly recovering; Kauai monk seal apparently killed, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaiian net fisherman © 2017 All Hawaii News

A report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says nearly a dozen Hawaiian reef fish species are being overfished. KHON2.

U.S. officials say the first-ever assessment of Hawaii’s reef fish shows that 11 of 27 species are experiencing some level of overfishing. Associated Press.

NOAA: 11 species overfished in Hawaii. Garden Island.

Link to full NOAA report here.

Pesticide bill will be put to a vote. Bill would require farms to implement buffer zones around schools, watersheds, shorelines and hospitals when spraying pesticides. Garden Island.

Hawaii School Board Member Wants Top State Education Job. Darrel Galera is seen as a favorite for the superintendent position because of his relationship with Gov. David Ige. Civil Beat.

Former public school principal Darrel Galera resigned from the state Board of Education on Monday and said he will apply for the superintendent job the board is seeking to fill. Star-Advertiser.

A 1978 amendment to the state constitution mandated that Hawaii’s public schools teach Hawaiian education. Thirty-nine years later, the state’s Department of Education still struggles to offer Hawaiian education programs to the vast majority of public school students. Civil Beat.

A bill to ban vaping and smoking on all University of Hawaii campuses statewide crossed over from the state Senate to the House. Tribune-Herald.

There's a growing call underway to scrap safety checks for Hawaii cars. Hawaii News Now.

Legislature helps fund concussion education. Star-Advertiser.

Native Hawaiian activist Mililani Trask is suing Office of Hawaiian Affairs Trustee Peter Apo, accusing him of violating his responsibilities stemming from alleged incidents of sexual harassment.Civil Beat.

Video blog: Interview With Former Hawaii Governor John D. Waihee III. Civil Beat.

Two rallies last week demonstrated the great divide here over the Presidency of the United States. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

A bill before the Honolulu City Council would prohibit pedestrians from using mobile electronic devices, including cellphones, while crossing a street or highway. Star-Advertiser.

The City's "Department of Planning and Permitting", is presenting the "Oahu General Plan" Tuesday night, addressing the impacts of sea level rise, and climate change. KITV.

A Waikiki group is proposing sweeping changes to parking in the state’s No. 1 tourist district, including raising the hourly rate for metered parking to $3 from $1.50, extending the metered parking hours to 10 p.m. instead of 6 p.m., converting about 300 free parking spaces to metered and issuing reduced-rate permits to Waikiki residents. Star-Advertiser.

State ends lease with Moiliili tow company, eyes rentals for Native Hawaiians.KHON2.

On Friday, the House passed 137 bills, including two measures relating to supporting Oahu’s homeless population. Pacific Business News.

The median sales price for a single-family house on Oahu climbed in February to the second-highest level ever at $755,000, according to data released Monday by the Honolulu Board of Realtors. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu company that makes Hula Brand noodles, shrimp flakes and other dry edibles has violated food safety standards with unsanitary equipment and insect droppings at its plant, the Food and Drug Administration says. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Two close associates of Mayor Harry Kim have joined the administration as contract hires after turning down full-time jobs. West Hawaii Today.

Mokulele Air and Makani Kai Air are two contenders for a new Essential Air Service contract that will cover all commercial flights in and out of Waimea-Kohala Airport beginning later this year. West Hawaii Today.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources announced in a tersely worded written statement Monday it has terminated the employment of Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement Officer Ethan Ferguson. Tribune-Herald.

Big on ideas, but short on funding, the staff at a small Hilo-based aerospace agency are hoping a bill moving through the state Legislature will make the difference. Tribune-Herald.

The contested case hearing for the Thirty Meter Telescope project at Mauna Kea on Hawaii's Big Island concluded on Thursday after 44 days of witness testimony, but a decision on whether TMT officials can proceed with the $1.4 billion project could still be months away. Pacific Business News.

Home prices on Hawaii’s Big Island rose by double digits last month, even as the number of single-family homes sold fell, according to statistics provided by Hawaii Information Service on behalf of Hawaii Island Realtors. Pacific Business News.

Maui

Flood-ravaged Iao Valley is slowly coming back to life six months after powerful stormwater forced evacuations, swept cars and massive boulders downstream and shut down the two parks that help make this spectacular canyon one of Maui’s most popular visitor destinations. Star-Advertiser.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources allowed media access into Iao Valley park March 6 to provide an update on the current restoration process.  Maui Now.

Hazardous conditions following a major flood in September haven’t deterred tourists from trying to visit Kepaniwai Park and Iao Valley State Monument. Maui News.

Kauai

State authorities are investigating what they’ve described as the suspicious death of a 15-year-old endangered monk seal on Kauai. Star-Advertiser.

A 15-year-old endangered Hawaiian monk seal known to many Kauai locals was found dead on a beach near Eleele on Feb. 23. Civil Beat.

An oft-spotted, 15-year-old endangered Hawaiian monk seal, known as R4DP, was found dead on a beach near Eleele on Feb. 23. Garden Island.

