USS Arizona reopens, $130M lost on defunct Hawaii Obamacare, Hanabusa moves on, mining dust-up on Big Island, Maui residents fight sugarcane smoke, Native Hawaiian Roll Commission must release enrollment list, Ellison's Lanai resort plans, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

USS Arizona Memorial courtesy photo

National Park Service officials plan to reopen tours to the USS Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor starting at 7:30 a.m. Friday, after more than a week of repairs to the site’s floating dock and brow. Star-Advertiser.

Repairs to the USS Arizona Memorial's floating dock and brow are nearly complete. The Navy says it anticipates having the repairs finalized by Friday morning. Hawaii News Now.

The state is walking away from a $130 million investment in the Hawaii Health Connector and permanently moving the insurance exchange to the federal Obamacare program. Star-Advertiser.

Is Colleen Hanabusa Through with Politics? The former congresswoman has been named to the board of directors of Hawaii Gas, her second prominent appointment in less than a week. Civil Beat.

A Circuit Court judge has ordered the Native Hawaiian Roll Commission to make public the list of those who have registered to participate in the nation-building campaign funded by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. The conservative watchdog group Judicial Watch, which filed the lawsuit with help from the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, hailed the ruling as a victory for open government. Star-Advertiser.

A state court has ordered the Native Hawaiian Roll Commission to release the enrollment list it is using to form a Hawaiian government. The lawsuit was filed in Circuit Court in Honolulu in February by the nonprofit, conservative Judicial Watch and the libertarian-leaning nonprofit Grassroot Institute of Hawaii after the two groups were not able to obtain the roll information through an open records request. Civil Beat.

All that infighting between the Chess Club, the Opihis, the Tokuda Four and the few nonaligned Hawaii state senators has finally concluded. For now, anyway. On Thursday the Senate released its list of committee assignments following the palace coup of Oahu’s Donna Mercado Kim last month by Ron Kouchi of Kauai. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Hawaiian Telcom officials said Honolulu 911 system was working normally Thursday night after fixes were made when the emergency system was experiencing technical problems. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu has a new man in charge of running elections, tracking legislation and making sure the public is kept in the loop on important City Council decisions. The Honolulu City Council voted unanimously earlier this week to appoint Glen Takahashi to a six-year term as city clerk. Civil Beat.

The Honolulu City Council passed two measures yesterday to provide financial assistance for businesses hurt by construction of O’ahu’s rail transit system. Hawaii Public Radio.

A University of Hawaii professor said he was harassed by his department because his criticisms of GMOs. Hawaii News Now.

The concrete barriers that have blocked cars from parking at popular Laniakea Beach for the past year and a half must be removed under a new court order — but it’s not certain yet that they’ll stay gone for good. Star-Advertiser.

The hills above Kahuku have proven to be a prime place to harness power from the wind. One wind farm has already been planted and another could go up soon. It’s a plan that have some residents concerned. KITV4.

A bill to create a special fund for the Waipio Peninsula Soccer Park won City Council approval Wednesday as several user groups and residents insisted that revenue generated at the complex should be directed back to its upkeep and maintenance. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

A communication breakdown became apparent Wednesday evening at a community input meeting involving proposed cuts to East Hawaii’s safety net hospital system. Facing a $7 million shortfall in the next fiscal year, Hawaii Health Systems Corp.’s East Hawaii Regional Board voted last month to propose cuts to East Hawaii’s Home Care Services, one wing of adult inpatient psychiatric care at Hilo Medical Center, and a reduction in the number of long-term care beds at all facilities. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii County says it is revising its procedures regarding pre-employment medical examinations and urinalyses. Star-Advertiser.

The board that controls the roads in Hawaiian Ocean View Estates has successfully petitioned to intervene in administrative hearings over expansion of mining activities in the neighborhood. West Hawaii Today.

When their eight-month stay in a dome on Mauna Loa ends June 13, six crew members participating in the longest Mars habitat study hosted in the United States will leave their simulated red planet in a Chinook helicopter and “re-enter” Earth’s atmosphere by skydiving with the Army’s Golden Knights parachute team over Kailua-Kona. Tribune-Herald.

Last year, an election season helped fuel the bang of Kailua-Kona’s Fourth of July celebration. But that political fervor won’t add to the kitty this year for the fireworks show that is launched over Kailua Bay. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Maui residents are calling for Maui's last sugar cane plantation to stop burning fields, claiming the smoke is causing adverse health effects. Associated Press.

Maui residents file complaints over severe cane burn smoke. KHON2.

A finding of no significant environmental impact has been issued for Lokahi Pacific's 16-unit Mokuhau affordable housing project. Maui News.

The median price of a single-family home on Maui last month rose by 13 percent on flat sales, while condominium prices fell slightly by less than 1 percent on fewer sales, when compared to the same time last year, according to data compiled by the Realtors Association of Maui. Pacific Business News.

Kauai

Keeping Kauai prepared. Multi-agency exercises taking place all week. Garden Island.


Lanai

Plans to build a controversial third resort on Lana'i have been removed from a key Maui County planning document, but hundreds of acres of homes, a university campus and film studio are still planned for the island's future. Hawaii News Now.

The Maui County Council Planning Committee has made significant revisions to the Lanai Community Plan that members hope will assuage residents' concerns about development on the island owned by billionaire Larry Ellison. Maui News.

Honolulu council defers homeless bills, Abercrombie fighting to remain governor, GMO to stay on Maui ballot, Native Hawaiian governance delayed, tax office computer malfunction sends erroneous notices, Schatz spends six times Hanabusa, quarter of the population on Medicaid, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Waikiki homeless sleep on sidewalk ©2014 All Hawaii News

The Honolulu City Council Zoning and Planning Committee voted Thursday to defer indefinitely three bills banning sitting and lying on sidewalks and two bills banning urination and defecation in Waikiki and elsewhere on Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

Two measures proposed by Mayor Kirk Caldwell that would ban public urination and defecation in Waikiki, as well as sitting and lying on sidewalks in the tourist district, were deferred indefinitely by the Honolulu City Council’s Zoning and Planning Committee on Thursday. Civil Beat.

The city's Zoning and Planning committee has voted to indefinitely defer two bills that would have made it illegal for people to sit or lie on public sidewalks. The council committee made their decision after grilling officials with the Mayor's office during a meeting Thursday at Honolulu Hale. Hawaii News Now.

Five bills that would have made it a petty misdemeanor to lie or sit on city sidewalks or go to the bathroom in public were unexpectedly shelved by the City Council's Committee on Zoning and Planning. KITV4.

Why is Neil Abercrombie in danger of becoming the first governor since 1962 to lose re-election? Star-Advertiser.

Opinion: Abercrombie’s Official Schedule Smacks of Electioneering. Abercrombie is taking advantage of taxpayer dollars to glad-hand voters throughout the state. Civil Beat.

With just over two weeks to go until the Aug. 9 primary, gubernatorial candidate David Ige has finally released his first TV spot. Civil Beat.

The Lieutenant Governor’s race has been low key.  The candidates have not participated in any joint appearance or forum and it appears unlikely they will meet prior to the August 9 Primary Election. Hawaii Public Radio.

As primary nears, U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz spends more than six times as much as challenger Colleen Hanabusa for ads running July 21 to 27 in Senate race. Civil Beat.

The League of Women Voters has criticized a Kim campaign tactic urging her supporters to take a picture of their ballot and post to social media. Hawaii Independent.

The League of Women Voters of Hawaii is upset that an email sent from Donna Mercado Kim’s campaign headquarters “urged voters to take a photograph of their ballot to show they voted for her and share it on social media.” Civil Beat.

The state recently sent erroneous balance-due notices to taxpayers who had paid their taxes on time, highlighting ongoing problems with the Tax Department's faulty $87.5 million computer system. Star-Advertiser.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs has extended its timeline for establishing a Native Hawaiian governing entity by six months after many residents criticized the process as too rushed. Civil Beat.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees announced Thursday a six-month extension to its nation-building effort, a move that will delay the election of delegates until January, the convention until April and the formal referendum until July 2015. Star-Advertiser.

New statistics released by the state Department of Human Services show about a quarter of Hawaii’s population relies on Medicaid. Hawaii Reporter.

Disclosures: Googling Hawaii’s Former Board Members. Online databases contain much of the information that former members of the Board of Regents and Land Use Commission may have wanted kept confidential. Civil Beat.

Capitol Hill Feasted on Hirono’s Hawaiian Hospitality. The senator's Hawaii on the Hill event gets rave review from Roll Call. Civil Beat.

More than three years after an earthquake and tsunami devastated Japan, a sign is returning home to a small fishing village after drifting thousands of miles across the Pacific to Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

A new Honolulu City Council bill would ban people under 21 years old from purchasing tobacco and electronic smoking products on Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

One of the state's largest unions is funding an ugly battle over a city council seat. Aikea, which was founded by the hotel workers union, has sent thousands of attack mailers targeting Councilwoman Carol Fukunaga. Hawaii News Now.

A nonprofit developer trying to build rental loft housing on state land in Kakaako for low-income artists has overcome a big financing hurdle to put the roughly $37 million project in good position to break ground next year. Star-Advertiser.

An initial phase of rental housing for low-income seniors in Mililani Mauka is poised to break ground soon after a state agency provided key tax credit financing Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

The Japanese developer of a $31 million redevelopment project at the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor in Waikiki is looking to start construction on the long-planned venture in late September, the project developer’s attorney told Pacific Business News on Thursday.

The first women on Virginia-class attack submarines in the Pacific will serve on the USS Texas and USS Mississippi at Pearl Harbor starting in fiscal 2016, Navy Secretary Ray Mabus said Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Construction of the Pahoa District Park will begin in less than two weeks, Hawaii County announced Thursday. Tribune-Herald.

A fish farming technology company plans to begin construction of a huge, untethered and highly automated spherical pen for farming yellowfin and bigeye tuna off the Kohala coast. West Hawaii Today.

The Food Basket will make local produce available to all residents through its new community supported agriculture program, beginning next month. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

GMO initiative will appear on Nov. 4 ballot; council defers. Maui County Council members declined to take action Thursday on a voter-initiated bill to impose a moratorium on genetically engineered crops until they can be proven safe. Maui News.

A bill seeking a ban on the use and sale of polystyrene disposable food service containers in Maui County comes up for review before a council committee on Monday. Maui Now.

A popular Hawaii train tourist attraction on Maui is set to close after 45 years in business. Associated Press.

End of the line for ‘important part of the history of Maui’. Lahaina Kaanapali & Pacific Railroad has taken some 15 million passengers through West Maui on its iconic "Sugar Cane Train" ride since 1969. Its last riders will be going aboard Aug. 1. Maui News.

An affordable rental multi-family apartment project is proposed for construction on eight acres of land in the South Maui community of Kīhei. Maui Now.

Kauai

The Kauai County Council voted down two charter amendment proposals that would have let voters determine whether public access and open space projects should receive more taxpayer money and if the council vacancy process should change. Garden Island.

Though Kauai County tax officials acknowledged that they do not know how many island residents saw increases on their tax bills, some county officials say another look at recent reforms to county tax laws must be taken to find equitable solutions. Garden Island.

Obama administration moves toward Native Hawaiian recognition, state Ethics Commission to watch lawmaker spending, millions to move Waikiki homeless, Maui blogger disqualified from mayor's race, Kauai bill targeting crop research fails, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Native Hawaiian protest file photo © 2014 All Hawaii News

After years of inaction, the federal government is considering formal recognition of Native Hawaiians, even as Native Hawaiians in the state work on creating a sovereign government themselves. The U.S. Department of Interior announced Wednesday that it will take a first step to consider re-establishing a government-to-government relationship between the United States and the Native Hawaiian community. That process begins with a procedure known as Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, or ANPRM. West Hawaii Today.

The U.S. Department of the Interior on Wednesday announced it’s moving forward on a rule-making process for re-establishing a government-to-government relationship with Native Hawaiians. Civil Beat.

File photo © 2014 All Hawaii News

In a move that already is stirring controversy, the Obama administration is taking the first steps in a long process that could eventually lead to the federal government's recognition of a future Native Hawaiian governing entity. But some are questioning whether the action is premature and whether the president has the authority to re-establish a government-to-government relationship without going through Congress, as backers of the so-called Akaka Bill unsuccessfully tried to do for more than a decade.Star-Advertiser.

The federal government announced Wednesday it will take a first step toward recognizing and working with a Native Hawaiian government at a time when a growing number of Hawaiians are questioning the legality of the U.S. annexation of Hawaii. Associated Press.

Native Hawaiian recognition took a major step when the Obama Administration said it will consider procedures to re-establish a political relationship with Hawaiians. Hawaii News Now.

There's excitement, applause and also some words of caution after the federal government took the first steps toward possibly establishing a government-to-government relationship between the United States and Native Hawaiians. KITV4.

The US Department of Interior today announced the first step in the process of a possible “government-to-government” relationship between the United States and the native Hawaiian community. Big Island Now.

© 2014 All Hawaii News

U.S. Government Solicits Public Opinion on Hawaiian Governance. After the Crabbe-Kerry letter, the U.S. Department of the Interior is considering how and whether to establish government-to-government relations with the Hawaiian people. Hawaii Independent.

The US Department of the Interior today announced a first step to consider re-establishing a government-to-government relationship between the United States and the native Hawaiian community. Maui Now.

The federal government is considering whether the Native Hawaiian community should be treated as its own government. U.S. Department of the Interior officials said Wednesday they are taking a first step to consider re-establishing a government-to-government relationship between the United States and the Native Hawaiian community. Garden Island.

The federal government took a first step toward reestablishing a government to government relationship between the United States and Native Hawaiians. It would be similar to the tribal status of Native American Indian groups. Hawaii Public Radio.

The federal government announced Wednesday that it will take a first step toward possibly recognizing and working with a separate government of Native Hawaiians. Maui News.

A conflicted state Ethics Commission voted Wednesday to provide guidance to state lawmakers on the use of their annual legislative allowances, reminding lawmakers that using taxpayer money for personal expenses is prohibited by the state ethics law. Star-Advertiser.

The state Ethics Commission voted 3-2 on Wednesday to approve new guidelines for lawmakers to follow in an effort to tighten up how they have been using their annual allowance of almost $12,000 apiece. Civil Beat.

Janet Grace, Republican challenger to State Representative Tom Brower, today called on the Hawaii State Ethics Commission, to ban the use of legislative office funds to purchase sledgehammers and other weapons or instruments that could be used to bring harm to property or individuals. Hawaii Reporter.

Two people are getting paid, but just one of them is actually working. That’s essentially what’s happening in dozens of cases with the state Dept. of Education. Employees are put on leave with pay pending investigation while a fill-in does their work. This double-whammy for taxpayers can drag on for years KHON2.

A nonprofit that advocates for gun control says Hawaii has the second to the lowest gun death rate in the nation. Associated Press.

Smartphone use, video conferencing and hiring part-time corrections officers should be considered to ease staff shortages that have caused a rise in canceled visitation days at state prisons, a state senator said Wednesday. Sen. Will Espero, chairman of the Senate Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs Committee, also suggested moving visitation days from weekends to a weekday. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Prison System Faces More Scrutiny. Director Ted Sakai struggles to satisfy lawmakers' questions on why inmate visitation days are getting canceled. Civil Beat.

The state is suing a member of a state licensing board to recover $1,940 in fines after the board member failed to file two years of financial disclosure statements. Star-Advertiser.

A father and daughter from Chuuk are having to pay $1,250 in fines for attempting to smuggle 60 pounds of giant clam meat into Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Mayor Kirk Caldwell rolled out his revamped plan to deal with the homeless issue on Oahu on Wednesday, with a goal of helping more than 400 homeless individuals and families find permanent housing in the next two years via $47.2 million in various funding sources approved recently by the City Council. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell unveiled a more aggressive strategy Wednesday for tackling the homeless problem, which includes moving as many as 440 homeless people into permanent housing in the next two years. Civil Beat.

Homelessness in Waikiki is the number one complaint from many of the 200-thousand visitors there on any given day.  That, according to city officials, who are stepping up their efforts to address the problem. Hawaii Public Radio.

City leaders unveiled a two-part plan to tackle a growing and complex homelessness issue that will require increased law enforcement presence and additional housing to cater to those in the most need. Hawaii News Now.

Starting Monday, the 71,000 drivers who maneuver Kalanianaole Highway each day in East Oahu and the 25,000 drivers who use Kamehameha Highway in Waipio and Mililani will face roadwork — and lane closures — expected to last into 2016. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation has yet to name the city's $5.16 million rail project, and there appears to be no plans in the near future to give it a branded name. Pacific Business News.

The number of assaults committed by teenagers at Hawaii's Youth Detention Center in Kapolei tripled between 2010 and 2013, and officials blame the high number of mentally ill kids behind bars as one reason for the spike in beatings. Hawaii News Now.

A Kalihi charter school can keep its doors open despite a budget shortfall of more than $400,000 on the condition that its director and governing board resign, according to a Hawaii Charter School Commission decision made on Wednesday. Civil Beat.

Halau Lokahi Public Charter School will cease to exist at the end of this month unless its governing board and director agree to resign and turn over all financial records, the Charter School Commission decided Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Big Island coffee and macadamia nut growers will benefit directly from a package of agriculture bills Gov. Neil Abercrombie will sign today. The legislation largely boosts funding to fight invasive species, with $500,000 allocated to subsidize the purchase of fungal sprays to fight coffee berry borer beetles and $360,000 for combating another insect threatening macadamia nut orchards. Tribune-Herald.

Early arrivals to Onekahakaha Beach Park in Keaukaha on Wednesday morning were unhappy to discover that thieves made off with many of the park’s copper water spigots during the night. Tribune-Herald.

A $2,278,800 grant from the Federal Aviation Administration will help improve security at Hilo International Airport, U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) said Wednesday in a written statement. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

MAUIWatch founder Neldon Mamuad–one of seven people running for Maui County Mayor this year–got a bad break today when Maui County Clerk Danny Mateo voided his official nomination papers, saying Mamuad didn’t meet the deadline in filing his financial disclosure form.  Maui Time.

After being on paid administrative leave for nearly five months, Glenn Correa has given up his $114,770-per-year job as director of the county Department of Parks and Recreation, according to an email sent late last week to department employees. Maui News.

The Maui County Council has scheduled a Monday meeting to consider overriding Mayor Alan Arakawa's line-item veto of the fiscal 2015 county budget. Maui News.

The state Department of Agriculture has confirmed a small infestation of the invasive little fire ant at a hotel in the south Maui resort area of Wailea. Maui Now.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs and the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College’s Hawaiian Studies Program, E Hoʻoulu Lāhui, joined together in a special blessing ceremony at Palauea in South Maui on Tuesday. Maui Now.

Kauai

A county bill aimed at taxing crop-research land separate from other agricultural land was deferred on Wednesday until Aug. 20, killing any chance of it going into effect during fiscal year 2015-2016. Garden Island.

The redevelopment of the iconic Coco Palms Resort on Kauai, which will be branded as a Hyatt resort, could mean up to 1,970 new jobs and $230 million infused into the Garden Isle’s economy, according to an economic impact report done by the project's developer. Pacific Business News.

Arnold Leong seeking to address, cut county waste. Garden Island.

Hawaii Island tent city a microcosm of native governance, Ige mulling GMO, Maui GMO foes advance amendment, lieutenant governor candidates campaign, $604M budget for Maui, state pension examined, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Native Hawaiian camp at Puhi Bay © 2014 All Hawaii News

What do Native Hawaiians want? It depends whom you ask. West Hawaii Today.

© 2014 All Hawaii News

The squeals of children just released from school and thuds of hammers tightening tent poles fill the Puhi Bay shoreline in Keaukaha. It’s summer, and Native Hawaiian families are moving to the sea. West Hawaii Today.

State Sen. David Ige said Saturday that he would reconsider his opposition to GMO labeling in Hawaii and look to a Vermont law signed in May as a possible solution. Star-Advertiser.

Clayton Hee officially opened his campaign headquarters Sunday in the race for lieutenant governor. Dozens of supporters, including former Gov. Ben Cayetano and Honolulu City Prosecutor Keith Kaneshiro, greeted the candidate at the headquarters in Nuuanu. Hawaii News Now.

Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui, a Democrat, has spent nearly $40,000 to run two ads nearly 100 times in the past two weeks, according to Civil Beat research. Both ads aim to remind voters who he is. Civil Beat.

As the incumbent, Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui finds himself in the position of campaigning for a job he never sought in the first place. Star-Advertiser

Many of the top-notch Hawaii teachers who work with the state’s most struggling students will no longer get the annual bonuses they have long received as a perk for helping turn around underperforming schools. Civil Beat.

Hawaii is making its sex education classes for middle school students opt-in, responding to critics by giving parents responsibility to affirm they want their children to be taught the course. Associated Press.

Will Hawaii Ever Climb Out of Its $27 Billion Hole? Taxpayers could see important services cut or higher taxes if they have to pay even more for pensions and health care benefits for retired public workers. Civil Beat.

Hawaii pension officials aren’t the only ones promising taxpayers increased openness when it comes to the financial condition of the state’s public retirement system. Civil Beat.

Hawaii’s pension and retiree health care funds are like a giant black hole in the state’s future. It’s growing bigger, getting closer and threatening to swallow important public services if we don’t figure out how to get rid of it. Civil Beat.

Drug poisonings, or overdoses, have overtaken motor vehicle accidents in recent years as the leading cause of fatal injuries in Hawaii. Star-Advertiser

Nearly one in five of Hawaii’s waitlisted patients—that is, those remaining in a hospital after the need for acute care ceases—have an infectious disease, according to discharge data analyzed by the Hawaii Health Information Corporation (HHIC), the state’s premier healthcare data collector and analyzer. Hawaii Reporter.

The so called “Stevie Wonder Blunder” case in which Marc Hubbard, 44, of Mecklenburg, N.C., and Sean Barriero, 44, of Miami were charged with conning the University of Hawaii out of $200,000 after falsely claiming to be Stevie Wonder’s agents, is taking two of Hawaii’s top law enforcement to Spain next week. Hawaii Reporter.

Oahu

The Honolulu Ethics Commission is recommending a city employee be suspended up to three days for operating a side business expediting building permits. Associated Press.

City transit officials appear to finally be gaining speed in approving Honolulu's much-anticipated new Handi-Vans — months after the vehicles first started arriving on island, and as clients voice concerns about a recent fire that destroyed a van minutes after its passengers escaped. Star-Advertiser.

The median price of a single-family home on Oahu rose 8 percent in May, while the median price for a condominium increased 13 percent, according to statistics released Saturday by the Honolulu Board of Realtors. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

Unemployment is inching downward and construction and other markets are showing signs of life. But the number of people lining up to receive state supplements for food purchases just keeps increasing. West Hawaii Today.

A report published in this month’s issue of GSA Today notes the presence of plastiglomerate on Kamilo Beach, formed by melted plastic mingling with beach sediment, basalt fragments and other types of debris. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Citing their willingness to compromise and save taxpayers money, Maui County Council members Friday approved a $604 million county budget for fiscal 2014-15, with it set to take effect July 1. Maui News.

