Hawaii's quiet holiday, politicians line up for 2020, 2022, contests, Honolulu vacation rental operators strive for deal with city, Kauai ex-police chief sues over termination, Maui councilwoman chided by ethics board, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Statehood Day, photo from Hawaii State Archives

Hawaii hits 6-0 as a state without fanfare. State and local government offices are closed today, and that’s about the only way the 60th anniversary of Hawaii becoming a state will be formally celebrated. Star-Advertiser.

With Hawaii’s primary election less than a year away, some big names begin to campaign. With Hawaii’s next primary election less than a year away and the governor’s office up for grabs in 2022, well-known politicians are thinking about future campaigns. Hawaii News Now.

Gov. David Ige has more than three years left in his second term as governor, but the race to replace him seems to already be taking shape. Two high-profile candidates are already raising money for the election, which takes place in 2022. Hawaii News Now.

A familiar name appears to be eyeing a run for Honolulu mayor in 2020. Former Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa has filed an organizational report for a mayoral candidate committee with the Campaign Spending Commission and has also launched a website. Hawaii News Now.

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Hawaii DOE Releases Revised Data on Student Suspensions. Release of the data comes amid efforts to correct what the DOE says was erroneous counts of students suspensions in the 2015-16 school year. Civil Beat.

Limited Training Options Worsen Hawaii’s Doctor Shortage. Officials estimate the state needs 800 more physicians, but the training pipeline for future doctors would need to expand three-fold to begin filling the gap. Civil Beat.

HMSA, Kaiser earnings rose in second quarter. Hawaii Medical Service Association, with 722,634 members in the quarter that ended June 30, reported a $14.4 million profit, down from $56.8 million a year ago, while Kaiser Permanente Hawaii posted $1.4 million in net income, reversing a $40.4 million year-earlier loss. Star-Advertiser.

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NOAA: ‘The Reefs Weren’t Damaged, They Were Just Gone’. Scientists return from the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument after surveying the underwater aftermath of a major storm last year. Civil Beat.

Hurricane destroyed reefs last year, NOAA finds. Scientists returning from a 22-day expedition to Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument aboard NOAA Ship Rainier on Thursday announced their findings, including the destruction of a significant reef by Hurricane Walaka. Star-Advertiser.

Hurricane Walaka’s legacy: Decimated reefs and invasive algae. Scientists who just completed underwater surveys in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands found significant reef damage caused by Hurricane Walaka last October that could adversely affect Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument for decades. Hawaii News Now.

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TMT law enforcement costs slowly being made public. The Honolulu Police Department spent $162,351 to assist the state’s law enforcement efforts on Mauna Kea where demonstrators have been blocking the road leading up to the construction site of the Thirty Meter Telescope for the past month. Star-Advertiser.

The cost of Honolulu Police sending law enforcement backup to Mauna Kea? Over $160K. The cost covers overtime, airfare, and shipping for vehicles. KITV.

Big Island police incident commander described ‘volatile’ day at Mauna Kea protest. Court documents offer more insight into the tense moments before and after 38 kupuna were arrested in a Thirty Meter Telescope protest at Mauna Kea on July 17. Hawaii News Now.

Decommissioning Mauna Kea Telescopes Not As Easy As Switching Off The Lights . Three of the thirteen telescopes on Mauna Kea are set to be decommissioned before the planned Thirty Meter Telescope is built. Hawaii Public Radio.

The Mauna Kea Management Board on Tuesday approved an action item that would establish commercial tour permittee stargazing areas, equipment storage and laydown areas, and traffic delineation in the mid-level area of the mountain. Big Island Video News.

Oahu

The city and the Kokua Coalition agreed Thursday to work together on a plan to allow so-called 30-day vacation rental operators to continue. The Kokua Coalition, also known as the Hawaii Vacation Rental Owners Association, had requested a temporary restraining order to stop the city from enforcing its new vacation rental ordinance that went into effect Aug. 1. Star-Advertiser.

Settlement progress reported in legal challenges to vacation rental law. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu Rate Commission Weighs $2.75 Rail Fare In Seeking Public Comment. The Honolulu Rate Commission is considering whether rail fares should be lower or higher than a ride on TheBus. Hawaii Public Radio.

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Estate of Hawaii celebrity Jim Nabors goes to auction. Estate Liquidators Hawaii and Oahu Auctions present the Auction for the Estate of Hollywood celebrity Jim Nabors. KHON2.

Memorabilia, collectibles from Jim Nabors’ estate to be auctioned off. Hawaii News Now.

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Owners of Makaha no-kill shelter sentenced. In 2016, the shelter was raided and more than 300 dogs were confiscated by officials with the Hawaiian Humane Society who said the animals were living in deplorable conditions. Star-Advertiser.

Operator of no-kill shelter to serve a year behind bars for animal cruelty. Hawaii News Now.

State scrambles to eradicate population of coqui frogs found on Oahu. In less than two months, 16 coqui frogs have been found in Palolo Valley ― the largest population found on Oahu so far. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Salary Commission nixes big raises. The county Salary Commission on Thursday rejected across-the-board average 6.1% raises for county officials, but settled on a 1.25% cost-of-living adjustment instead.  West Hawaii Today.

Commission grants petition for contested case over Alii Drive development. The Leeward Planning Commission on Thursday granted a petition for standing in a contested case over a 50-unit residential community proposed across from Pahoehoe Beach Park on Alii Drive. West Hawaii Today.

Southwest to begin Hilo service in January. Southwest Airlines will begin offering flights from Hilo early next year, it was announced Thursday. