Lawsuit dropped after Green revises housing proclamation, Maui releases 2018 wildfire after-action report, Hawaii County officials in line for raises, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Gov. Josh Green revamps housing proclamation. Gov. Josh Green on Tuesday issued a third emergency proclamation to stimulate development of affordable housing, satisfying plaintiffs who withdrew a lawsuit they had filed over concerns that Green’s proclamation removed safeguards on protecting the environment, cultural resources and government transparency. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

 Hawaii Bribery Scandal Casts A Shadow Over Lahaina’s Ruins. For years, a local businessman paid off officials in exchange for lucrative contracts. The system he exploited has been left largely unchanged. An examination of one of the state’s largest bribery cases reveals a county procurement system that may be ill-equipped to handle the millions of dollars it will spend following the devastating wildfires on Maui.  Civil Beat.

DHHL proposes 10 legislative measures to reduce its housing waitlist. The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands is considering legislation to reduce its waitlist, which currently includes more than 28,000 Native Hawaiian beneficiaries. Proposals boast everything from general excise tax exemptions for DHHL developments to allowing in-house historic preservation reviews of homeland projects. Hawaii Public Radio.

33 states, including Hawaii, sue Meta over alleged harm to kids’ mental health. Dozens of U.S. states, including Hawaii, California and New York, are suing Meta Platforms Inc. for harming young people and contributing to the youth mental health crisis by knowingly and deliberately designing features on Instagram and Facebook that addict children to its platforms. Associated Press. Civil Beat.

Researchers coring into ancient reefs off Hawaii seek to mend fences after uproar. UK-based researchers taking samples of the ocean floor off Hawaii Island don’t appear to be breaking any rules, but they are drawing criticism. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Impaired-driving arrests on Oahu top 1,500. As of Oct. 3 there were 1,574 arrests for operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant, compared with 1,587 at the same time in 2022, HPD reported. Star-Advertiser.

Relief in the works for businesses affected by Dillingham rail construction. Rail construction keeps hurting businesses in Kalihi, but the city is still trying to figure out how to provide them with financial aid. Hawaii News Now.

Trial begins for Hawaii couple accused of stealing dead babies’ identities. According to prosecutors, Walter Glenn Primrose and Gwynn Darle Morrison are the real names of the couple who have been fraudulently living for decades under stolen identities Bobby Fort and Julie Montague. Associated Press.

Hawaii Island

Hawaii County officials could be next to receive pay raises. The Hawaii County Salary Commission has not adjusted pay for executive, elected or appointed officials since March 2018. Meanwhile, employees covered by collective bargaining have received raises over the years. KHON2.

Army set to conduct large-scale exercise. Tropic Lightning Soldiers from the Army’s 25th Infantry Division will participate in the Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center, an Army training operation to be held on the Big Island and Oahu primarily from Nov. 1 through Nov. 10. Tribune-Herald.

Ex-assistant police chief charged with numerous offenses. Mitchell Kanehailua Jr., 57, of Hilo was arrested Sunday morning and charged Monday evening with violating a restraining order, first-degree attempted burglary, third-degree assault and third-degree attempted assault. Tribune-Herald. Star-Advertiser. Big Island Now.

North Kawaihae Small Boat Harbor Breakwater Improvements Planned. The Hawaiʻi DLNR is seeking to improve the small boat harbor's damaged main breakwater to better withstand winter swells. Big Island Video News.

Maui

Panel is urged to restore West Maui stream flows. Some 200 people packed Tuesday’s meeting of the state Commission on Water Resource Management on Maui, many of them urging the restoration of stream flows in the Lahaina area. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now.

State House members to tour Lahaina’s Mala Wharf. Members of the state House Finance Committee plan to visit Maui’s Soil &Water Conservation District today and Lahaina’s Mala Wharf on Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

Maui Report On 2018 Lahaina Fire Failed To Address Issues That Reappeared Five Years Later. Community criticism about a lack of emergency alerts, sirens and fire prevention didn't make it into the report. A report on the shortcomings of Maui County’s response to a 2018 fire failed to address many problems identified by residents at the time, according to a copy of the document released Tuesday.  Civil Beat. KITV4.

2 years ago, Maui County-funded commission sounded the alarm about wildfire risks. A 2021 report from a publicly-funded commission identifies key solutions to the wildfire risk threatening Maui, but it’s unclear if Maui County acted on the findings. Members of the commission say there was never any government follow-up. Hawaii News Now.

Oprah And Dwayne Johnson’s Relief Fund Has Paid Out $19 Million. The People’s Fund of Maui established by Oprah Winfrey and Dwayne Johnson will disburse its second round of $1,200 payments this week. Civil Beat.

Kauai

Kaua‘i sewer credit applications accepted from Nov. 1 to Jan. 2.  Qualified sewer customers shall be granted a monthly credit of $24 per month for 2024. Kauai Now.

Kapa‘a community celebrates $750K renovation of Boys & Girls clubhouse. The building serves 100 keiki and provides a safe place to go after school with meals they can count on, caring mentors who believe in them and meaningful life experiences empowering them to discover their great futures. Kauai Now.

Rail drags Honolulu bond rating down, Native Hawaiians sentenced to prison in hate crime against white man, Mauna Kea Authority and DLNR spar over mountain management, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

New Mauna Kea Authority Tussles With DLNR Over Conservation Lands. A Senate bill would challenge the scope of the authority’s jurisdiction over the dormant volcano. The new authority that is due to assume oversight of Mauna Kea, Hawaii’s largest mountain, after a five-year transition period may lose a key aspect of its control over the lands. Civil Beat.

Public housing agency struggling with $800 million repair backlog as hundreds of units remain vacant. The Hawaii Public Housing Authority is trying to make a dent in a more than $800 million capital improvement backlog. And it's asking lawmakers for money this year to fix hundreds of vacant units and get more people off the streets. KITV4.