A Maui group that wants to ban genetically modified crops has been given a green light by election officials to advance their proposal. Associated Press.

A petition calling for a moratorium on the cultivation of genetically engineered organisms in Maui County has received the required number of signatures to advance for potential placement on the upcoming election ballot, county officials announced today. Maui Now.

While he awaits sentencing on four felony charges, Nelson Waikiki Jr. is among candidates who have filed to run for Maui County mayor. Maui News.

Kauai

As head of an agricultural group, Jerry Ornellas said he's aware of the challenges of maintaining a more than 20-mile-long ditch and tunnel water system in East Kauai — a system formerly operated by East Kauai Water, a business associated with Lihue Sugar Plantation. Star-Advertiser

Kauai County Councilman Ross Kagawa admits the past year and a half has been a tough one. Garden Island.

Turk Tetsuo Tokita, who earned two Purple Hearts fighting for the 442nd Regimental Combat Team during World War II and became a trusted political ally on Kauai to four Demo­cratic governors, died Saturday in Lihue. He was 94. Star-Advertiser.

Tourism dims, Hawaii loves Tulsi, officials want to delay Hawaiian sovereignty, Kauai considers GMO amendment, Big Island nursing program lags, dust-up over Pearl Harbor tickets, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Waikiki Beach © 2014 All Hawaii News

Hawaii's record tourism numbers of the past two years are turning into a distant memory. For eight months in a row, visitor spending has slipped below the year-ago level. Star-Advertiser.

Visitors to Hawaii spent $1.1 billion in April — or 2.2 percent less than they spent during the same month last year. About the same number of travelers came to the islands at nearly 640,000 people. Associated Press.

Officials at the Office of Hawaiian Affairs are asking for a six-to-nine-month postponement of a Native Hawaiian convention to determine self-governance, in order to educate the public and construct a parallel roll for those who refuse to sign onto a roll ordered by state government. West Hawaii Today.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs' top administrator Thursday recommended a six- to nine-month delay in OHA's nation-building process to allow time for further education about the issues surrounding the proposed creation of a Hawaiian government. Star-Advertiser.

Office of Hawaiian Affairs CEO Kamana’o Crabbe urged OHA trustees on Thursday morning to extend the timeline for nation-building and consider opening up a second roll for those Native Hawaiians who disagree with the current process. Civil Beat.

The chief executive of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs said Thursday the agency should delay its nation-building process by at least six months and reassess options amid questions about the legal existence of the Hawaiian Kingdom and the federal government considering a renewed relationship with Native Hawaiians. Associated Press.

U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard is popular in the islands — very popular. Sixty percent of registered voters statewide say they have a favorable opinion of the Democrat. Civil Beat.

U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa is telling supporters her campaign for a seat in the U.S. Senate will be outspent by her primary opponent, Sen. Brian Schatz. Associated Press.

The next University of Hawaii president will be an at-will appointment without the benefit of a multiyear contract that past UH presidents have enjoyed. The move signals a major shift for a university with a history of pricey -- and embarrassing -- contract buyouts. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

The National Park Service and its fundraising organization diverted a portion of what are supposed to be free tickets to the USS Arizona Memorial to tour companies for a fee, making it harder for "walk-up" visitors to take the national landmark tour, a former park guide said. Star-Advertiser.

City Council Chairman Ernie Martin wants to build permanent and temporary housing for the homeless by diverting $32 million from the $132 million pot that Mayor Kirk Caldwell set aside for road repaving. Star-Advertiser.

New dogfight brewing over Waikiki Natatorium complex. Long-awaited EIS to be released in June. KITV4.

Two Visions of Laie: Plans for North Shore Growth Debated. Supporters say expansion plans serve local residents by making housing more affordable; opponents see the area's rural character at risk. Civil Beat.

Honolulu Design and Construction Director Chris Takashige is leaving the city to join the state Department of Land and Natural Resources. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Lake Waiau’s water levels are almost back to normal, a state official said. Department of Land and Natural Resources Natural Area Reserve System Specialist Ian Cole credited the winter’s rains for the improvement. West Hawaii Today.

Only three students, from an initial cohort of 10, graduated from the nursing program in West Hawaii this year. The low numbers are threatening the nursing program’s accreditation and could put the University of Hawaii at Hilo program in jeopardy as well. West Hawaii Today.

Repairs are beginning at West Hawaii boating facilities damaged by tsunami from the magnitude-9 earthquake that struck off northern Japan in 2011. Associated Press.

Maui

Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa says the county is considering two potential options for acquiring property as it faces the end of a lease at its Service Center site located at the Maui Mall in Kahului. Maui Now.

A joint agency search and rescue training exercise will be conducted in waters off of South Maui this Friday, May 30. Maui Now.

SHAKA GMO Movement: Criticism is ‘Wholly Unjustified and Untrue' Maui Weekly.

Kauai

A crowd of about 200 gathered at the Sheraton Kauai Resort for the 16th annual governor’s luncheon Thursday. In the next 30 minutes, Gov. Neil Abercrombie delivered a fiery, forceful, pointed speech with a main theme: The economy was in bad shape when he was elected in 2010, but through his leadership and tough decisions, it bounced back and is doing well today. Garden Island.

The county’s 2014-2015 operating budget, to the tune of $179.2 million, has been set. All that’s missing is Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr.’s signature. Garden Island.

The Kauai County Council shot down a measure on Wednesday that would have declared no confidence in County Attorney Al Castillo and asked him to resign amid, what some members said, was their ire with his performance. Garden Island.

A group of Kauai residents has been busy collecting signatures in an effort to get its proposed charter amendment aimed at regulating the island’s genetically modified crop industry on the Nov. 4 ballot. The problem: Kauai Rising’s proposal may not be a charter amendment at all. Garden Island.