The Honolulu-based company in the process of redeveloping the iconic Coco Palms Resort on the island of Kauai is also building an affordable housing project as a component of the Coco Palms project, a company executive confirmed to Pacific Business News.

Kauai’s real estate market sizzled last month as the median price for single-family houses soared above $700,000 and the median cost for condos rose nearly 50 percent. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Foodbank has promoted a new branch manager to take care of its Kauai location. Garden Island.

State issues alert for bee disease, Mayors Caldwell, Kim release budgets, Kona harbor employee fined for ethics violation, Honolulu police embroiled in abuse investigations, residents to police fireworks violations, media access to disasters, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

American foulbrood disease, courtesy Hawaii Department of Agriculture

State agricultural officials are warning Hawaii’s beekeepers to keep an eye out for the re-emergence of a destructive bee disease that once wiped out much of the islands’ honeybee population. Star-Advertiser.

Detection of the destructive and difficult-to-eradicate American foulbrood disease in a Kula beehive recently led the state Department of Agriculture to issue an alert Wednesday. Maui News.

The Hawaii Department of Agriculture sent notice to beekeepers across the state Wednesday of a new case of American foulbrood, a bee disease that decimated much of Hawaii’s honeybee population in the 1930s. West Hawaii Today.

A beekeeper recently detected a destructive bee disease, American foulbrood or AFB in a bee hive in Kula, Maui, agricultural officials have confirmed. Several hives on Oʻahu and Hawaiʻi Island were also affected by AFB in February and October, 2016 respectively. Maui Now.

News release on bee disease by state Department of Agriculture is here.

================

State Sen. Josh Green introduced more than 10 bills this session relating to homelessness. As of Tuesday, two were headed for a vote on the Senate floor. But neither are quite as ambitious as when they started. Tribune-Herald.

How News Media May Get More Access To Disaster Scenes. After a virtual news blackout as lava flows threatened a town, lawmakers rethink limits on coverage. Civil Beat.

A proposed Hawaii bill aims to speed up the state’s progress toward its ambitious 100 percent renewable energy goal by creating training courses for state and county employees responsible for approving energy projects. Pacific Business News.

Bill would let residents report illegal fireworks with cell phone footage. Hawaii News Now.

Lawmakers aim to defuse illegal fireworks market. KITV.

A Hawaii bill that sought to change the way commercial fishing licenses are granted died after industry representatives told lawmakers it would wreck the business. Associated Press.

Is Hawaii Ready For Driverless Cars? Waikiki tourists, highway traffic jams, pedestrian problems and unique environmental conditions could pose issues for the new technology. Civil Beat.

For the third month in a row, statewide bankruptcy filings increased from the year-earlier period as the number of cases in February rose 13 percent, according to data released Wednesday by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

First-time homebuyers in Hawaii and Florida have among the most obstacles in the nation when it comes to bagging a property, according to a study by Bankrate.com. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Medical Service Association reported a $28.5 million profit in 2016, up from $4 million the previous year. Kaiser Permanente Hawaii, on the other hand, said its loss grew to $22.8 million — from $17.4 million — due to caring for seniors and low-income patients, and paying for technology, facilities and member services. Star-Advertiser.

Kaiser Permanente Hawaii on Wednesday reported a net loss of $12.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2016, a 95.3 percent increase in losses compared to previous fourth quarter net loss of $6.5 million. Pacific Business News.

Commentary: Hawaii Moves Too Slow On Asset Forfeiture Reform. Some states are insisting that people must be convicted of a crime before they lose their property. Civil Beat.

Oahu

The $2.45 billion operating budget Mayor Kirk Caldwell plans to unveil today proposes a new trash pickup fee and increases to bus fares and Residential A property taxes for next fiscal year that officials say are needed to fund hikes in nondiscretionary spending — including debt service, employee retirement and collective bargaining. Star-Advertiser.

As they unveil this year’s budget plan, officials in the mayor’s office largely aim to convince state lawmakers that the city cannot cover the added costs to complete the island’s cash-strapped rail project. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu Planning Commission gave its approval Wednesday for the city to continue using Oahu’s only landfill until it’s filled to capacity, regardless of when that might be. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu Police Department admitted Wednesday it botched the case of a toddler who almost died from apparent abuse at an Ewa Beach day care, but said it was highly unlikely that anyone will ever be brought to justice for the crime. Civil Beat.

The Honolulu Police Department plans to do more investigating on three old cases that resulted in serious injury to a child after determining more could have been done during the initial investigations, officials said today. Star-Advertiser.

The mother of a toddler who nearly died is pleading with the Honolulu Police Department for a more thorough investigation into her son’s injuries. KHON2.

The Hawaii Community Development Authority is going ahead with plans for a solar facility to be built in Kalaeloa, which may disrupt nearby Hawaiian cultural sites. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu HomeLoans and Downtown Capital are among local real estate companies in opposition of restrictions for condominiums built in Kakaako proposed by the Hawaii Community Development Authority. Pacific Business News.

A master plan that would guide a monumental resculpting of the state’s biggest park in urban Honolulu and add new uses including sand volleyball courts, an oceanfront amphitheater and a beer garden failed to win support of a state board Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Nothing to negotiate in Aloha Stadium, UH deal. Star-Advertiser.

Starbucks has opened one of only 20 of its Reserve experience bars across the country in Waikiki. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

Mayor Harry Kim unveiled a proposed budget Wednesday that ratchets up county spending by $11 million, a scant 2.4 percent, but leaves open the possibility that expenditures could yet increase based on decisions outside his control. West Hawaii Today.

Mayor Harry Kim Issues Message On $474 Million Budget. Big Island Video News.

A Hawaii island harbor agent is being fined $1,000 and ordered to repay a parasailing company $238.45 after he arranged free trips from the company, while appearing to offer the company unspecified favors. Star-Advertiser.

Two California shoppers are suing the distributors of Kona Brewing Company saying they were deceived into thinking the beer was made in Hawaii. Hawaii News Now.

Housing units sitting idle in Pahoa for years will be auctioned off instead of renovated. Tribune-Herald.

Advisory signs at Kamakahonu Beach at Kailua Bay came down Friday after tests for pathogen indicators fell below Clean Water Branch thresholds. West Hawaii Today.

A cruise ship scheduled to make a call in Kailua-Kona Wednesday was unable to do so as a result of high, unusual winds associated with a weather system to the west. West Hawaii Today.

The summits of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa were closed Wednesday after they received a fresh blanket of snow that resulted in whiteout conditions. Tribune-Herald.

It's been a dramatic new year so far for one of Hawai'i Island's most spectacular sights. The Kīlauea Volcano has been continuously erupting for 34 years—but there have been some changes since January. Hawaii Public Radio.

Maui

Cooperation among West Maui landowners is key to reducing sediment runoff to reefs, whose coral coverage is down significantly in the region’s northern waters, according to a recent University of Hawaii study. Maui News.

Starting March 1, until funding is exhausted, residents will be able to dispose of one vehicle per year at no processing charge. Maui Now.

Maui County residents will be able to dispose of one vehicle per year for free under a new county abandoned vehicle program. Maui News.

The cost of shutting down Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co.’s operations last year was $20 million lower than expected and the company’s sugar operations performed “better than expected” for its last harvest, said the chief executive officer of parent company Alexander & Baldwin on Tuesday. Maui News.

Ohana by Hawaiian Airlines has resumed its service to Kapalua Airport in West Maui, exactly 30 years after the airport opened. Pacific Business News.

After a 24-year hiatus, Hawaiian Airlines made its return to Kapalua Airport on Wednesday. Maui News.

Kauai

Hawaii Dairy Farms may be back to square one with its environmental impact statement, a process that started with the release of its draft EIS in June. Garden Island.

A brown water advisory was issued by the state’s Department of Health, Clean Water Branch Wednesday due to the heavy rains that was accompanied by lightning and thunder Tuesday night. Garden Island.

Hold onto your wallets--the Legislature's in session; Maui mayor's denial of sacred rocks draws ire; insecticide ban urged; bills die on deadline; Kim kills compost contract; rail car construction to resume; more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Capitol © 2017 All Hawaii News

State lawmakers are advancing a startling array of more than a dozen proposals this year to increase taxes or impose new levies on everything from marijuana and prepaid cellphones to rocks. Star-Advertiser.

Commentary: Residents, brace for a clear money grab by politicians. Star-Advertiser.

After a major legislative deadline, the number of bills still alive in the Hawaii Legislature has dwindled. Proposals to boost the use of batteries for renewable energy and take parts of the federal Affordable Care Act into state law are survived. But the variety of unusual proposals to solving homelessness — from setting up sanctioned campgrounds to allowing people to live in driveways — had a mixed fate. Associated Press.

Environmental activists are urging Hawaii lawmakers to implement a statewide ban on a widely used insecticide that’s been linked to disruptions in the brain development of babies and young children — a cause they say is all the more urgent now that President Donald Trump has assumed office and signaled his intent to curtail environmental regulations. Star-Advertiser.

A twice-defeated Senate bill that would allow media access during island disasters and emergencies has passed one committee and is on its way to the Senate Judiciary and Labor Committee. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Lodging and Tourism Association will host its second annual "Tourism Day at the Capitol" this week. KITV.

The state Legislature is considering taking money generated by the transient accommodations tax away from the counties. Garden Island.

The Board of Education has tapped an Iowa-based executive search firm to help it find and screen candidates for the schools superintendent position. Star-Advertiser.

The Board of Education is asking Hawaii residents for their input in choosing the state's new schools superintendent. Hawaii News Now.

Candidates are again being sought to fill a vacancy on the five-member Kamehameha Schools board of trustees after one of three finalists withdrew from the search. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii is ranked fourth among states with the highest percentage of millionaire households, according to the 2016 Phoenix Wealth & Affluent Monitor, a study released by Phoenix Marketing International. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

Nearly three months after its halt, production of rail cars for the Honolulu rail project is about to start up again. KHON2.

Mayor Kirk Caldwell's affordable housing strategy aims to add up to 800 units per year. Pacific Business News.

One of the hottest areas for new housing production on Oahu could soon have a longer-lasting supply of moderate-priced homes for sale or rent — and at lower prices — if a state board adopts new rules recommended by its staff. Star-Advertiser.

A man in his 40s died Saturday morning after breaching a TSA security checkpoint at the Honolulu International Airport. Hawaii News Now.

A couple of shopping malls on O‘ahu are dealing with some of the challenges of middle age. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii

Mayor Harry Kim on Thursday signed a termination of a composting contract that was “deemed disadvantageous” to Hawaii County. Tribune-Herald.

As the days add up in the Thirty Meter Telescope contested case, so does the cost. As of Dec. 31, the state’s bill for the quasi-judicial hearing was $224,789.62, according to the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Tribune-Herald.

Using a wheelchair or walker to reach the best areas of Hawaii County parks will get easier. But it won’t happen overnight. Tribune-Herald.

Vog experts, health professionals and concerned citizens gathered in Kona for a seminar meant to answer one simple question: Is vog the greatest daily threat to the health of Hawaii Islanders? West Hawaii Today.

A former police officer charged with fatally striking a bicyclist is scheduled to appear in court for a fitness hearing Friday accompanied by an attorney still seeking assurances the county will pay for his defense. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Mayor Alan Arakawa is coming under fire from social media and elsewhere for saying in a televised “Hawaii News Now Sunrise” interview Friday that “there’s no such thing as sacred rocks.” Maui News.

Public scoping meetings have been scheduled for Alexander & Baldwin’s application to the state Board of Land and Natural Resources for a 30-year lease for water from streams in Nahiku, Keanae and Huelo. Maui News.

Jeanne Unemori Skog, the longtime head of the Maui Economic Development Board who began with the nonprofit 33 years ago, will step down in June, she announced Friday. Maui News.

Kauai

The County of Kauai will discuss a resolution that will allow the County Council to establish an investigating committee when it meets Wednesday. Garden Island.

When it comes to updating Rice Street, the Kauai Board of Realtors wants to hear what the community has to say. Garden Island.

Kauai has a new state district health officer. Garden Island.

Legislature mulls free tuition, taxing REITs, Ige appoints campaign manager as judge, Honolulu rail tax falters, Machado returns as OHA chair, Ward Warehouse coming down, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

University of Hawaii at Manoa © 2017 All Hawaii News

Two bills that would appropriate millions for low-income students to attend University of Hawaii schools cleared their first hurdle at a House Higher Education Committee hearing Thursday. Civil Beat.

Mainland Students Could Be An ‘Economic Driver’ For Hawaii. Some lawmakers want the University of Hawaii to attract more out-of-state students who pay higher tuition as well as diversify the campuses. Civil Beat.

Hawai’i’s top economic drivers, tourism and the military, are at or near capacity. But the state has a plan to expand the economy in innovation, the fastest growing sector.  Hawaii Public Radio.

End tax breaks for REITs, real estate investment trusts, local firms urge Legislature. Star-Advertiser.
Former state workers face long wait for payouts despite hefty payroll upgrade. KHON2.

Promising to bring stability to a panel beset with dissension, Colette Machado of Molokai on Thursday was elected chairwoman of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees. Star-Advertiser.

Colette Machado has returned to the seat of power at a state agency supporting Native Hawaiians. In related news, Abigail Kawananakoa filed a lawsuit Thursday challenging the employment of OHA CEO Kamanao’pono Crabbe. Civil Beat.

Hawaii's attorney general wants to add a new plaintiff to the state's lawsuit challenging President Donald Trump's travel ban on people from seven mostly Muslim countries: Ismail Elshikh, the imam of the Muslim Association of Hawaii, whose mother-in-law is a Syrian national living in Syria. Associated Press.

Lawmakers are considering adding to the list of illnesses that qualify for the legal use of medical marijuana as the state’s first dispensaries prepare to open in a few months. Star-Advertiser.

A third Hawaii medical marijuana contractor received state approval today to begin legally growing pakalolo. Star-Advertiser.

Dignitaries from Hawaii and Japan gathered at the Kaka'ako Waterfront Park on Thursday to remember those who lost their lives when a U.S. submarine collided with the Japanese ship Ehime Maru. Nine people were killed in the 2001 collision - including 4 teenage students. KITV.

Hundreds of corrections officers called in sick on the day of the NFL’s annual championship game. KHON2.

Oahu

Gov. David Ige announced three appointments to Oahu’s Circuit Court on Thursday, one of whom is his former campaign manager Keith Hiraoka, who resigned from that post last month when he found out that he had been chosen as a candidate by the Judicial Selection Commission. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. David Ige has appointed his former campaign manager, Keith Hiraoka, to fill the 1st Circuit Court seat that Judge Karen Ahn vacated when she retired in June. Civil Beat.

In an unusual move, two state Senate committees on Thursday elected to not vote on that chamber’s primary “vehicle” for funding the over-budget Honolulu rail project. Instead, the measure will be so heavily amended that it will require another public hearing. Civil Beat.

A measure that would extend the half percentage point general excise tax surcharge for the city's rail project is still alive, but with several changes and additions. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell will sign a bill into law providing TheBus riders the option to purchase a one-day pass. Hawaii News Now.

The wrecking ball now has a firm date with Ward Warehouse. Property owner Howard Hughes Corp. has informed the Kakaako retail complex’s roughly 60 tenants that they must vacate in August to make way for residential tower development. Star-Advertiser.

Bicyclists love new bike lane on McCully while residents struggle for parking. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu is the best place in the United States to be a Realtor, according to a recent study by WalletHub. Pacific Business News.

A group representing survivors of sexual abuse and an organization representing the LGBTQ community are urging Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell to rescind his appointment of Marc Alexander to lead the city Office of Housing. Civil Beat.

Disney, Marvel Studios and IMAX are planning to develop a headquarters for Marvel’s next major project — a feature film and ABC television series “Marvels The Inhumans” — in a former Navy facility in Hawaii, the head of the state’s film commission confirmed to Pacific Business News this week.

Hawaii

Mayor Kim Wants To Reduce Two Percent Land Fund. Harry Kim would like to cut the amount set aside for public land purchases by half. Big Island Video News.

Mayor Harry Kim spent Wednesday evening at the Ocean View Community Center quelling wave after wave of frustration from an animated crowd of roughly 60 residents, many of whom feel the county has left them behind. West Hawaii Today.

Two lawmakers want to increase safety at a popular Puna swimming spot and vet the feasibility of a harbor at Kapoho Bay. Tribune-Herald.

With a county voucher program set to expire at the end of next month, Hawaii Island legislators once again are hoping to secure state funding that would help residents combat invasive little fire ants. Tribune-Herald.

The Hakalau Bridge on Old Mamalahoa Highway will be closed starting at 5 p.m. Friday because of public safety concerns, the county Department of Public Works said Thursday. Tribune-Herald.

A Kona District Court judge has disqualified himself from hearing the case of Sean “Peaman” Pagett, who was cited Christmas Day for running an unpermitted race at Kailua Pier. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

For many homeless people, the easiest place to turn for health care is often the emergency room, said Carol Petith-Zbiciak, doctor of nursing practice at the University of Hawaii Maui College. Maui News.

Kauai

Kauai Humane Society is among the animal welfare advocates descending upon the Hawaii Capitol today for Humane Lobby Day at the Legislature. Garden Island.

The Kauai County Council on Wednesday unanimously deferred a proposal to establish pedestrian access and parking easements in Koloa. Garden Island.

Ruth’s Chris Steak House is opening its sixth restaurant in Hawaii and first on Kauai at The Shops at Kukuiula on the island’s South Shore, the owner of the shopping complex confirmed to Pacific Business News Thursday.

Gov. Ige seeks to double food production by 2020, homelessness as medical condition, Honolulu bill would strengthen plastic bag ban, state could tighten drunk driving laws, activists plan march on Zuckerberg property, Kim injury keeps him from important hearing, Rep. Ing pleads no contest to citation, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hilo Farmers Market © 2017 All Hawaii News

BREAKING: Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan: 'We are dropping our quiet title actions' Garden Island.

Money Sought To Protect Watersheds And Grow More Food. Hawaii Gov. David Ige joins department heads asking legislators to approve funds for his Sustainable Hawaii Initiative. Civil Beat.

Doubling Hawaii's local food production by 2020 is one of Governor Ige's marquee promises, and the state's Department of Agriculture is tasked with making it become a reality. But with the deadline just three years away, many are asking whether that number is still realistic. Hawaii News Now.

The Hawai‘i Tourism Authority is considering measures to increase public transparency in the wake of criticism from the visitor industry and state lawmakers that it isn’t forthcoming about how it spends tens of millions of taxpayer dollars to market the islands. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii bill would classify homelessness as medical condition. Associated Press.

Measures Aim To Help Domestic Violence Victims Get Help. The Hawaii Women’s Legislative Caucus is also backing bills to ensure access to health care and to keep kids safe. Civil Beat.

The chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Transportation and Energy said Thursday she would not consider bills about Hawaiian Electric Co. if the utility was not included in the process. Star-Advertiser.

The state is looking into tightening drunk driving laws. Right now, the legal limit is 0.08, but an effort is underway to lower that threshold to 0.05. KHON2.

State Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald says lawmakers have advanced some troubling bills in recent years to make dramatic changes in the selection, retention and pensions of state judges but that he doesn’t know if the measures were designed to convey some message of disapproval to the state Judiciary. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii public schools look to lessen food waste. Hawaii News Now.

