Hawaii revenue projections unchanged, Oahu beaches make list, hotel occupancy edges up, citizenship sought for Filipino children of WWII vets, Maui sovereignty group members indicted, rat lungworm up on Big Island, more news

Hawaii Council on Revenues (c) 2011 All Hawaii News

Hawaii's recovery from the global economic recession is expected to continue in coming years and slowly begin a shift toward expansion, the state's top economists said Thursday in issuing a static economic forecast for the fiscal year. Star-Advertiser.

The State Council on Revenues met this afternoon for the first time since the Governor called them in for an emergency meeting, March 29th. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii's government is bringing in enough money to avoid additional spending cuts to programs and services, lawmakers said after receiving an updated report on the state's finances. Associated Press.

A national public pensions expert says the changes Hawaii lawmakers approved for new state and county employees are in line with what other states are doing to reduce their pension liability. Civil Beat.

Contracts for several public sector unions expire June 30 and so far only the Hawaii Government Employees Association has ratified terms of a new contract. KITV4.

Five members of a native Hawaiian sovereignty group on Maui are being accused of luring unsuspecting clients with bold talk and official looking documents. KHON2.

U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka of Hawaii has reintroduced a bill that would allow the children of Filipinos who fought with the U.S. during World War II to join their U.S. citizen parents in the United States. Associated Press.

The state plans to boost its enforcement of fisheries laws with the help of donations from nonprofit organizations. Associated Press.

2 Oahu beaches make annual list of the nation’s top strands of sand. Associated Press.

Hawaii hotels’ average statewide occupancy rate was 72.5 percent for the week ending May 21, up 2 percentage points compared to the same week last year. Pacific Business News

The results for the City and County of Honolulu’s all-digital Neighborhood Board elections are in. Hawaii Independent.

Officials of Maui County nonprofit organizations and programs that saw their funding potentiallly reduced or eliminated Tuesday reacted with surprise, disappointment and even anger at the Maui County Council's action in the final stages of the budget process. Maui News.

A new teaching tool was unveiled at Bishop Museum on Thursday and the hope is that it will also pay the bills. Hawaii News Now.

A new state educational incentive program has come to Molokai to help students excel rather than simply meet the status quo. Molokai Dispatch.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie has ordered state flags at state offices, agencies, and the Hawaii National Guard to be flown at half-staff on Saturday in honor of the late lawmaker and judge Hiroshi Kato. Associated Press.

For the second time in two weeks, the state has replaced tattered flags at one of the state's most famous landmarks after KITV 4 News asked questions about the flags' bad condition. KITV4.

The Kaua‘i Academy of Creative Arts Summer Program has added new artists and instructors to their 2011 program. Garden Island.

Cases of rat lungworm infection have made a disturbing resurgence during a typically slow time of year for the disease. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii astronomers used advanced optics technology and a gravitational lens to catch a clear glimpse of a spiral galaxy 9.3 billion light years away. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii 911 operators curt with caller, too old for bikinis, poi pounders protected, Maui bus growing fast, Kauai curbs street sellers, DOE touts gun safety, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii poi pounder (c) 2011 All Hawaii News

Today, few people in Hawaii continue to make poi the traditional way, using board and stone. But with the Legislature's passage of the Senate Bill 101 , better known as the poi bill, what began as one man's art has been transformed into a legal recognition of an ancient cultural tradition. Civil Beat.

Educational programs for Native Hawaiians are to receive more than $41 million in federal funding this fiscal year. Associated Press.

The Hawaii Legislature has appropriated $1.2 million to pay for the creation of a state information technology office tasked with improving public online services, making government more efficient and saving money. Associated Press.

Moody’s May 17, 2011 downgrade of Hawaii’s General Obligation Bond rating will cost taxpayers more money this fall when the state issues between $500 million and $650 million in GO bonds to fund state projects for which taxpayers guarantee the repayment of debt. Hawaii Reporter.

Governor Neil Abercrombie’s action plan to address homelessness is a 90-day push to kick-start the program. Hawaii Public Radio.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s nine-part plan to address homelessness in Hawaii has created quite a stir since he announced it last week. Pacific Business News

The state Legislature took small steps this session to enhance oversight and public disclosure for charter schools, and lawmakers plan to work with the charter community on big-picture changes for the system. Star-Advertiser.

The Department of Education claims that over the last five years it has dramatically decreased the number of students being expelled from school for bringing a gun on campus. Hawaii News Now.

A 14-year-old student at Pearl Highlands Intermediate School told police he found a gun on campus and was showing it to friends when it went off Monday morning. KHON2.

A state judge dismissed all charges Monday against the four remaining Honolulu police officers accused of falsifying reports to qualify for overtime. Star-Advertiser.

For the first time we're hearing the frantic moments as the Waikele bunker fireworks explosion was happening from the only survivor.  Hawaii News Now.

The Maui Bus received national recognition this past week for being among the "fastest growing" public transportation systems in the nation. Maui News.

Kaua‘i County Council member on Wednesday unanimously approved a bill to strengthen a law regulating peddling at county parks and facilities, but they left it up to the Parks and Recreation Department to create the specific rules required to enforce it. Garden Island.