Cathy Betts to continue as director of the state's Department of Human Services. Cathy Betts was confirmed by the state Senate Wednesday to continue her role as director of the Department of Human Services. Betts was asked to continue her DHS leadership after Gov. Josh Green appointed her, as well as several other familiar government faces, in December. Hawaii Public Radio.

New Hawaiʻi State Office of Wellness and Resilience outlines its mission. The newly created Office of Wellness and Resilience and its first director, Tia Hartsock, are now in place to tackle the “unprecedented public health crisis” in Hawaiʻi. Big Island Now. Kauai Now.

Adult recreational cannabis bill to receive final Senate vote. A bill that would legalize adult recreational use of cannabis in Hawaii cleared its final committee hurdle Thursday.  Tribune-Herald. Hawaii News Now.

In effort to crackdown on illegal mufflers, lawmakers considering noise detectors. There are already laws on the books saying driving with modified mufflers that cause loud noise illegal, but advocates of this bill say those laws are not being followed and the device would crackdown on rule breakers. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Legislators Propose $1 Million Boost For Performing Arts. After rebuffing two simultaneous threats to public-art funding, local artists and art supporters now have flipped the legislative momentum. Instead of potentially suffering major cuts this session, they have become positioned to receive a financial boost. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Firm downgrades city’s bonds for first time since 1999, citing growing rail debt. Moody’s Investor Service lowered the rating of Honolulu general obligation bonds from a level known as Aa1 to Aa2. While the rating agency says the city continues to enjoy a “strong financial position,” it also express concern by the increase in city debt due to the financially troubled rail project. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu Mayor Proposes Cautious $3.4 Billion Budget. With island residents still reeling from double-digit real estate assessments fueled by pandemic-related price hikes, Mayor Rick Blangiardi announced Thursday that he is proposing a $3.4 billion operating budget for the City and County of Honolulu for fiscal year 2024, which is essentially flat, adjusted for inflation. Civil Beat.

OHA's Plan To Build High-Rises At Kakaako Makai Stalls In The Senate. The Senate Ways and Means Committee has shelved the Office of Hawaiian Affairsʻ proposal to build three residential towers up to 400 feet tall on oceanside land OHA owns at Kakaako makai. Civil Beat.

New Aloha Stadium May Be Smaller As Green Rejects Original Development Plan. The Hawaii governor says the estimated $400 million cost of a public-private partnership is too high. Civil Beat.

Hawaii delegation asks IRS to exempt Red Hill families. Hawaii’s congressional delegation is asking the IRS to back off of families that were affected by the Red Hill water crisis — many of them outraged that under current regulations the money they received from the military for temporary housing is considered income and that they are being slapped by the IRS with steep taxes. Star-Advertiser.

Why is $16M Waianae police station partially empty? In 2016, the City spent $16 million to build the Waianae Police Station. A blessing was held, but the doors never fully opened. West Oahu residents are concerned that the building continues to sit partially empty seven years later. KHON2.

Kamalani supporters protest school’s closure. Scores of Kamalani Academy students, teachers, parents and supporters demonstrated Thursday outside the state Department of Education, chanting, “Save our school!” to protest a decision by the state Public Charter School Commission that the Wahiawa school must close after its contract expires June 30. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.

Hawaii Island

Pahoa soft OKs site for library, transit hub. Pahoa residents came to an informal consensus Wednesday regarding their preferred location for a planned new library and transit hub. Both a new public library and a bus hub have been planned for Pahoa for years, with both projects eventually consolidated into a single site last year. Tribune-Herald.

Hōlualoa School Community Rallies In Kona. Parents and teachers say they are still waiting to hear specifics from the Hawaiʻi DOE on how and when it will address numerous health and safety issues at the school. Big Island Video News.

These patients could have few alternatives for life-saving care if key pharmacy closes. Kona Community Hospital’s pharmacy could be forced to close if it doesn’t meet new regulations set to go in effect later this year. Hawaii News Now.

Maui

2 Native Hawaiian Men Sentenced In Hate Crime Against White Neighbor.  A Native Hawaiian man was sentenced to more than six years in prison Thursday for the hate crime beating of a white man who tried to move into his remote, traditional fishing village. Local lawyers believe this is the first time the U.S. has prosecuted Native Hawaiians for hate crimes. Associated Press. KHON2. KITV4.

Oprah buys 870 acres of land in Kula for nearly $6.6 million over recent months. Media mogul and billionaire Oprah Winfrey recently purchased about 870 acres of Kula agricultural land for nearly $6.6 million in recent months, adding to hundreds of acres of real estate she already owns in Kula and in Hāna.  Maui Now.

Former Maui state lawmaker charged for failing to file spending report. Former Maui state lawmaker Kaniela Ing, who has run into trouble with the state Campaign Spending Commission in the past, is now facing prosecution for having “intentionally, knowingly or recklessly failed” to timely file a supplemental report with the commission last year. Maui News.

Maui Yacht Owner: ‘I Didn’t Know What I Was Getting Into’. Jim Jones says he wants to make things right, but former employees and county officials say he shouldn’t have a boat. Civil Beat.

Mortar found at Kīhei recycling business, recovered by Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal team. An unexploded ordnance, which appeared to be a mortar, was discovered by employees at a Kīhei recycling company within their metals collection area Tuesday.  Maui Now. Maui News.

Kauai

State seeks fines on Koloa dam owners. The state Department of Land and Natural Resources is seeking a $5,000 fine from the owners of a faulty dam, which could endanger more than 600 people if it failed. Garden Island.

Hawaii awaits $2.8B for infrastructure, Bezos, Oprah buy land on Maui, no third trial for Deedy, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Roadwork in Hawaii ©2021 All Hawaii News

Hawaii construction industry to see most of $2.8 billion federal infrastructure funds.  At least $2.8 billion in federal money is now available to improve Hawaii roads, bridges, airports, water systems, broadband internet and more under a congressional bill signed into law Monday. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now.