A judge sentenced a Kauai man to one year of probation and a $200 fine for making his son walk a mile home from school as a form of discipline. Associated Press.

Kauai father explains why he made his son walk a mile home. KHON2.

The Department of Water has announced that a full restoration of the Kalaheo well could take up to four to six weeks to complete. Garden Island.

Congressional candidate debate canceled for lack of interest, Honolulu may ban foam, plastic take-out containers, Abercrombie may veto disclosure bill, Maui sets high bar for police chief, development follows rail, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Fourspot butterflyfish with coral © 2014 All Hawaii News

UH Biologists Use Super Coral to Build a Better Reef. Hawaii Public Radio.

Tonight's debate between the state's top Democratic contenders to become Hawaii's next Congressional representative has been canceled. The reason: the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii couldn't get enough people to attend. Hawaii News Now.

A bill hailed by good government advocates as a way to increase transparency and public confidence in government operations may face a veto by Hawaii’s governor. The Legislature unanimously passed Senate Bill 2682, which would add 15 state boards and commissions to the list of government officials and agency members required to have their financial disclosures made public. Civil Beat.

So far this year, Gov. Neil Abercrombie has signed into law 77 bills from this year’s Legislature, while another 161 await action. Big Island Now.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie says he’s built a solid financial foundation for Hawaii that has put the state in a position to move ahead at “flank speed” on important issues like early childhood education, renewable energy and sustainable agriculture. Civil Beat.

Kakaako developers co-sponsor fundraiser for Gov. Neil Abercrombie. Hawaii News Now.

Former state Sen. Melodie Aduja, who was booted by voters 10 years ago after a scandal involving her campaign spending account, wants another shot in the Legislature. Hawaii Reporter.

What promises to be a heated debate among Native Hawaiians over what kind of government they want will be aired today at a meeting of the board of trustees for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. West Hawaii Today.

The federal government is considering re-establishing a government-to-government relationship with Native Hawaiians, just weeks after the head of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs sought clarity on whether the Hawaiian Kingdom still exists in the eyes of the United States. Associated Press.

An inspection of Department of Veterans Affairs clinics on Oahu and some neighbor islands was conducted last week and “there were no scheduling practice issues brought to light,” said Patricia Matthews, spokeswoman for the VA Pacific Islands Health Care System. Star-Advertiser.

The University of Hawaii’s athletics department expects to post a $2 million loss when the fiscal year ends June 30, its director said. Associated Press.

Oahu

Those foam and plastic containers that have become synonymous with plate lunches and bentos over the past few decades may become a thing of the past on Oahu under a Honolulu City Council bill that would require food containers to be compostable. Star-Advertiser.

City leaders and developers have inked an agreement to proceed with what aims to be Oahu's first transit-oriented design project — at the site of the former Kam Drive-In — along the island's future rail transit line. Star-Advertiser.

Anthony Aalto, a former journalist, chairman of the Sierra Club’s Oahu Group and now a documentary filmmaker, insists that his film “Railroading Paradise” isn’t a slam dunk either for or against Honolulu’s $5.16 billion elevated rail project. Pacific Business News.

The City and County of Honolulu is taking action to stop a growing problem of fraud when it comes to riding the public bus. KHON2.

An alien invader that threatens Hawaii's iconic coconut palms appears to be spreading on Oahu and may have established a breeding population, state officials say. Star-Advertiser.

The highest percentage of park land in the country wasn't enough to offset relatively low parks spending as Honolulu scored in the middle of the pack in an annual survey of U.S. urban park systems unveiled Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

A proposal to encourage mixed-use housing in three affordable housing projects the city is trying to sell is prompting opposition from advocates for low-income residents. Civil Beat.

Kakaako is in the middle of a residential tower development wave that builders see as meeting overwhelming homebuyer demand, but some area residents see as crowding their quality of life. Star-Advertiser.

Most recent Kakaako town hall shows continued division between stakeholders. Hawaii Independent.

Hawaii

A judge has dismissed a lawsuit brought by a group of Country Club-Hawaii apartment owners who challenged the Banyan Drive building’s board of directors for control of the condominium-hotel property. Tribune-Herald.

Before they landed on the moon, they walked the Big Island’s volcanic landscape. Astronauts in NASA’s Apollo program visited the island in the 1960s and early ’70s as they learned to take rock samples and practiced driving lunar buggies over the moon-like fields of lava rock. Tribune-Herald.

State transportation officials are looking to replace three Big Island bridges. The bridges cross small streams but each is on major traffic routes. Tribune-Herald.

A South Kohala resort must finish an intersection with Queen Kaahumanu Highway, a federal judge ruled last week. West Hawaii Today.

Project managers anticipate Hilo High School’s new gymnasium will be ready for use by late July — just in time for volleyball season. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

In its search for a new Maui County police chief, the Maui Police Commission is setting requirements greater than those outlined for the job by the Maui County Charter. Maui News.

Restroom, park and playground repairs will shut down facilities in five parks in Central and South Maui in projects that run through July 2. Maui News.

Kauai
A Kauai lawmaker introduced a bill Wednesday which seeks to establish “agronomics” as a new and separate real property tax class and exclude lands used primarily for crop research or parent seed production from the county’s definition of “agricultural use.” Garden Island.

Kauai officials say Kalaheo residents should prepare for intermittent water outages going forward as it works to fix a damaged shaft. Associated Press.

It’s hard to operate without water, so Birdie’s Cafe is closing its doors in the midst of a water shortage in Kalaheo. Garden Island.

Hawaii GOP holds convention, police chiefs leaving Maui and Kauai, Maui property taxes drop, Waikiki homeless hurting real estate market, OHA squabble continues, sea-level rise predicted, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

GOP convention, courtesy Hawaii Republican Party

Hawaii Republicans want to register 25,000 new Republican voters before the November election, hoping to expand the electorate and slowly weaken the Democratic Party's hold on state politics. Star-Advertiser.