County considers opening Ka'u council office. Tribune-Herald.

Governmental red tape has left yellow caution tape blocking the tsunami-damaged portion of the Alii Drive sidewalk and seawall. West Hawaii Today.

Reports of axis deer on the Big Island have numerous public agencies preparing a formal response and developing a possible course of action to protect valuable forest and agricultural resources. Civil Beat.

A Hawaii seatbelt enforcement campaign has been launched statewide. Associated Press.

How old is too old? A new survey is answering that question when it comes to women wearing bikinis, miniskirts and stilettos. KITV4.

Hawaii Supreme Court mulling Native Hawaiian rights, Latinos up sharply, Hirono in Senate race, human traffickers must pay back wages, legislators proud of balanced budget, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Ala Mauna Saddle Road (c) 2011 All Hawaii News

A revamp of the westernmost portion of the Ala Mauna Saddle Road, the 48-mile cross-island route, recently moved a step closer to fruition. West Hawaii Today.

All five Hawaii Supreme Court justices grilled lawyers yesterday in a case that could help clarify to what extent a native Hawaiian's practice of traditional cultural and religious activities can trump a criminal prosecution. Star-Advertiser.

U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono told supporters yesterday that she will run in the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate next year, seeking to establish herself as a strong voice for Hawaii and the logical heir to fellow progressive U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka, who is retiring. Star-Advertiser.

State and federal agencies have signed a partnership to help conserve Hawaii's forestry. Associated Press.

Hawaii Lawmakers Most Proud of Balancing Budget. Civil Beat.

The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands is stuck with $2,500 worth of exercise equipment that was improperly ordered and caused the departure of the agency’s deputy director. Hawaii Reporter.

The U.S. Labor Department has ordered a labor recruiting company to pay thousands of dollars worth of back wages to men from Thailand who worked at farms in Hawaii. KITV4.

U.S. Census demographic data released Thursday shows a 37.8 percent increase in Hawaii's Hispanic population from 2000 to 2010. Associated Press.

Hawaii saw a total of 2,476 initial unemployment claims for the week of May 14, up 12.5 percent compared to the 2,201 claims filed during the same week in 2010, according to data from the Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. Pacific Business News

A fierce fight by supporters and scientists of the Pacific Bioscience Research Center to avoid a shutdown of the Kewalo facility proved successful, at least temporarily. KITV4.

A large-scale initiative to integrate Hydrogen-powered vehicles is underway on Oa’hu. Hawaii Public Radio.

The city's Department of Transportation Services detailed its plans to allow bicycles and surfboards to be carried onboard the proposed rail trains.  KHON2.

The Hawaii Public Housing Authority says they have taken a leap of faith, jumping into the first private-public housing partnership in the state of Hawaii. Hawaii News Now.

The loss of nearly $5 million in federal anti-terrorism funding for Honolulu will not affect the city's preparedness for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation conference in November, city officials say. Star-Advertiser.

Developers of a proposed Ka'u resort and village are looking to limit their ecological impacts while bolstering the region's educational opportunities. West Hawaii Today.

A Texas judge has granted the widow of surfing champion Andy Irons another extension to delay the release of Irons' autopsy report. Star-Advertiser.

In the era of endless news loops and aggregation, it’s hard to get a rise when mentioning the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, plastic-coated beaches or endangered Hawaiian monk seals ensnared in rafts of trash. Honolulu Weekly.

When it comes to illegal dumping, there's a group of ladies in Leeward Oahu that take it personally. Hawaii News Now.

Instead of almost annually having to piecemeal together repairs and improvements on South Kihei Road, along with the detours that come with construction, county Department of Public Works Director David Goode this week said he hopes to "dust off" a decades-old proposal to entirely rebuild the north end of the busy roadway. Maui News.

Waimea High School’s graduating seniors missed out on a piece of tradition Thursday, when a break in a water main forced school officials to close the campus. Garden Island.

The public can sound off about noise around Hilo International Airport at a coming meeting called by the state Department of Transportation. Tribune-Herald.

A loud drinking party on county property brought to a halt by the police early May 1 included Mayor Billy Kenoi, state Rep. Jerry Chang and a host of other bigwigs celebrating the end of the Merrie Monarch Festival. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii unions powerful, Honolulu mayor popular, health insurers profitable, no more money for nurses, new garbage trucks idle, overlooked utility poles make for pricey contract, Kauai gets federal seabird permit, more Hawaii news

Hawaii coastline (c) 2011 All Hawaii News

The Legacy Lands Conservation Program has awarded four grants totaling $4.5 million to protect lands on Oahu and the Big Island. Pacific Business News

The two largest health insurance companies in Hawaii rebounded in the first quarter to post their highest profits in at least three years due to rate increases and improved investments that helped boost earnings. Star-Advertiser.

Most voters believe labor unions have the strongest influence on the state's elected officials, a new Hawaii Poll shows, although Democrats are less likely to have that opinion than Republicans and independents. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie said the state cannot agree to pay more money to Maui Memorial Medical Center nurses because it is in a "fiscal crisis." Maui News.

Not a single steel rail has been laid for the Honolulu transit system and costs are already escalating. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii County is paying $229,000 to a construction contractor after a second engineering consultant failed to include utility pole relocation in the original project design. West Hawaii Today.

As wind company Pattern Energy moves forward with plans to develop on Molokai, First Wind, a company that had been in discussion with the community for several years, is not giving up without a fight. Molokai Dispatch.

It’s a matter of disclosure, practicality, and fairness—none of which Friends of Lanai say applies to the State’s Big Wind proposal. Hawaii Independent.

Reflections on leadership — and lack of it — in the 2011 session. Civil Beat.

New city garbage trucks collecting dust. Hawaii News Now.

The Hawaii County Council majority made clear Monday its displeasure with a $199,950 consultant contract comparing Hilo landfill expansion costs to trucking garbage to Puuanahulu. West Hawaii Today.

New polling data released yesterday shows Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle with a job approval rating of 64 percent, while 60 percent of those polled have a favorable opinion of him. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu mayor Peter Carlisle is busy dealing with rail critics and budgets woes, but his approval rating is still high after seven months on the job. Star-Advertiser.

Both deputy chiefs in the Honolulu Police Department will step down from their posts at the end of the month, the two men said last night. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu had one of the highest inflation rates in the nation last year, but economists say rising costs won't threaten the state's economic recovery. Associated Press.

It was a ground-breaking ceremony many believed was long overdue.  A memorial honoring Hawaii's law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. KHON2.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has given Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative a green light to “take” a certain number of endangered seabirds annually so long as the co-op adheres to its federally approved habitat conservation plan. Garden Island.

The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear a dispute over whether to identify students challenging a private school system's admissions policy that gives preference to those of Hawaiian ancestry.Associated Press.

Many Aiea residents got their first look at a major development in the middle of their community. KITV4.

West Hawaii's four council districts accounted for 76.8 percent of property values this year, up slightly from last year as property values countywide dipped 4.4 percent. West Hawaii Today.

Kaua‘i County Councilman KipuKai Kuali‘i responded Monday to some community concerns over a possible conflict of interest stemming from his participation in a certain departmental budget review meeting last month. Garden Island.

Never, ever expect gratitude is what Gov. Neil Abercrombie told University of Hawaii Maui College graduates on Sunday. Maui News.

Birthers don't back down, Obama buddy fined for soliciting prostitute, Hawaii mayor kills no-bid police contract with campaign manager, pay raise, APEC, foreclosures, hospitals still on lawmakers' plate, PUC denies First Wind extension, reward for info on Kauai goat-killer, more Hawaii news

Kawaiaha‘o Church (c) 2011 All Hawaii News

Kawaiaha‘o Church resumed construction on a multipurpose building yesterday after making changes that include reducing the amount of ground excavation that could disturb unmarked graves. Star-Advertiser.

Work has resumed at Hawaii's oldest church and Christian cemetery for construction of a multi-purpose building. Associated Press.

Leaders of the so-called "birther" movement argued their case over President Barack Obama's U.S. citizenship before a federal appeals court Monday in Southern California, claiming the full birth certificate he released last week had been doctored. Associated Press.

President Obama awarded the nation's highest military decoration to a Maui solider who died on the battlefield while saving the men in his company. Hawaii News Now.

Obama honors Maui soldier killed in Korean war. Associated Press.

State lawmakers are scheduled to vote today on legislation to require hospitals in Hawaii to make public reports of health care-associated infections, a key measure in the industry's move toward improving health care. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii families in danger of losing their homes will be able to meet their lenders face-to-face in an attempt to avoid foreclosure, according to a broad overhaul of state foreclosure laws nearing approval. Associated Press.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie, D-Hawaii, asked Hawaii lawmakers today to reconsider funding the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation conference, which will attract leaders from around the world to Hawaii in November 2011. Hawaii Reporter.

Lawmakers Scramble To Avoid Pay Raise. A Bill To Extend 5% Pay Cut For State Officials Is One Of 120 Left Unfinished. KITV4.

A bold move to buy Oahu's only slaughterhouse may have failed. But lawmakers have found another way to help the struggling facility, opting to give it $750,000 in the state's capital improvement budget. Civil Beat.

The Public Utilities Commission has denied First Wind’s request for an eight-month extension to secure land and finalize details of an agreement on Molokai for a proposed 200 megawatt wind farm. Pacific Business News

Mayor Billy Kenoi late Monday put an end to a planned Police Department contract with his 2008 campaign manager after the no-bid project drew media scrutiny. West Hawaii Today.

Robert R. "Bobby" Titcomb, a close friend of President Barack Obama, accused of soliciting a prostitute in Kakaako, pleaded no contest and was fined $500 yesterday. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie and Maya Soetoro-Ng, President Barack Obama's sister, will speak at a town hall on education tomorrow at Kapiolani Community College. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Electric Company crews restored power to roughly 60,000 customers affected by an outage caused by severe weather. Hawaii News Now.

There is a weather disturbance nearby that has triggered the thunderstorms, heavy rains and even hail on Kula, Maui. KHON2.

Longline fishermen are Hawaii's small boat commercial fishermen's No. 1 concern, followed by criticisms of the state's bottomfishing policies. West Hawaii Today.

A city bus driver who's admitted to reading a newspaper while driving a bus full of passengers won’t lose his job. KITV4.

Homeless people who've lived in vehicles and makeshift structures on Queen Street in Kakaako were cleared from the area Monday. KHON2.

In order to meet fire safety requirements, the state is on the move to build a new 12-inch water line and six-inch sewer line along Kaunakakai Place. Molokai Dispatch.

Sometime between dusk on Thursday and dawn on Friday, a pregnant goat from Kilauea’s Kunana Dairy was gutted and beheaded, her unborn kids dumped next to her insides, sources said Monday. Garden Island.

Hawaii Supreme Court takes up native squatting rights, Real ID real expensive for counties, Maui group sues over Main Street name, budget struggles continue, more news from the Hawaiian Islands

Waikiki homeless (c) 2011 All Hawaii News

Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie and his point man on homeless issues are scheduled to announce a new initiative to help people without shelter. Associated Press.

It's decision time at the Hawaii Capitol, where lawmakers enter their final days scrounging for money to keep the state running with a full slate of proposed tax increases and spending cuts.  Associated Press.

The deadline is looming at the State Capitol, House and Senate conference committees must agree on how to close a $1.3 billion budget gap. KHON2.

University of Hawaii students are bracing for another tuition hike as state lawmakers struggle to close a major budget shortfall. Hawaii News Now.

The Hawaii Legislature's endgame is a mystery even to those who work in the state Capitol. Civil Beat.

An increase in Hawaii's general excise tax is dead for now, but Rep. George Fontaine worries that it could make a comeback. Associated Press.

The Department of Taxation reported that tax collections in Hawaii were coming in below expectations, down by 5.5 percent through the first nine months of this fiscal year. KITV4.

The Hawaii Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case in which a Native Hawaiian argues he has a constitutional right to take up residence as a caretaker of a remote state park on Kauai. Civil Beat.

An unfunded federal mandate that the state passed down to the four counties will likely increase expenses for Kaua‘i in the near future, officials said last week. Garden Island.

Lost in the renewed scrutiny into President Barack Obama's birth records is the fact that anyone can walk into a Hawaii vital records office, wait in line behind couples getting marriage licenses and open a baby-blue government binder containing basic information about his birth. Associated Press.

The Wailuku Main Street Association is suing the National Trust for Historic Preservation over its right to use the Main Street name. Maui News.

The State Land Use Commission has denied Tropic Land LLC’s petition to allow a light industrial park’s construction on Lualualei valley farmland. Hawaii Independent.

Relocation of utility lines is expected to begin today as the city moves forward with work on its $5.3 billion rail transit system. Star-Advertiser.

The odor of rotting flesh emanating from a single "corpse flower" drew hundreds of new visitors yesterday to Hilo's Pana­‘ewa Rainforest Zoo & Gardens on a typically quiet Easter Sunday. Star-Advertiser.

Mitsubishi has chosen Hawaii to be the first state in the nation to get the company's new electric car. KHON2.

Continental Airlines has begun hiring airport workers as it prepares to launch its direct mainland-to-Hilo service this summer. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii state health officials have sent samples of Big Island groundwater for testing after the release of radiation from Japanese nuclear power plants last month. Associated Press.

The Queen Liliuokalani Trust is getting quite a tax break on a $9.9 million commercial parcel it owns at a prime Kona crossroads. West Hawaii Today.

“Ua Mau Ke Ea O Ka Aina I Ka Pono – The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness.” This, the state motto of Hawaii, is one of the few if not only state mottos that alludes to man’s integral relationship to the natural world. Molokai Dispatch.

Hawaii officials reassure on radiation scare, bills labeling coffee, barring gender ID bias go to governor, Big Island evicting Native Hawaiians, Maui police want disoriented database, more Hawaii news

Hawaiian Abel Lui (c) 2011 All Hawaii News

Hawaii County and a Kawa Bay property owner have gone to court to evict a Native Hawaiian group claiming ownership of property the county is buying for preservation. West Hawaii Today.

State health officials are testing large rainwater catchment systems this week on the Big Island, Maui and Kauai for radiation from Japan's nuclear release, but re-emphasized that radiation in milk, rainwater and likely in locally grown produce remains minute. Star-Advertiser.

State health officials said Monday trace amounts of radiation from Japan detected in milk and rain water in Hawaii do not pose a threat to public health. KITV4.

Officials with the state Health Department told members of the Senate Health Committee Monday that radiation from the nuclear disaster in Japan has been found in Hawaii's rain water and milk but the levels are so miniscule the contamination poses no threat to the public. KHON2.

There have been no public health threats generated so far in Hawaii by ongoing nuclear radiation leaks in Japan, officials of the state Health Department and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration told a Senate committee today. Hawaii Reporter.

Hawaii health officials say tiny amounts of radiation detected in milk and rainwater don't pose a public health risk. Associated Press.

The next two years of federal Medicaid cuts will chop at least $150 million out of health care, affecting one out of every five Hawaii residents, and state legislators are looking for an additional $30 million in savings, the head of the state Department of Human Services told groups attending simultaneous town hall meetings last night. Star-Advertiser.