Despite strong vaccination rates, Hawaii’s Safe Travels program likely isn’t ending anytime soon. The policy has been in place a little more than a year. It requires anyone entering the state to either be vaccinated or have gotten a negative coronavirus test within 72 hours of arrival in order to bypass a 10-day quarantine. Hawaii News Now.

What Salary Records Tell Us About Who Earns The Big Bucks In The Department of Education. Some newer administrative roles in the DOE’s salary records in recent years fetch high salaries. Civil Beat.

Congressmen Seek Reforms After ‘Damning’ Audit Of Pacific Fisheries Fund. The long-awaited federal audit of a secretive fund managed by the Western Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Council is “just the beginning” of a congressional inquiry, Hawaii U.S. Rep. Ed Case said in a joint news release Monday. Civil Beat.

Hawaii ranks last for finding lung cancer early. While Hawaii has fared better than most states when it comes to its overall rate of lung cancer, it’s still the most deadly form of cancer in the state, killing on average of more than 500 residents annually. Star-Advertiser.

Push for expanded COVID booster eligibility in Hawaii comes after NYC ruling. So far, 133,557 people have had their boosters in Hawaii. That is just 24% of who would be eligible if the state followed in New York City’s footsteps. KHON2.

Hawaii sees 95 new coronavirus cases, bringing statewide total to 85,885. The new confirmed and probable infection count by island includes 33 new cases on Oahu, 25 on Hawaii Island, 16 on Maui, 19 on Kauai and two Hawaii residents diagnosed outside the state. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Property tax assessments jeopardize Oahu’s clean energy projects. The Honolulu City Council is weighing a bill that would provide renewable energy projects with substantial relief from an unexpected and steep increase in property taxes. Star-Advertiser.

No third trial for federal agent Christopher Deedy in 2011 fatal shooting of Kollin Elderts. Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney Steve Alm on Monday announced he will not proceed with further prosecution of Christopher Deedy, the federal agent who fatally shot a man at a Waikiki fast-food restaurant 10 years ago. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

Gas Co. to pay $230K for Clean Air violations. The Gas Co. LLC has agreed to pay a $230,000 fine for Clean Air Act violations at its synthetic natural gas facility in Kapolei, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Monday. Star-Advertiser. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

New council districts slowly taking shape. Ever try to share a too-small blanket on a chilly night? Yanking on one side to cover one person leaves the other cold. Trying to drag nine County Council districts over the breadth and width of Hawaii Island is like that. West Hawaii Today.

Report: Expect vehicle shortages to linger. The third quarter report sponsored by the Hawaii Automobile Dealers Association predicts that limited availability of new personal vehicles due to microchip shortages and other supply-chain issues related to the novel coronavirus pandemic likely will last ”well into 2022.” Tribune-Herald.

Hilton Waikoloa Village offers cash incentive to attract new employees. Hawaii Island’s largest resort is offering a $1,000 sign-on bonus for new employees. The hotel is hoping to fill nearly a hundred positions, including housekeepers, chefs, restaurant servers and massage therapists. Hawaii News Now.

Maui

Maui County Council to discuss regulating bike tours today. Bicycle tours operating in the Pāʻia-Haʻikū and Makawao-Pukalani-Kula community plan areas will be reviewed. Residents in the area have expressed concerns about bicycle tours crowding the roads. Hawaii Public Radio.

Adding emergency runway lights at Kapalua Airport could benefit west Maui community. The Kapalua Airport was built in the 1980s with a promise to only operate during daylight hours, at the request of nearby residents. Hawaii Public Radio.

Amazon Founder Jeff Bezos Reportedly Shells Out $78 Million on Remote Beachfront Property Off La Perouse. Amazon founder and executive chairman, Jeff Bezos reportedly purchased a remote 14-acre oceanfront estate, 12 miles south of Kīhei. The property is reportedly surrounded by rocky lava fields and state parkland. Maui Now.

Oprah Buys More Property on Maui. Oprah Winfrey is back again at shopping for Maui real estate, as the billionaire media mogul has recently purchased a three-acre property in Kula on Maui that’s adjacent to the other properties she owns on the Valley Isle, according to public records. Maui Now.

Kauai

Kaua‘i has highest COVID rate per capita in state. As of Monday, the county has 129 active COVID-19 cases, with 11 hospitalized. Garden Island.

East Side bike path regulars restore damaged signs. A frequent visitor to Ke Ala Hele Makalae, the multi-use path from Lydgate Beach Park to Ahihi Point, has fulfilled a longtime wish to restore its defaced signage. Garden Island.

Hawaii reacts to travel ban ruling, Matson workers could strike, more than 5k welcome Oprah, Honolulu airport woes continue, Punaluu dredging draws ire, more news fro all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Attorney General Doug Chin courtesy photo

Students, visiting professors and others from six predominantly Muslim countries with legitimate ties to the United States will be allowed to travel to Hawaii but face an uncertain future once they arrive, state Attorney General Doug Chin said Monday following a decision by the U.S. Supreme Court on President Donald Trump’s travel ban. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Attorney General Doug Chin on Monday said "immigration into the United States should not be restricted due to religion or national origin" after the U.S. Supreme Court decided to reinstate part of Donald Trump's travel ban. Pacific Business News.

Both President Trump as well as officials from the State of Hawaii are seeing positives in today’s U.S. Supreme Court order on the second travel ban issued by the White House in March. Big Island Video News.

The Supreme Court is allowing President Donald Trump to forge ahead with a limited version of his ban on travel from six mostly Muslim countries to the U.S. Associated Press.

The Supreme Court's decision to partially reinstate President Donald Trump's temporary travel ban has left the effort to keep some foreigners out of the United States in a murky middle ground, with unanswered questions and possibly more litigation ahead. Associated Press.

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday announced it would partly reinstate President Donald Trump's controversial travel ban, a decision the White House called a "victory", but one that Hawaii's attorney general is calling a "compromise." Hawaii News Now.