A proposal to put Office of Hawaiian Affairs CEO Kamana‘opono Crabbe on paid leave while the Board of Trustees works on a deal to buy out his employment contract failed Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

In a dramatic moment Thursday, Native Hawaiian activist Bumpy Kanahele called for an investigation into OHA's finances, throwing a handful of salt onto the group's meeting table and suggesting the board invite federal authorities to examine its business its dealings. Hawaii News Now.

Stephen Schatz, deputy superintendent for the state Department of Education, is leaving his post for a job at the University of Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

A bill to make Honolulu’s plastic bag ban more stringent has been languishing at the City Council despite concerns that the existing law isn’t doing enough to protect Oahu’s environment. Civil Beat.

Honolulu City council member Brandon Elefante has introduced a bill that would make it illegal to use your cell phone while crossing the street, or highway. KITV.

State Health Department officials have issued a public advisory for one of the lagoons at Ko Olina, saying there are high levels of a dangerous bacteria in the water. Hawaii News Now.

The Honolulu Police Commission violated state law when it met behind closed doors to discuss Chief Louis Kealoha’s employment, including agreeing to allow him to retire with an added payment of $250,000, a lawsuit filed Thursday alleges. Civil Beat.

City regulators in Honolulu on Thursday ordered the owners of the shuttered Polynesian Plaza hotel in Waikiki to immediately stop construction work on the property until a new general contractor and plumber are found, Pacific Business News has learned.

Advanced Fresh Concepts Franchise Corp., doing business as AFC Sushi at Safeway Kapahulu, was fined $6,000 Thursday by the state Department of Health for food-safety violations and removing a health inspection placard from public view. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu, where the median price of a single-family home rose 5 percent last year, was one of the coolest spots in the U.S. for house flipping in 2016, when compared with other metropolitan areas. Pacific Business News.

Three utility-scale solar farms that Hawaiian Electric Co. terminated last year are going to be revived. Star-Advertiser.

The architects who favor street-level rail from Middle Street to Ala Moana Center have launched a website. KITV.

Ledcor Construction Hawaii LLC is suing the owners of the Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina, claiming the contractor wasn't paid for doing nearly $1 million of work on the hotel’s redevelopment project, Pacific Business News has learned.

Hawaii

Mayor Harry Kim injured his arm and missed an important hearing in Honolulu on Monday, sparking renewed concerns about his health. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii Island state lawmakers introduced an ambitious long-term plan to revitalize Hilo’s urban core during the ongoing legislative session. Tribune-Herald.

The county Planning Department wants input on a draft version of its Downtown Hilo improvement plan, which recommends converting multiple roads from one-way to two-way and more than doubling off-street public parking spaces. Tribune-Herald.

Hilo’s state senator has introduced a bill to unlock the economic potential of his district’s urban core. Big Island Video News.

Two years ago, the State Legislature appropriated $90 million dollars to build a new judiciary building in Kona.  Now, Hawai‘i State Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald is asking for more funding. Hawaii Public Radio.

After threats to historic trails halted construction on Queen Kaahumanu Highway late last year, the Hawaii Department of Transportation announced Thursday plans to resume the second phase of the highway widening project beginning next week. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Saying “I was mistaken” when he made earlier statements about his citation for not having vehicle insurance, state Rep. Kaniela Ing pleaded no contest Wednesday to the traffic crime. Maui News.

Maui Criminal Case Filings Increase 50% in Five Years. Maui Now.

Maui’s two licensed medical marijuana dispensaries are weeks away from beginning to grow their first crop, but it may take another four to five months before residents can get their hands on products. Maui News.

Kauai

More than 200 people on Kauai are planning a protest on Saturday near Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s 700-acre property in Kilauea. Hawaii News Now.

A California couple is asking $7.5 million for a 552-square-foot, one-bedroom home set on three-quarters of an acre within Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s 700 acres of oceanfront property on the island of Kauai’s North Shore, Pacific Business News has learned.

A store providing free school supplies for teachers on Kaua‘i will open its doors this weekend.  An organization called Kumu’s Cupboard in the Kukui Grove Center will provide resources for local teachers who would otherwise be using their own money to buy basic school supplies. Hawaii Public Radio.

Settlement in polygraph suit may cost state $400K. Star-Advertiser.

Alakai O Kauai Public Charter School is enrolling students. The school unanimously approved by the Hawaii State Charter School Commission is on track to open in August with 165 students. Garden Island.

Obama and Abe to visit Pearl Harbor today, $112M for renewable energy, Honolulu to tax part-time homeowners higher, Kim institutes hiring freeze, 12% raises for Maui officials, lawmaker publishes Hawaii Kai homeless map, new civil defense chief, Kenoi's legacy, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe places a wreath at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at the Punchbowl in Honolulu, Hawaii on December 26, 2016. (AFP PHOTO/JAPAN POOL VIA JIJI PRESS /STR)

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe laid wreaths at various cemeteries and memorials Monday ahead of a visit to the site of the 1941 bombing that plunged the United States into World War II. Associated Press.