Hundreds of Hawaii Republicans from around the state gathered to get "Back to Basics" in Kaneohe. That was the theme for the annual state convention for the GOP Saturday at the Koolau Ballrooms. Hawaii News Now.

As Pat Saiki took the stage to address delegates at the Hawaii Republican Party's state convention Saturday, the public-address system blasted "Takin' Care of Business" by Bachman-Turner Overdrive. Saiki, the party's new chairwoman, told delegates she would prefer the theme from "Rocky." Civil Beat.

At its state convention Saturday in Kaneohe, members of the Hawaii Republican Party marveled at what they see as major divisions and disarray in the Democratic Party of Hawaii. The hope is that contested primary battles among Democrats could help the GOP win a few elections. Civil Beat.

At its state convention today in Kaneohe, the Hawaii Republican Party approved a policy resolution that includes language urging the state Department of Education to stop teaching the sex-ed curriculum Pono Choices. Civil Beat.

The dustup between Office of Hawaiian Affairs CEO Kamana'opono Crabbe and his bosses, the OHA board of trustees, has caused a mighty ruckus in the Hawaiian community since May 9. Star-Advertiser.

Commentary: The chaos created in the Office of Hawaiian Affairs by CEO Kamana'opono Crabbe has squashed what little credibility existed for the Native Hawaiian Roll, Kana'iolowalu. It's time to halt this failed project before we dump potentially hundreds of millions in public resources into a settlement with Hawaiians that settles nothing. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii lawmakers on the money committees ponied up $3 million this session to create a public preschool program next school year for a few hundred 4-year-olds. But the money committee chairs decided last-minute to prohibit the state from using any of the $3 million allocation for that final option, an increasingly popular preschool alternative known in education circles as family-child interaction learning. Civil Beat.

Commentary: Will Lawmakers Ever Do Anything About Lobbyists? Civil Beat.

A new report released last week says Hawaii should prepare for severe impacts resulting from global climate change, including rising temperatures sea levels, coastal erosion and diseased coral reefs. Garden Island.

Officials are investigating a disease affecting a native species of sea urchin that’s being used to control invasive seaweed at Kaneohe Bay. The state Department of Land and Natural Resources said Friday the disease is affecting collector urchin called hawae in Hawaiian. Associated Press.

Children in Hawaii with stubborn cancers that resist conventional treatment will soon have a chance to try a groundbreaking approach that matches medicines to the molecular makeup and mutations of their individual tumors. Star-Advertiser.

Tyler Crowley, one of the top startup mentors in the world, is looking to ramp up Hawaii’s startup scene with a grassroots effort being spearheaded by several stakeholders in the state. Pacific Business News.

The famous voyaging canoe Hokule'a and her sister vessel Hikianalia left Oahu Saturday evening around sunset for "Malama Honua", a three-year voyage around the world to spread a message of global sustainability and the importance of caring for our oceans. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Oahu Democrats on Sunday declared a University of Hawaii-West Oahu instructor eligible to challenge state Rep. Sharon Har, whose opposition to marriage equality has upset many of the party's gay-rights and progressive activists. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Prosecutor Agrees More Transparency Better In Police Shootings. The U.S. Army Pfc. Gregory Gordon police shooting case still raises questions about the lack of transparency regarding what happens after officer-involved shootings in Hawaii, as well as other police incidents that result in a suspect’s death. Civil Beat.

The Honolulu Ethics Commission has found probable cause of ethics violations by a city employee involving accepting gifts and a misuse of sick leave. Hawaii Independent.

A 33-year-old madam who operated her elite prostitution business from Portlock, one of Hawaii’s most prestigious neighborhoods, for about a decade, said her list of clientele included a former member of Hawaii’s congressional delegation, judges, a deputy prosecutor and celebrities. Hawaii Reporter.

The current wave of Waikiki hotel investment, which peaked at $1.1 billion in transactions last year, will peter out if local government cannot solve the challenges caused by the district's swelling homeless population, say Hawaii real estate and tourism industry officials. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Fire Department rescue personnel spent a busy weekend assisting several people stricken with heat-related illnesses on Oahu trails. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

David Ige says he’s been listening to Hawaii residents as he ramps up his campaign for the Democratic party nomination to run for governor. People in West Hawaii have a lot to say about harbors, hunting and other Department of Land and Natural Resources issues, Ige said Friday, a week after his first visit to Hawaii Island as a candidate. West Hawaii Today.

When Hilo resident Stanley Martin was 13 years old, he was diagnosed with leprosy, taken away from his mother, and transferred to Molokai where he would be cut off from the outside world until he turned 25. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

The Maui County Council on Friday approved a 3 percent across-the-board property tax rate reduction that still is expected to bring in about 6.4 percent more in property tax revenues this fiscal year due to rising valuations. Maui News.

Maui Police Chief Gary Yabuta is retiring in the next two months to take a new position with a federal anti-drug trafficking task force. The police department said Friday Yabuta will become the Director of High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas for Hawaii. Associated Press.

Dirt bikes etch network of trails into W. Maui slope. Sport that has gained popularity in recent years damaging isle resources. Maui News.

Governor Neil Abercrombie announced the release of $1.5 million for the Upcountry Maui Watershed project, and $200,000 for improvements to the Molokaʻi Irrigation System. Maui Now.

Kauai

Police chief to run for Kauai County Council. Darryl Perry said he is reaching the end of his police career. Garden Island.

Kalaheo Clinic closing. Budget woes leave HHSC looking to fill $39 million shortfall. Garden Island.

The Hawaiian Kingdom -- tension, dissension at the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, EPA cites Puna geothermal plant, prison worker sick-in kills inmates' Mother's Day, Schatz makes piggy list, Maui GMO foes pay $5 a signature, Honolulu homelessness grows, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Kamehameha statue with sovereignty sign © 2014 All Hawaii News

The chief executive of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs said Monday he’s moving forward after a disagreement with the organization’s trustees over seeking clarification on the legal status of the Hawaiian Kingdom. Associated Press.