A bill that would explicitly bar discrimination on the basis of gender identiy or expression in employment in Hawaii now awaits Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s signature. Hawaii Independent.

A bill awaiting Gov. Neil Abercrombie's signature is intended to prevent mislabeling of Kona coffee blends. But Big Island coffee farmers opposed to the bill say it will actually make the problem worse. Civil Beat.

Waikiki Beach widening project on hold. Hawaii News Now.

Coqui frog hunting? There's an app for that. West Hawaii Today.

Police seek database for disoriented people. Maui News.

City officials on Monday introduced the six appointees for the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation. KITV4.

First Hawaiian Bank CEO and Chairman Don Horner has topped a number of important short-lists lately. Less than a week after being sworn in as chairman of the new appointed state Board of Education, Horner on Monday was named one of 10 members on the board of a new Honolulu mass transit agency. Civil Beat.

Koke‘e State Park is full of wonder. Where else can you witness rare Hawaiian birds in their native environment? Garden Island.

Hawaii’s first electric vehicle charging network will be unveiled Tuesday, a project of Better Place. Pacific Business News

Molokai Occupational Center’s new management is putting a rocky past aside and working toward building a better future and making stronger ties with the community it serves. Molokai Dispatch.

A Probate Court-appointed screening committee is looking for candidates for a new Kamehameha Schools trustee. Associated Press.

Hawaii governor reassures unions, shipping charges hiked, Sheraton sold, Hawaiian business boom, school board picks face Senate vetting, taxes, taxes and more

Honolulu homeless (c) 2011 All Hawaii News

Homeless are on the move again after a recent sweep in Kakaako. Hawaii News Now.

The number of companies owned by Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders increased at a faster rate here and nationally than business growth overall from 2002 to 2007, and small-business advocates said yesterday there’s reason to believe they continue to thrive despite the down economy. Star-Advertiser.

Hundreds of union workers rallied at the state capitol Monday, some wielding signs that called into question the attack on labor rights across the country. KITV4.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie had a message for the members of more than 20 unions who filled the state Capitol courtyard yesterday: Union support is in the governor’s blood. Star-Advertiser.

Labor union members cheered and chanted Monday at the Hawai‘i Capitol against cuts in government that would come out of their pockets. Associated Press.

More than 500 union workers gathered in the state Capitol rotunda this afternoon to express support for collective bargaining here and on the Mainland. Hawaii Reporter.

Hundreds gathered today at the Hawaii State Capitol to rally for union solidarity and to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who was murdered 43 years ago today in Memphis, Tennessee, where he was speaking on behalf of a group of workers seeking to unionize. Hawaii Independent.

On Wednesday, Hawaii lawmakers will hear a measure to modify the state's excise tax. KITV4.

Taxing retiree pensions is being debated at the capitol. Hawaii News Now.

One after another local restaurant owners, liquor distributors, and employees of companies that sell or distribute alcohol testified at a House Finance Committee hearing against increasing the state tax on alcohol. Hawaii News Now.

Treading into politically sensitive territory, state Senate Democrats are asking the public to choose between raising the general excise tax or temporarily suspending a tax exemption on certain business activities to help balance the budget. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii senators are proposing an increase to the state's broadest tax, and they'll discuss it during a public hearing Wednesday. Associated Press.

Lawmakers heard testimony today from residents who want to stop prostitution in areas frequented by children and take it one step further … by targeting sex-trade operators and customers. Hawaii Public Radio.

A new day for accountability in Hawaii schools begins as early as this week, when Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie's nine nominees to the state's first appointed Board of Education in 45 years head into their confirmation hearings.Civil Beat.

The Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort and Spa has been sold. West Hawaii Today.

Courthouse in Wailuku needs fixing. Maui News.

Both Horizon Lines Inc. and Pasha Hawaii Transport Lines will raise their fuel surcharges for specific routes at the beginning of May. Pacific Business News

After a series of natural disasters that hit Japan recently, the bosses at the Hawaii Tourism Authority have hinted for a possible cut in the Hawaii air capacity for the second quarter after the tourism was adversely affected. Top News.

Wailuku District Court Judge Rhonda Lai Loo was appointed Monday to replace retiring 2nd Circuit Judge Joel August, Gov. Neil Abercrombie announced. Maui News.

Hawaii residents applied for a record number of permits to buy guns last year and registered a near-record number of firearms, while the islands continued to enjoy the lowest rate of gun-related deaths in the country. Star-Advertiser.

Attorneys for the state Land Use Commission now have through April 25 to provide commission records in response to an appeal filed by Ooma Beachside Village. West Hawaii Today.

Members of Hawaii’s second-largest credit union voted two new faces onto its volunteer board of directors and ousted the chairwoman, reflecting what many said was a need to change the ways of the old board, whose leadership recently came under fire. Star-Advertiser.

Dr. Michael Chun says his retirement from the helm of the Kapalama campus has been discussed in internally for a couple of years -- common of long lead times for transitions at schools the size of Kamehameha. KHON2.