Putting 75 years of resentment behind them, the leaders of the United States and Japan are coming together at Pearl Harbor for a historic pilgrimage to the site where a devastating surprise attack sent America marching into World War II. Associated Press.

In a solemn, silent tribute, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe presented a white chrysanthemum wreath at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific on Monday, bowing his head slightly as a gentle rain fell. Star-Advertiser.

In a gesture that highlights the strength of U.S-Japan relations and how far the two nations have come since World War II, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will join President Obama at the USS Arizona Memorial on Tuesday to mark the 75th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Hawaii News Now.

The historic visit to Honolulu of Japan’s top leader began Monday morning at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. Civil Beat.

Prime Minister Abe Shinzo paid tribute to fallen warriors at the National Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl shortly after arriving in Honolulu Monday. KITV.

President Barack Obama and first lady Michele Obama thanked hundreds of service members and their families on Christmas Day in his final holiday visit as commander-in-chief to the Marine Corps Base Hawaii. Civil Beat.

Commentary: We in Hawaii know Obama’s historic presidency was all the richer because of his Hawaii roots. Star-Advertiser.

Legislation introduced a year ago by two Hawaii lawmakers is now law. “Talia’s Law,” as it is called, seeks to at better protect children from abuse on military bases. Civil Beat.

More than half a million Hawaii residents in commercial health plans will see an average 6.2 percent rate hike Sunday. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaiian Electric companies that power Oahu, Maui County and the Big Island have submitted a plan to state energy regulators that lays out how they will achieve 100 percent of their electricity generation from renewable sources by 2040 — five years sooner than the state-mandated goal. Civil Beat.

Eight organizations have banded together on a mission to create more electric options in ground transportation in Hawaii, including the state’s Department of Transportation and Kauai Island Utility Cooperative. Garden Island.

The state paid out $112 million in tax credits for renewable energy investment in 2014, the largest state tax credit for the year. Star-Advertiser.

As Hawaii residents eye the fresh ahi sashimi platters traditionally found on holiday dinner tables, major negotiations loom next year over how much tuna commercial fishermen should be allowed to catch. Civil Beat.

University of Hawaii researchers say severe birth defects related to the Zika virus occurred in the islands several years before this year’s outbreaks in Brazil and Puerto Rico. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

A Honolulu ordinance that taxes homeowners at higher rates for million-dollar homes that they don’t live in full time will remain in effect after a state judge Friday reversed his October decision that found that the tax classification was unconstitutional. Star-Advertiser.

A state legislator has published a map of suspected homeless people in his district in an effort to raise public awareness of the problem, but some attorneys say the effort could be unconstitutional.Star-Advertiser.

City Councilman Joey Manahan has met with officials at the Honolulu Country Club in an effort to address concerns by Salt Lake residents about foul odors emanating from the waters around the club. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu Fire Department said it has been fined $15,400 and told to control workplace hazards as a result of an investigation into the accidental death of firefighter Clifford Rigsbee during a training exercise. Star-Advertiser.

A Waipahu homeless shelter is preparing to close its doors for good. Shelter officials at Lighthouse Outreach Center say new regulations adopted by the state are to blame. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii

Mayor Harry Kim has instituted a hiring freeze while county departments revamp their procedures for selecting job candidates. West Hawaii Today.

Mayor Harry Kim tapped a former chief ranger at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park to be Hawaii County’s next Civil Defense administrator. Tribune-Herald.

Two Former Big Island Mayors Weigh In on Billy Kenoi's Political Future. Hawaii Public Radio.

A room set aside for welcoming cruise ship passengers at Hilo Harbor will be turned into a security office, frustrating greeters who have waited four years to return to the space. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii Island tourism numbers are approaching a record high thanks to an ongoing shift in arrivals from cruise ships to airlines. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii House Majority Leader Scott Saiki is calling on the state Supreme Court to speed up the contested-case hearings for the permit to build a giant telescope atop Mauna Kea. Associated Press.

Honokaa anxiously awaits gym's re-opening -- a year from now. Hawaii News Now.

Peaman cited: Race goes on but organizer says he has court date in February. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The 12 percent pay raise approved earlier this month for Mayor Alan Arakawa and his department appointees stands after the Maui County Salary Commission took no new action Friday, despite calling a special meeting after questions arose about the nondescriptive agenda item posted for its last meeting. Maui News.

The proposed new Maui County Service Center in Alexander & Baldwin’s Maui Business Park II in Puunene/Kahului has an estimated price tag of $27 million and would include a number of new occupants. Maui News.

The Dorvin and Betty Leis Charitable Trust announced it is donating a total of $1.25 million to 17 nonprofits on Maui. Pacific Business News.

Leis family is the model for philanthropic giving. Maui News.

The Kihei Community Association has provided about a quarter of the cost for a follow-up study to look into the water quality off South Maui in the context of human health. Maui News.

Kauai

Fire Chief Robert Westerman talks growth, future needs. Garden Island.