State Attorney General Doug Chin was encouraged that the compromise decision does not block those with direct ties to the US from traveling from those six mostly Muslim countries. KITV.

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Hawaii will soon have less influence in setting national policies that affect everything from commercial fishing to endangered species in nearly 1.5 million square miles of the Pacific Ocean. Gov. David Ige’s administration twice missed deadlines to submit to federal officials a list of names to fill two at-large terms that expire in August on the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council. Civil Beat.

Despite a steady drumbeat of negative news surrounding President Donald Trump and his policies, Republicans in Hawaii remain steadfast in their support for him. Civil Beat.

Matson Inc. sailors and firemen are threatening to strike if they are unable to reach a contract agreement with the company. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

State officials are trying to involuntarily transfer the sheriff’s lieutenant overseeing law enforcement at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, according to two sources with knowledge of the situation. Star-Advertiser.

Newly released records show that Honolulu Police Commissioner Loretta Sheehan was an early target of police chief Louis Kealoha and his wife, Katherine, a city prosecutor, who has described Sheehan as being “racially insensitive.” Civil Beat.

The Navy is extending the public comment period on a proposal to spend $1.2 million to reduce potential exposure to chemicals at a Barbers Point landfill where asbestos and burned waste were dumped between 1942 and 1997. Star-Advertiser.

Ige’s veto could delay stadium plan even further. The bill, which would create the Office of Public-Private Partnerships within the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, was supposed to be part of a bold statement about changing the way the state does some of its business and Aloha Stadium was seen as a showcase example. Star-Advertiser.

Group pushes for closer look at impacts to Haunama Bay, one of Oahu’s top tourist destinations. KHON2.

A Kapolei High School counselor who pleaded guilty to soliciting a minor for prostitution is scheduled to be sentenced in court on Tuesday. Hawaii News Now.

One Man’s Quest To Revive A Forgotten Kalihi Park. Robert Silva has spent two years restoring a taro patch in a small park that was once a gathering spot for Hawaiian royalty. Civil Beat.

Fireworks on the Fourth is a quiet affair in contrast to noisy New Year’s Eve celebrations in Hawaii. With so few buying firecrackers, only one retailer will be selling them for Independence Day celebrations. Star-Advertiser.

A former employee of a company whose subsidiary publishes Hawaii Business, Honolulu Magazine and other periodicals stole more than $3.8 million from her former employer by depositing checks from advertisers into accounts of phony businesses she created, according to a federal grand jury indictment. Star-Advertiser.

Fidelity National Financial Inc., one of the nation’s largest title insurance companies, is the new majority owner of Honolulu-based Title Guaranty. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

A boat tour operator is being accused of unpermitted excavation at Punalu‘u that includes damage to the remnants of a historical pier. Tribune-Herald.

The Ka’u community is in disbelief after managing to prevent a man’s apparently unpermitted effort to create new boat ramp over a historic structure along the shoreline of Punaluu beach. Big Island Video News.

Some Hawaii island residents are outraged after a tour operator apparently started demolition work at a boat ramp along a historic shoreline in Punaluu without permission. KHON2.

Aina Lea Inc., developer of The Villages at Aina Lea, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

More than 5,000 people welcomed Oprah Winfrey to her very first appearance on Maui as she lead a special conversation designed to inspire Hawaiʻi residents – already ranked the healthiest state in the nation by the Gallup-Sharecare Well-Being Index – to lead even healthier, happier, more productive lives. Maui Now.

‘How do you shift the paradigm?’: Oprah Winfrey shares her philosophy for healthy living. Thousands flock to MACC to hear from former talk show host. Maui News.

Maui County officials are looking for historical artifacts that help tell the story of the county's government. KITV.

The county clerk is asking for the public’s assistance to help gather artifacts and materials that tell the history of the County of Maui government. Maui Now.

Kauai

Principal Mahina Anguay and her staff are celebrating Waimea High School’s six-year accreditation following a positive report from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. Garden Island.

Some Kauai lawmakers aren’t surprised Gov. David Ige is thinking about vetoing a bill that will take away lifeguards’ protection against lawsuits who protect state beaches. Garden Island.

Lanai

After rolling layoffs for the last few years during hotel renovations, Lanai residents are enjoying 3.4% unemployment, three points lower than this time last year.  This weekend will be a particularly exciting on Lanai, priming for the July fourth holiday with the Pineapple Festival  on Saturday. Hawaii Public Radio.

'Cool Schools' funds coming from green energy program, legislative leaders see rail as Honolulu's problem, $50M for Maui medical upgrades, Ellison to spend $75M on Lodge at Koele improvements, 3k free Oprah tickets from HSMA, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Gov. Ige visits school, courtesy photo

Gov. David Ige will sign a bill Thursday that pulls one-third of the money from the state’s dormant $150 million green energy loan program to help lower electric bills at Hawaii’s public schools. Star-Advertiser.

Board of Education members expressed frustration Tuesday that the Department of Education has yet to take advantage of a law passed four years ago authorizing development of underused public school lands to pay for campus upgrades. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Board of Education on Tuesday unanimously approved a plan to qualify for federal funding under the Every Student Succeeds Act, the Obama administration law that hands more control to the states for measuring student achievement. Civil Beat.

House Speaker Scott Saiki made it clear. The City of Honolulu is responsible for completing the rail transit project. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii on Tuesday filed a supplemental brief with the U.S. Supreme Court, arguing that a new memo issued by President Trump renders his controversial travel ban both unnecessary and unlawful. Hawaii News Now.

The CEO of Cardax Inc. said the selection  of the company's astaxanthin compound CDX-085 to take part in the National Institute on Aging's anti-aging interventions testing program will have positive implications for the Hawaii-based business. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

FBI probe investigating police chief now zeroing in on city prosecutor, too. Hawaii News Now.

The future of state deputy sheriffs at Honolulu's airport is unclear, but officials said they're committed to trying to work out a new deal. Hawaii News Now.