Roseanne Barr illegally grades mac nut farm, Hawaii lawmakers seek free lunch, state eyes school property, school lunch price tag rises, land chief fight continues, Kauai beach project advances, artist sees Virgin Mary in monkeypod tree, more

Hawaiian protest photo (c) 2011 All Hawaii News

Hawaii could grant native Hawaiians self-government rights after federal proposals to do so failed. Associated Press.

Some Hawaii state legislators are trying to rewrite the law when it comes to getting gifts from ordinary citizens, businesses and even lobbyists.KITV4.

A bill intended to strengthen and clarify the state’s lobbyist regulation law has been quietly changed to allow legislators and state officials “to accept significant and costly gifts” from lobbyists. Hawaii Reporter.

The state House Finance Committee voted early today to tax pension income but set the threshold significantly higher than Gov. Neil Abercrombie preferred. Star-Advertiser.

With many Oahu residents already struggling to make ends meet, a property tax increase would only add to an already precarious financial situation. KHON2.

City Council members are taking aim at bills moving through the Legislature that would redevelop unused land on public school campuses to generate revenue for school facilities. Star-Advertiser.

The spat over land chief William Aila Jr.'s qualifications has moved from the Senate floor into Senate inboxes. Civil Beat.

The price of school lunches at Hawaii’s public schools will increase Tuesday from $2.20 to $2.35. KITV4.

Producing more electricity from lava-heated steam is the best way to meet Hawaii Island's future energy needs, according to one civil engineering professor. Tribune-Herald.

More than 150 dogs seized from puppy farm. Hawaii News Now.

State government general fund spending would start rising again under Gov. Neil Abercrombie's budget proposals following two years of decline under Gov. Linda Lingle. Associated Press.

Kona resident Bob Russell thinks Hawaii is in "a state of fiscal emergency" and "our so-called wise leader is continuing our spending addiction." West Hawaii Today.

Fisherman Stan Wright said he is afraid a continuing loss of water at Lake Wilson could cause a massive die-off of fish at one of the best angling places he knows in the United States. Star-Advertiser.

Sea Engineering Inc. has been selected to study Kauai’s Poipu Beach, where erosion is prompting safety and natural resource concerns. Pacific Business News

A public-private partnership between the county, state and local organizations has resulted in the Po‘ipu Beach restoration study becoming a reality. Garden Island.

A City Council Public Works and Sustainability Committee meeting took a bizarre turn Monday afternoon when former City Council candidate Matthew LoPresti had trouble explaining whether he was a lobbyist. Civil Beat.

Volunteers and researchers on Maui tallied 1,607 sightings of humpback whales Saturday, a 33 percent increase from last year, the Pacific Whale Foundation reported.Maui News.

A United Airlines flight from Los Angeles to Kona International Airport on the Big Island landed without incident even though mechanical problems forced a pilot to shut off one of the plane's engines shortly before arriving. Associated Press.

Alexander & Baldwin Inc. says Chris Benjamin, its chief financial officer and the general manager of A&B's sugar plantation on Maui, is being promoted to president of A&B Land Group, which oversees A&B Properties and the company's agricultural businesses. Associated Press.

Hawaii County has informed comedian Roseanne Barr's land trust that grading done on her Honokaa macadamia nut farm was illegal. Tribune-Herald.

Cast and crew of the hit show Hawaii Five-0 have just a month-and-a-half left of shooting for this season. They'll wrap in mid-April. Hawaii News Now.

The Eddie won't go. The three-month holding period for the Quicksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau surf tournament on Oahu's North Shore ended Monday. KITV4.

There was a divine sighting on the Big Island in a monkey pod tree. KHON2.

Kauai reconsiders plastic bag ban, video shows couple swept off rocks, Abercrombie defies open records laws, neighbor islands fear social services cuts, Hawaii lawmakers consider soda tax, gambling, civil unions, prayers, more

Hawaiian activist Abel Lui (c) 2011 All Hawaii News

Hawaii County could lose $2.5 million in state and federal grants to purchase Kawa Bay property because of a battle with Native Hawaiians claiming ownership there. West Hawaii Today.

Sen. Clayton Hee has credibility as a proponent of Native Hawaiian rights. So when he says there's something wrong with a bill that would give the Office of Hawaiian Affairs $200 million to settle a 32-year-old debt, there must be something going on. Civil Beat.

Despite the opinion by the head of the state agency that administers Hawaii's open-records law, Gov. Neil Abercrombie will not release the names of candidates to the Hawaii Supreme Court. Star-Advertiser.

Civil unions appear to be quickly moving toward final legislative approval, with a House vote pending and a Senate leader saying he'll likely accept amendments to the legislation, avoiding the need for additional hearings.Associated Press.

From her home in Kaneohe, the Rev. Toni Baran coordinates commitment ceremonies for gay couples.KITV4.

While most gambling proposals are foundering at the Legislature, a House panel has advanced a measure that would allow bingo on lands designated by the Hawaiian Homes Commission. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii House of Representatives voted Wednesday to continue holding prayers before daily legislative sessions, unlike the state Senate, which became the first legislative body in the nation to cancel them last month. Associated Press.

Alcohol and soda, two consumer favorites, could be hit with new taxes to help with the state's budget deficit and promote healthy lifestyles. Star-Advertiser.