There’s another set of hands working in Katherine Muzik’s underwater coral garden named Mala Moana, or “Ocean Garden,” in Hawaiian. Garden Island.

Pearl Harbor's 75th commemorated today, new U.S.-Japan relationship forming, Capitol Hill forum blasts Hawaii leadership for abusive fisherman labor conditions, Board of Education seeks transparent selection of new superintendent, book closes on Kenoi ethics, Maui sugar industry plans last haul, 200k gallon sewage spill at Ko Olina, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

USS John C. Stennis arrives at Pearl Harbor, courtesy U.S. Navy

Pearl Harbor ceremony: What you need to know. Star-Advertiser.

An American president in Hiroshima. A Japanese prime minister at Pearl Harbor. One longtime taboo has already fallen this year, and the other soon will. Associated Press.

More than 4,000 people, including hundreds of Pearl Harbor survivors, World War II veterans and their families, will gather Wednesday to mark the 75th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor in a solemn ceremony aimed at honoring the legacy of those who served and remembering those who paid the ultimate sacrifice. Hawaii News Now.

On Wednesday, Dec. 7, the U.S. Navy and National Park Service will co-host a joint memorial ceremony commemorating the 75th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. KHON2.

The last of the survivors of the Pearl Harbor attack are passing from life, but their voices and stories aren’t disappearing. Civil Beat.

In observance of the 75th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Tribune-Herald is republishing this article from 2001 that documented how the newspaper covered — or failed to cover, due to government censorship — the attack and its aftermath on the Big Island. Tribune-Herald.

For Pearl Harbor survivors, the attack of December 7th 1941 was a shared experience, but each story is an individual one. Hawaii Public Radio.

The Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort hosted more than 1,200 at a gala event on the eve of the 75th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the event that plunged the United States into World War II. Pacific Business News.

Survivors of the attack on Pearl Harbor and other World War II veterans were wined and dined and honored at a special gala tribute on the eve of the 75th anniversary of the historic battle. Star-Advertiser.


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Former Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle will be returning to the islands. The Hawaii GOP tweeted Lingle will be the guest speaker at a pre-inaugural presidential gala, celebrating the election of Donald Trump. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii’s government leaders came in for withering criticism Tuesday at a Capitol Hill forum on abusive labor conditions for foreign fishermen employed as contract workers. Civil Beat.

Congress should act immediately to improve slavelike conditions for hundreds of foreign fishermen working in Hawaii’s commercial fleet, speakers at a congressional forum said Tuesday. Associated Press.

Uncertainty continues to loom over what a Donald Trump presidency will mean for the recently expanded Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and federal fishing policies in general. Civil Beat.

The state Board of Education on Tuesday approved an updated strategic plan that sets out expectations for public schools to do a better job of empowering students to set and achieve goals, prioritizing professional development and fostering innovation. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Board of Education considered a plan Tuesday for how it might proceed to replace state Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi. Civil Beat.

Oahu

More than 200,000 gallons of sewage spilled in Ko Olina. KHON2.

Golfers and a golf course are getting back into the swing of things. The Ala Wai golf course driving range is back open. KITV.

Sales of single-family homes and condominiums on Oahu soared by double digits in November, as the median price of a condo jumped by nearly 14 percent, according to statistics released Tuesday by the Honolulu Board of Realtors. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

Mayor Harry Kim’s dream of making Mauna Kea a park didn’t come as a surprise to one telescope director, who said he shares Kim’s underlying philosophy. Tribune-Herald.

Newly sworn-in Hawaii County Mayor Harry Kim put the focus on Mauna Kea during his inauguration speech, mentioning a "Hawaii Park" for the island's cosmopolitan people. Big Island Video News.

One day after the term-limited Mayor Billy Kenoi left office, the county Board of Ethics on Tuesday closed the book on his admitted misuse of his county-issued purchasing card by unanimously approving an advisory opinion acknowledging his admission and his promise that it won’t happen again. West Hawaii Today.

A candidate who hoped to be appointed to replace the late state Rep. Clift Tsuji says the vetting process for applicants for the job was unfair and is asking that Hawaii Democratic Party Chairman Tim Vandeveer investigate the process. Star-Advertiser.

Maui
Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co. will wind down its operations over the next two weeks — with its last cane burn scheduled for Saturday and last cane haul to the Puunene Mill on Monday — as the plantation prepares to close its doors at the end of the year. Maui News.

Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar company is just two weeks away from the end of its final harvest. The company plans to commemorate the closure on Monday, Dec. 12, 2016 with a tournahauler bringing in the last load of sugarcane to the Puʻunēnē Mill. Maui Now.

Proposed rate increases for the Pukalani wastewater system are expected to become public and be sent to the Hawaii Public Utility Commission this week, according to the company that manages the system. Maui News.

Kauai

On the morning of Sunday Dec. 7, 1941, Ikito “Ike” Muraoka and his brother, Mitsugi, were hunting pheasants in Koloa, on Kauai’s south shore. Suddenly, they saw several strange looking warplanes flying overhead. Garden Island.