State transportation leaders say they want deputy sheriffs to keep working at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport — but that they’ll need to reach a new deal with public safety officials in the next six months to accomplish that. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Department of Transportation is speaking out about its decision to release deputy sheriffs from patrols at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport. KHON2.

Renters are the newest group trying to cash in on the profitability of Oahu’s vacation rental market by subleasing all or part of their units to visitors. Star-Advertiser.

A nonprofit organization that runs a state park on Kaneohe Bay is continuing to offer kayak rentals to paying customers of all ages despite being told to stop by the state. Civil Beat.

When enterococci bacteria levels go beyond a safe limit, the State Department of Health puts up signs warning beachgoers of the contamination. But, some environmentalists want an improvement in the warning system. Hawaii News Now.

New water-quality rules will affect developers, contractors, designers, businesses and homeowners planning to file grading or building permit applications, according to city officials. Star-Advertiser.

Authorities are investigating a diesel spill in the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor on Tuesday. Hawaii News Now.

Alexander & Baldwin Inc. is seeking to cut energy consumption at three of its commercial buildings on Oahu through a partnership with energy efficiency company Carbon Lighthouse. Pacific Business News.

The Waikiki Aquarium is looking for marine life enthusiasts to share their passion and knowledge with young keiki. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

A former Kamehameha Schools Hawaii administrator is suing Kamehameha Schools, the trustees of the estate of Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop and one of the school’s senior administrators, alleging she was wrongfully terminated after 23 years of employment. Tribune-Herald.

The Big Island community showed its aloha spirit when it came together to replace stolen swim gear donated to soldiers who train at Kawaihae harbor. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

A health care provider plans to spend more than $50 million on three Maui hospitals in the biggest privatization effort in Hawaii history. Star-Advertiser.

HMSA and Sharecare are giving away 3,000 tickets to see Oprah Winfrey at a “Live Your Best Life” event Monday at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center to promote Sharecare’s health and wellness digital platform. Star-Advertiser.

Maui was ranked number four best places to visit, behind first place New York City, 2nd place Philadelphia, and third place Honolulu on a list compiled by US News and World Report. Maui Now.


Kauai

A mongoose--an unwelcome visitor--was reported on Kauai’s North Shore over the weekend, and it’s triggered an investigation from the Kauai Invasive Species Committee. Garden Island.

Hawaii’s new beach water quality monitoring program will be presented to the public at a meeting at 6 tonight at the state Department of Health Kauai District Health Office conference room. Garden Island.

Kauai Junior Lifeguard program nearly full. Garden Island.

Lanai

Pulama Lanai, the company created by billionaire Larry Ellison to manage his Hawaii operations including two Four Seasons Resorts on Lanai, plans to spend $75 million on an expansion and upgrade of The Lodge at Koele, which has been closed for two and a half years, that will reduce the hotel’s room count and expand its restaurant while adding spa and fitness facilities. Pacific Business News.

Pulama Lanai is seeking approval for a $75 million project to upgrade and “refresh” the nearly 25-acre Lodge at Koele, located northeast of Lanai City on Keomuku Highway. Maui News.

Hawaii population growth slows, contempt motion filed in Native Hawaiian election, Hoopili development approved, rich and famous vacation on Maui, Obama climbs Honolulu trail, corrections officers charged with smuggling drugs, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Awaiting theBus © 2015 All Hawaii News

Hawaii’s population grew by about 11,000 people in 2015 to more than 1.43 million, an increase of a little less than 1 percent. Star-Advertiser.

The Native Hawaiian self-governance campaign run by Na‘i Aupuni came under attack once again Tuesday as foes formally asked the U.S. Supreme Court to block its election end run. Star-Advertiser.

The plaintiffs in Akina v. Hawaii on Tuesday filed a motion for civil contempt at the U.S. Supreme Court, naming Nai Aupuni, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the Native Hawaiian Roll Commission and other defendants. Civil Beat.

Opponents of a now-canceled election are asking the U.S. Supreme Court to stop efforts to send all of the candidates to a convention for Native Hawaiian self-governance. Associated Press.

A definition in the interim administrative rules for medical marijuana dispensaries posted this month could cost Kauai dispensary investors millions of dollars in utility and construction costs. Garden Island.

Commentary: What has it meant to Hawaii, in the last seven years, to be the birthplace of the 44th president? Star-Advertiser.

Some people on the Koko Head Crater Trail got an unexpected thrill Tuesday morning as they met President Obama while on a hike. KHON2.

Oahu

Hawaii’s highest court cleared the way Tuesday for a controversial master-planned Hoopili community with 11,750 homes on 1,526 acres of prime farmland on Oahu’s Ewa plain. Star-Advertiser.

In a 4-1 ruling, the Hawaii Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected a challenge to a state Land Use Commission decision that allowed for the development of more than 1,500 acres of prime farmland on Oahu. Civil Beat.

D.R. Horton - Schuler Homes’ long-planned 11,750-home master-planned Hoopili project in Ewa in West Oahu is moving ahead after the Hawaii State Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Texas developer, saying that the state Land Use Commission properly reclassified the 1,525 acres for the project from agricultural to urban, according to a ruling Tuesday. Pacific Business News.

Rail officials have awarded Nan Inc. — not Watts Constructors — the contract to build the final trio of stations along rail’s first 10 miles, even though Watts had submitted the lowest bid for that work. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation awarded the contract for the Kamehameha Highway Stations group to Nan, Inc. on Tuesday. Pacific Business News.

Five corrections officers -- including two supervisors -- are accused of smuggling drugs and other contraband to inmates at Oahu Community Correctional Center, the state's largest jail, sources told Hawaii News Now.

The University of Hawaii at Manoa’s student-run radio station will install a new transmitter and antenna on Tantalus on Oahu in January. The new equipment will increase the station’s power from 3,000 watts to 7,000 watts and extend its reach to more than 870,000 listeners. Pacific Business News.

A federal jury has concluded the state and its Transportation Department’s airports division discriminated against a former Honolulu International Airport employee by not doing enough to stop her from being sexually harassed by a co-worker. Associated Press.