Steep new tax increases on alcoholic and sugared beverages proposed by the Abercrombie administration would cost jobs and unfairly impact low and middle income consumers, opponents testified at a Senate committee today. Hawaii Reporter.

The governor appointed Don Horner to the Board of Education yesterday, saying the First Hawaiian Bank board chairman and chief executive officer embodies the leadership qualities he wants to see on the board that sets policy for Hawaii's public schools. Star-Advertiser.

Kealii Lopez is Hawaii's new director for the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs following her confirmation by the full Senate. Associated Press.

A proposed measure that would have drastically changed the car stereo industry has been sidelined for now. KHON2.

The Kaua‘i County Council on Wednesday approved on first reading an amendment to the plastic bag ban that would allow establishments serving ready-to-eat food to distribute plastic bags to customers. Garden Island.

Video shows wave washing couple off wall at Shark's Cove. Hawaii News Now.
Video.

A six-foot-long blue shark beached herself on Kauai and gave birth to several pups before dying. Associated Press.

The last city and county park along the leeward Oahu coast is next in line for a major cleanup, which will force the eviction of more than a hundred homeless campers at Keaau Beach Park. KITV4.

The completion of a $7.8 million construction project in East Oahu has been delayed. Hawaii News Now.

Mayor Billy Kenoi and key administration officials answered citizens' questions on a wide range of topics in the Kukuihaele and Waipio communities, especially about the need for water and road improvements. Tribune-Herald.

The Molokai veterans group said it has discussed a tentative agreement with Maui County which would OK the permit for a new veterans’ center in Kaunakakai. Molokai Dispatch.

Maui Electric Co. is seeking a supplier of approximately 50 megawatts of firm renewable electric power. Maui News.

Social programs on the Big Island will take a big hit in two months, when the state Department of Human Services cuts off funding. Tribune-Herald.

Students and community members rallied Wednesday afternoon to raise public awareness of the state’s intent to cut funding for several key youth programs. Garden Island.

Hawaii governor's office is broke, physician-assisted suicide, marijuana, gubernatorial confirmations alive in Legislature, they castrate donkeys, don't they, and other news from the Hawaiian Islands

Photo (c) 2011 All Hawaii News

A legal argument based on the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom, used unsuccessfully to fight foreclosures in the 1990s, is now being used once again, even though the man who promoted the theory 15 years ago was convicted of a felony. KITV4.

Hawaii would become the fourth state to legalize physician-assisted suicide under a proposal being brought back for debate in the Legislature for the first time in four years. Star-Advertiser.

A bill aiming to reduce the costs of combating marijuana on the streets and in the courts by decriminalizing possession of small amounts of the drug will be heard by two legislative committees today. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie's office is asking the Hawaii Legislature for an extra $1.06 million in "emergency" funds to get through June. Civil Beat.

Honolulu police are calling it one of their top priority bills in the Legislature this year. They say there's a potentially-deadly loophole in Hawaii's domestic violence law that deals with protective orders. Hawaii News Now.

State Rep. Hermina Morita, the House Energy and Environmental Protection Committee chairwoman who has spearheaded initiatives such as the "bottle bill" for recycling beverage containers, has been tapped by Gov. Neil Abercrombie to head the Public Utilities Commission. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s announcement Thursday that Hermina Morita will be the new chairwoman of the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission, subject to Senate approval, is likely to be welcome news to renewable-energy companies. Pacific Business News

Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie's administration is ending furloughs for 1,200 state workers paid with federal funds, saying the furloughs didn't save the state any money. Associated Press.

Maunalei Love is stepping down today as executive director of the Charter School Administrative Office under pressure from a state panel, after serving longer than anyone else in that position. Star-Advertiser.

Tens of millions of dollars in state funds are being cut from nonprofits statewide that employ hundreds of people and serve thousands of needy families. KHON2.

Social service programs for the state's most needy population will terminate on April 1 to save the Department of Human Services $84 million over the next two years and three months. Star-Advertiser.

Acupuncturists to fight bill they say would lower standards. Hawaii News Now.

A bill that places an immediate five-month moratorium on both pending and new non-judicial foreclosures, while a national investigation on securitization plays out, took a big step forward in Hawaii’s State House of Representatives. Hawaii Independent.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie's Cabinet nominees are slowly moving toward getting confirmed by the state Senate. Associated Press.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie must release the names of the other candidates for a position on the Hawaii Supreme Court once his nomination of Sabrina McKenna as associate justice is confirmed by the state Senate, according to the state lawyers who administer the open-records law. Star-Advertiser.

Mass Donkey Castrations Delayed. KITV4.

Hawaii's culinary ambassador Sam Choy to open Kona restaurant. West Hawaii Today.

Residents and the redeveloper of Kuhio Park Terrace turned out in force Thursday to defend a planned $332 million refurbishment of the low income housing project in Kalihi. Hawaii Reporter.

There's a proposal that would eliminate a big discount the city offers to commercial companies that take residue from recycling to Oahu's only public landfill. KITV4.

The Kaiwahine Village affordable housing project is expected to be resubmitted to the Maui County Council today. Maui News.