A letter asking whether the Hawaiian Kingdom should continue to exist as a sovereign, independent state has sent the Office of Hawaiian Affairs into a frenzy. The May 5 letter was sent by OHA CEO Kamanaopono Crabbe to U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, but the OHA Board of Trustees said it didn’t support the CEO’s move. Still, Crabbe said Monday he didn’t regret his decision, leaving a rocky, muddy wake between board and CEO. Garden Island.

Crabbe

Appearing with more than 100 supporters at the Office of Hawaiian Affairs offices Monday, OHA Chief Executive Officer Kamana‘opono Crabbe didn't back down in his flap with OHA trustees over the letter he sent to U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry asking for a legal opinion on whether the Hawaiian kingdom still exists as an independent nation under international law. Star-Advertiser.

Does the Hawaiian Kingdom still exist? A renewed effort to answer that sensitive question has divided the quasi-state agency whose mission is to protect Hawaii's people, environmental resources and assets. Civil Beat.

Flanked by an impressive assortment of community leaders, Office of Hawaiian Affairs Pouhana Kamana‘opono Crabbe addressed the press Monday regarding the Crabbe-Kerry letter. Hawaii Independent.

© 2014 All Hawaii News

Does the Hawaiian Kingdom still exist? That's the question the CEO of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs wants answered by the U.S. Justice Department. Hawaii News Now.

Taxpayers could be on the hook for about a million dollars a year when it comes to the spending money lawmakers are entitled to each year. How some are spending their legislative allowances is getting attention. KHON2.

Inmates at Hawaii's women's prison weren't able to visit with their children on Mother's Day because not enough guards showed up for work. Only nine out of 29 officers assigned for duty came to work Sunday at the Women's Community Correctional Center in Kailua. Associated Press.

An online petition imploring the University of Hawaii Board of Regents to reject a retired Army officer in the running to be the next UH president had garnered more than 350 signatures by Monday evening. Star-Advertiser.

In late April a campaign commercial titled "Neil Abercrombie: Values" first aired. It played up the governor's commitment to keiki. Barely two weeks later, in early May, the Abercrombie re-election campaign launched a new ad, this one assuring his commitment to those on the other end of the spectrum: kupuna. Civil Beat.

Hawaii tourism could benefit with the advancement of three bipartisan bills that are geared to expanding public and private travel-promotion efforts and helping the U.S. attract millions more international visitors annually. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz has made a list of congressional officials hogging federal funds for pork barrel projects. Citizens against Government Waste, a Washington, D.C., government watchdog group, released its annual Congressional Pig Book this week, highlighting $2.7 billion in government earmarks, including $5.9 million in funding Schatz secured for Honolulu’s East-West Center. Hawaii Reporter.

Turnaround specialist John Dean, who guided Central Pacific Bank from the brink of collapse to 13 straight profitable quarters, has committed to staying on as chief executive officer for up to two more years. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu
The number of homeless people rose in January for the sixth consecutive year, according to the 2014 Point in Time survey the city is releasing Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

Affordable housing for a growing homeless population on O’ahu must also be an appealing alternative to living on the streets, communal shelters or imprisonment. Hawaii Public Radio.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell plans to hold a town hall gathering in Ewa. The meeting at Ewa Elementary School begins at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaiian Electric Co. recently started rolling out a smart-grid program in five different areas on Oahu, as Hawaii's largest utility seeks to implement technologies to improve service, provide customers with more choices and integrate more renewable energy, the head of the utility said. Pacific Business News.

After nine years the city is opening up the waitlist on its Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program from Thursday through May 21, the Department of Community Services announced Monday. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

The Environmental Protection Agency cited Puna Geothermal Venture with 14 violations in a report issued last month. Tribune-Herald.

A trio of proposed charter amendments made their debut Monday, heading for County Council approval before being offered for voter scrutiny. But action in the Finance Committee showed it likely that only one of the bills may make it to the Nov. 4 ballot. West Hawaii Today.

A U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge confirmed a plan Monday to restructure massive debts on the stalled Hokuli'a luxury home subdivision on Hawaii island, clearing the way for sales and development to resume at the $1 billion project. Star-Advertiser.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources’ enforcement officers are investigating an incident last week in which one diver apparently attacked another. West Hawaii Today.

An environmentalist found herself in danger last week when an aquarium fisherman spotted her taking video of him in deep water off of Kona, rushed toward her and ripped the air supply out of her mouth, according to footage of the incident and eyewitnesses. Civil Beat.

Twenty-seven complaints later, Big Island dentist and oral surgeon Dr. John Stover will never again see patients in Hawaii. Now, the focus turns to exposing holes in the dental investigative process. Hawaii News Now.

The Kahilu Theatre will receive a makeover this summer with the help of a $1.5 million state grant. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Activists pushing for a moratorium on genetically modified farming in Maui County are stepping up their efforts to gather signatures in advance of a looming deadline. Members of a nonprofit organization known as the SHAKA Movement have launched a campaign to pay people $5 for each signature collected in support of a citizens initiative. Bruce Douglass, spokesman for the organization, said that the money is intended as a reward and an incentive for the group's 500 existing volunteers. If the organization gathers 8,500 valid signatures, voters on Maui will be able to decide in November whether to temporarily ban genetically engineered agriculture on Maui, Molokai and Lanai. Civil Beat.

House Speaker Joe Souki said Sunday that he has not endorsed Kahului Rep. Justin Woodson in the Democratic primary to keep the 9th House District seat. Maui News.

Kauai

The Kauai County Council on Monday trimmed nearly $2.4 million from its budget in an attempt to stave off real property tax hikes for hotels and resorts and dips in funding for public access and open space projects over the next fiscal year. Garden Island.

The state is up, but the county is down. While Hawaii saw an increase in the number of farmed acres for the first time in decades, the County of Kauai found itself in a hole. Garden Island.