The owner of Affordable Casket and Moanalua Mortuary was sentenced Tuesday and immediately began serving 30 days in prison for stealing from customers. Hawaii News Now.

The University of Hawaii men's basketball team was put on three years of probation Tuesday by the NCAA after an investigation found former coach Gib Arnold violated ethical conduct rules and provided false or misleading information. Associated Press.

Hawaii

Two of the most problematic county boards and commissions — the Board of Ethics and the Transportation Commission — are finally on their way to being filled following months of missed meetings because of a lack of a quorum. West Hawaii Today.

The number of cases of dengue fever on Hawaii Island continues to climb. Yesterday the Hawaii Department of Health confirmed 170 cases locally acquired since September. Hawaii Public Radio.

Ohia wilt, also known by the more disturbing moniker “rapid ohia death,” so far has claimed hundreds of thousands of Hawaii’s most iconic tree. Today, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources and its state and federal partners are expected to announce a new awareness campaign tasked with spreading the word about ohia wilt and how Hawaii residents can do their part to slow the disease’s spread. Tribune-Herald.

Some holiday traditions on Hawaii Island are being reconsidered in light of a newly identified disease killing mature ʻōhiʻa trees. For example, the annual Native Species Wreath Making Workshop hosted by the Department of Land and Natural Resources on December 19th went ʻōhiʻa-free this year, due to the onset of Rapid Ohia Death, or ROD. Big Island Video News.

Maui

Gov. David Ige's supplemental budget for the 2016 Legislature contains some big ticket items for Maui County, including $29 million for the widening of Hana Highway in Kahului, $8 million for improving a holding room area and gates at Kahului Airport and $4 million for the lengthening of the Lanai Airport runway. Maui News.

Officials are working to get a $6 million project to expand Maui’s only cemetery for veterans back on track before burial space runs out. Associated Press.

The "regulars," Oprah Winfrey and Jennifer Aniston, currently are on the island, based on jets parked at Kahului Airport. Maui News.

With an average daily rate of $412, Wailea had the highest hotel room rate in Hawaii during the Christmas period, a survey from CheapHotels.org said Monday. Maui News.

Kauai

The Young Brothers Community Advisory Board distributed more than $17,000 to eight Kauai nonprofits Monday afternoon at the Nawiliwili Port. Garden Island.

Officials search for hooked monk seal, Hawaiian hawks wounded, Board of Regents bails out athletics department, mulls new UH president, military tests missile, business groups give Legislature good grade, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaiian monk seal with fish hook courtesy NOAA

State conservation officials on Maui are looking for an injured Hawaiian monk seal with a fishhook lodged in its neck. Star-Advertiser.

Two endangered Hawaiian hawks were found wounded on the Big Island after apparently being shot with a pellet gun, and federal wildlife officials want to know who is responsible. Associated Press.
http://hawaiitribune-herald.com/sections/news/state/endangered-hawks-shot-big-island.html

The Missile Defense Agency and US Navy sailors completed a successful test of a missile defense system by destroying a target launched in the Pacific Ocean. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii isn't at the bottom of the list anymore when it comes to voter turnout, according to a new study. West Virginia now occupies that spot. Civil Beat.

Hawaii’s unemployment rate dropped to 4.9 percent in April, the state’s lowest rate since October 2008, officials said Thursday. Associated Press.

State legislators earned some decent grades for the session that ended last week, as much for what they didn’t do as what they passed. Pacific Business News.

Nearly two weeks after University of Hawaii President M.R.C. Greenwood announced she would be retiring in September, the university’s Board of Regents is deciding the best way to go about looking for her successor. Star-Advertiser.

The University of Hawaii Board of Regents spent at least an hour and a half meeting behind closed doors in executive session Thursday afternoon to discuss the departure of UH President MRC Greenwood and efforts to find her successor. And the only thing the Regents' leader could say for sure afterwards was that none of the regents wanted her job. Hawaii News Now.

It was the first meeting since MRC Greenwood announced her retirement, and the first chance for board members to talk about a replacement. It began with a call to look for a good communicator in our own back yard. KITV4.

Hawaii vehicle registrations were up 9.8 percent in the first quarter of the year, besting the 8.7 percent national figure. The forecast of 45,750 sales for the year has brightened from a record annual low of 32,668 vehicle registrations in 2010. Star-Advertiser.

July 1 the Hawaii Public Housing Authority begins enforcing smoking restrictions at its 85 properties. From then on smoking will only be allowed in designated areas. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

The 15-member Board of Regents gave unanimous approval Thursday to plans to retire a $13 million accumulated net deficit, allow the University of Hawaii athletics department to award scholarships to out-of-state athletes based on in-state rates, and receive help from the Manoa chancellor’s office in paying staff salaries. Star-Advertiser.

The University of Hawaii athletic program will have its $13-million dollar accrued deficit absorbed by the Chancellor's office at the end of the fiscal year, June 30, following a unanimous vote by the schools Board of Regents Thursday. Hawaii News Now.

The UH Board of Regents agreed to give the Athletic Department a fresh-start, zeroing out millions in debt after sports lost money for years. But KHON2 found that will not be a one-time cost to the campus — because sports will continue to rely on operational subsidies.

The state tax director assured transit officials Thursday that the city’s rail project, which relies heavily on tax dollars generated on Oahu, will receive its fair share even if the cash does not arrive in steady amounts. Star-Advertiser.

Former Hawaii Gov. Ben Cayetano and other plaintiffs in a federal lawsuit that aims to stop Honolulu’s rail project filed their opening brief in their appeal to 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. It’s 3,785 pages with attachments. Civil Beat.

Questions about a controversial North Shore development have kept Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s campaign chairman from sitting on a city land use board. Civil Beat.

The number of Oahu’s homeless people is growing at a higher rate than last year, and an important metric, the number living on streets instead of shelters, rose 11 percent, according to the latest Homeless Point-in-Time Count. Star-Advertiser.