The planned installation of 40 surveillance cameras around the Big Island has hit a snag. Tribune-Herald.

Officials with the City and County of Honolulu are not ready to call it a compromise but discussions are being planned that could spare an illegal beachside park in Waimanalo from being demolished. KHON2.

One of Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative’s latest efforts to meet its renewable energy goals is being met with some early opposition. Garden Island.

Calls For Unity on the Wind Issue. Molokai Dispatch.

It happened again -- a West Hawaii resident observed aquaculture employees pouring something into their company's fish pens and wondered about the impact on water quality and the surrounding environment. West Hawaii Today.

The volunteer directors for the Hawaii State Federal Credit Union, the state's second largest, agreed yesterday to reduce the benefits they give themselves in the wake of increasing criticism from members. Star-Advertiser.

Obama home for the holidays, Native Hawaiians get $500M in no-bid contracts, Young Bros. seeks big shipping increase, lights out at Ala Moana Center, Kauai measures community, Big Island police union wants more cops, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

After a 10-hour flight, President Barack Obama arrived in Honolulu under a waning moon on a humid night. Star-Advertiser.

A politically rejuvenated President Barack Obama arrived here late Wednesday for an 11-day family vacation in his home state. Associated Press.

Check out this first video of their arrival. KHON2.

President Barack Obama has arrived in his home state for a 10-day family vacation. Associated Press.

Wednesday afternoon President Barack Obama boarded a flight to Honolulu where he will spend Christmas with his wife and two daughters, but he didn't leave Washington DC until finishing important business. Hawaii News Now.

President Barack Obama arrived in Hawaii a little before midnight Wednesday. KITV4.

Security around President Barack Obama’s compound on Kailua Beach is about to get a lot tighter, once the president arrives overnight Wednesday. KITV4.

President Barack Obama has something in common with potential White House rival Mitt Romney. He and the Republican are both taking vacations in Hawaii. Associated Press.

Young Bros. Ltd., Hawaii's regulated interisland ocean cargo transportation firm, says it needs to raise average rates 24 percent -- the highest increase in at least 30 years. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii's largest inter-island shipper on Wednesday asked regulators for permission to raise its rates by an average of 24 percent, saying it needs to charge customers more to stay in business because of falling cargo volumes and the emergence of new competition. Associated Press.

Cargo company Young Brothers has announced they will be increasing their shipping rates statewide. Molokai Dispatch.

A handful of Native Hawaiian-owned companies used federal contracting preferences authored by U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye, D-HI, to land some $500 million in non-bid or reduced competition government work since 2005, according to federal purchasing records.Hawaii Reporter.

Hispanics in Hawaii. Honolulu Weekly.

A Wailuku teenager forced to re-tool himself after a near-death experience can claim fame as a guest on the set of the new "Hawaii Five-0," a remake TV show trying to craft its own success. Maui News.

Obama ends year on high; Djou on Djou farewell; Akaka on Akaka bill; and Slom says U.S. a "bona fide homosexual nation." Civil Beat.

Hawaii's two congressional districts are unlikely to change significantly under new population counts released Tuesday by the U.S. Census Bureau. West Hawaii Today.

Rancher Malama Solomon is returning to the state Senate seat she held for 16 consecutive years. Tribune-Herald.

Outgoing City Councilman Rod Tam, already facing possible jail time after pleading guilty last month to 26 misdemeanor counts to settle charges brought by the state, could face additional charges stemming from a separate investigation by the state Campaign Spending Commission. Star-Advertiser.

A promised crackdown by Honolulu city officials on the use of illegal fireworks has already resulted in three arrests in less than 24 hours. KHON2.

A local police union official says that despite the economy, there needs to be more patrol officers on the beat. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii County drinking water may soon cost more, but it is clear of the concentrations of the "Erin Brockovich chemical" found in Honolulu's tap water. West Hawaii Today.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources on Wednesday advised the ocean-going public that recent heavy rains, along with forecasts for more rain during the coming week, may increase the presence of sharks in nearshore waters. Garden Island.

Regular beachgoers who brave the debris from Hawaii's recent storms should be on the lookout for another challenge, the type with big teeth. Star-Advertiser.

Kaua‘i Planning and Action Alliance is beginning work on the third edition of “Measuring What Matters for Kaua‘i: Community Indicators Report,” and has received $10,000 from the SW Wilcox Trust toward its publication.Garden Island.

The project to rebuild the parking area near the entrance to the Keawakapu Beach access will remain suspended at least for a while. Maui News.

It was lights-out again at the State's largest mall. KHON2.

Power went out again briefly last night at Ala Moana Center at the height of the holiday shopping season. Star-Advertiser.

With so many potholes to fill following the recent heavy rains on Oahu, the city has increased the number of crews patrolling the island. Hawaii News Now.

Kailua-Kona resident Clement "Junior" Kanuha Jr. never lost sight of his dream to protect, preserve and recount the oral traditions of significant Big Island places. West Hawaii Today.

Kyoto Obubu Tea Plantations tea farmer and president Akihiro Kita will be visiting Hilo to introduce tea lovers and aspiring tea growers to Japanese tea and tea farming. Big Island Weekly.