For as long as we can remember, Chinatown has been notorious for drugs, homelessness and filthy streets. Some claim nothing has changed–and that it never will. But many Downtown merchants and workers say things have gotten markedly worse starting in January of this year, and key government officials are pushing for change. Honolulu Weekly.

Hawaii

Hilo businessman Ken Fujiyama and Ken Direction Corp. have been ordered to pay almost $10.7 million to a North Carolina bank holding a mortgage on the Naniloa Volcanoes Resort. Tribune-Herald.

Locally, 16 of the 34 fatal crashes that resulted in 38 deaths on Hawaii Island roads in 2012 were attributed to alcohol-impaired driving, according to Hawaii Police Department Traffic Services Section Sgt. Robert Pauole. That equates to nearly half — 47 percent — of fatal crashes here having alcohol as a contributing factor. Sen. Josh Green, D-Kona, Ka‘u, said he plans to bring legislation before the 2014 Legislature to reduce the legal limit in Hawaii to 0.05. West Hawaii Today.

Geothermal relocation requests would be limited to existing homeowners under a bill before the Hawaii County Council. The bill, introduced by Puna Councilman Greggor Illagan, would limit eligibility for the program to anyone who owns a home near Puna Geothermal Venture within 90 days of the bill’s adoption. Tribune-Herald.

State Department of Transportation officials are asking the public to write letters to the Federal Highways Administration in support of funding for the last section of the Saddle Road extension. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

As media mogul Oprah Winfrey goes public in her magazine about her thriving Upcountry organic farm, some Maui farmers expressed mixed feelings about her farm's vision and whether they will have to compete with Winfrey's fame and fortune for a place in an already tough agricultural market. Maui News.

Guy Kaulukukui, senior vice president and Hawaii director of Bio-Logical Capital, said the company is "pleased and flattered" to be mentioned in the June edition of O, The Oprah Magazine that offers details about Winfrey's farm on Maui. Maui News.

After three years and an estimated $15 million in funding by a state and federal partnership, almost all the upgrades to Ma'alaea Harbor are in place and operating. Maui Weekly.

The Kalama'ula Homesteaders Association is anticipating a finding of no significant environmental impact for a project to build a new pavilion and restrooms at Kiowea Park, next to Molokai's historic Kapuaiwa Coconut Grove and about a mile west of Kaunakakai. Maui News.

The Maui Solar Summit 2013 will be taking place on Friday, May 24 at the University of Hawaii Maui College campus. Maui Now.

Kauai

Kaua‘i Chief of Police Darryl Perry says that when a dismissed officer is ordered back by arbitration it presents a problem to the department. Garden Island.

Study seeks solutions to Po‘ipu Road woes. Garden Island.

Group sues for Obama Hawaii vacation records, Oprah's Maui garden spotlighted, GMO ban heard in Hawaii County, $5M for rapid transit art, senator gives lobbyist his parking space, teachers withdraw complaint, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Obama with Hawaii troops, courtesy photo

Aloha, U.S. Secret Service - you've been served. About those vacations to Hawaii, we want to know how much they're costing taxpayers. Watchdog Group files lawsuit to obtain records detailing taxpayers’ cost for Obama Family’s Hawaiian vacation. Hawaii Reporter.

The Hawaii State Teachers Association has officially withdrawn its complaint with the Hawaii Labor Relations Board, but it didn’t go as smoothly as Gov. Neil Abercrombie would have liked. Civil Beat.

The Abercrombie administration’s push to modernize the state’s online services is showing results in two agencies that are keys to assuring accountability in government. Civil Beat.

The hottest item on the University of Hawaii Board of Regents’ agenda Thursday will be discussed behind closed doors. Planned talks about the university’s presidency are scheduled for executive session — the part of the meeting when members of the public are asked to leave the room. Civil Beat.

John Radcliffe, one of Hawaii's biggest lobbyists with 30 clients — including the American Chemistry Council, the Hawaii School Bus Association and Corrections Corporation of America — has an "in" that most members of the public don't: Sen. Josh Green lets Radcliffe park in his Senate-assigned stall. Civil Beat.

Two erroneous mailings to 250,000 Quest health insurance members will cost state taxpayers $176,254. Star-Advertiser.

The baggage fees paid to Hawaiian Airlines last year turned out to be the difference between a profit and loss for the state's largest carrier. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Honolulu City officials, with $5 million to spend, formally launched a search Tuesday for artists to create original, Hawaiian-themed works for display along Honolulu's future rail transit line. Star-Advertiser.

Labor costs are rising for the city of Honolulu, putting Mayor Kirk Caldwell at odds with the City Council over whether to cut costs or raise revenues. Civil Beat.

City Council members are saying “thanks, but no thanks” to a Salary Commission recommendation to raise their pay. Star-Advertiser.

State Department of Education  blames consultant for school building slowdown. Hawaii News Now.

City Council members want the Honolulu Police Department to look at the idea of allowing gun owners to obtain firearm registrations and permits at the Kapolei and Kaneohe police substations to reduce long lines. Star-Advertiser.

The Pentagon said Tuesday that shipyard employees, including several thousand workers at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, are excepted from 11 furlough days that other civilian defense employees must take between July 8 and the end of September. Pacific Business News.

Well-known local musician, Weldon Kekauoha, a Grammy-nominated and Na Hoku Hanohano Award-winning musician, says he and his family were discriminated against at a luxury Waikiki hotel. KHON2.

The Hawaiian Humane Society rescued  Tuesday more than 40 purebred Pomeranian puppies and adults from "extremely filthy" living conditions at a longtime breeder's Halawa house. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Hawaii Island residents are likely to see their property taxes rise more than 10 percent this year, but only seven came out Tuesday evening to voice their opinion at the only public hearing on the issue. West Hawaii Today.

Genetic engineering opponents turned out in force Tuesday before the Hawaii County Council to support a bill that could determine the future of agriculture on the Big Island. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park announced Tuesday that it has adopted a finalized plan to protect the park’s ecosystem from damage by non-native ungulates, or hoofed species. Tribune-Herald.

A second former Department of Environmental Management employee pleaded not guilty Tuesday morning to felony and petty misdemeanor charges for allegedly stealing diesel fuel from pumps at the Waimea baseyard. West Hawaii Today.

Work on Queen Kaahumanu Highway isn’t likely to start until September now, Rep. Denny Coffman said Tuesday. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Some Maui residents have gotten a taste of fresh organic produce from a farm started by Oprah Winfrey. Now a broader audience has gotten a taste (visually) of the operation that Winfrey representatives would say little about six months ago. Star-Advertiser.

Oprah Winfrey enlisted Bio-logical Capital's Hawaii operation to create a sustainable farm on some 16 acres of land she owns in Upcountry Maui last summer, and now she's showing off her harvest in next month's issue of O, the Oprah Magazine. Pacific Business News.

While some public high schools in Maui County have seen significant improvements over the past few years in the number of graduates enrolling in a two- or four-year college, most high schools in the county still fall below the state average, according to a recent study. Maui News.

Kauai

Church building sports center for youth, adults. Garden Island.

Kauai Chamber Directory 2013. Garden Island.

Hawaii homeless up 11%, Honolulu City Council to mull beach smoking ban, same-sex marriage foes unseat 16-year lawmaker, tech CEO dies, aquarium fish-taking rules considered, Oprah Winfrey plans Maui organic farm, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Honolulu homeless (c) 2012 All Hawaii News

Some 8,500 people statewide stayed in homeless shelters in the 2011-12 fiscal year, up 11 percent from 2009-10, and their ranks included more of the very young, more senior citizens and more people with at least some college experience, according to a statewide report on homelessness to be released today. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii State Teachers Association is mobilizing its 13,000 members this week to publicly pressure the state to resolve the protracted dispute over their next two-year contract. Civil Beat.

Japan's economy is heading for recession and Hawaii's visitor industry are bracing for the fallout. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii tourism industry promoters are visiting California this week to draw more business and convention travelers to the islands.Associated Press.

The Public Land Development Corporation, formed to spur use of the state’s lands, and in the process create revenue for the state, has seemed to generate nothing but controversy since its mission and broad exemptions from county-level regulations began to be digested last summer. Tribune-Herald.

Veterans charged with non-violent crimes stemming from substance abuse or certain mental conditions, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, will soon be a offered the option of completing a new Veterans Treatment Court, in lieu of sentencing. Civil Beat.

Senator Daniel Akaka has attended every Veteran’s Day ceremony at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific since he was first elected to Congress in 1976. Hawaii Public Radio.

Scientists track spike in Pacific quakes. Hawaii News Now.

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is an expanse of large and small plastic, that's now a constantly floating, ever growing ecosystem created by us. KITV4.

State roundup for November 12. Associated Press.

Oahu

Smoking would be banned at five public beach parks under a bill Honolulu City Council member Stanley Chang will introduced to the Council on Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii is kicking off an $11 million project to modernize a public housing complex in Palolo neighborhood of Honolulu. Associated Press.

Election Day was terrible for Republicans from Niihau to New England, but in Central Oahu at least, two GOP candidates defeated Democrats to win new seats in the Hawaii House of Representatives. Civil Beat.

A proposed hotel and vacation rental project on Kauai's North Shore would ruin iconic views from Hana­lei Bay, a group of opponents argues. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

A Kona attorney who transitioned from county legislative staff to the personal representation of County Council Chairman Dominic Yagong and County Clerk Jamae Kawauchi in a politically charged lawsuit says it’s not a conflict of interest for him to do so. West Hawaii Today.

A program to test space vehicles on Hawaii Island to prepare them for missions to Mars or the moon is coming of age with a new state investment of $2.34 million to develop and expand the project. Star-Advertiser.

Establishing a long-talked-about “white list,” creating a Kaohe Bay fish replenishment area and outlawing scuba spearfishing are just a few of the proposals West Hawaii residents can provide testimony on Dec. 5 in Kona. West Hawaii Today.

Guy Toyama, president and CEO of H2 Technologies Inc. and executive director of Friends of NELHA, the Natural Energy Laboratory Authority of Hawaii, has died. Pacific Business News.

West Hawaii businessman and sustainability and renewable energy advocate Guy Toyama died early Sunday morning at The Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu. He was 42. West Hawaii Today.

Friends and colleagues of entrepreneur Guy Toyama remembered him as a passionate advocate for Hawaii’s technology community with a knack for bringing people together. Star-Advertiser.


Maui

Oprah Winfrey is apparently getting into the organic food business, according to reports by the New York Post stemming from new online filings at the US Patent and Trademark Organization. Maui Now.

Landscape architect and planner Chris Hart, who made an unsuccessful bid for mayor in 2010 and formerly headed two Maui County departments, died early Monday. He was 71. Maui News.

A California-based investment firm is the new owner of a 4-year-old Maui shopping center lost by its developer to foreclosure last year. Star-Advertiser.

A Final Environmental Impact Statement has been filed for the Villages of Leiali’i Affordable Housing development in West Maui. Maui Now.

Maui County is on the cusp of modernizing windward Haleakala's mile-long, 1930s-era, sievelike Waikamoi flume. Maui News.

Kauai

Kaua‘i residents will be faced with two meetings today regarding two developments that may significantly alter the island’s natural beauty, while bringing many jobs to the community. One meeting concerns a proposed development on Hanalei Bay and Hanalei River ridge, and the other concerns a large subdivision across Kealia Beach, on the north end of Kapa‘a. Garden Island.

A brush fire in Hanapepe that forced firefighters to close a portion of Kaumuali‘i Highway burned 30 acres Monday evening before being contained. Garden Island.

Molokai

New Address System Helps Emergency Response. Molokai Dispatch.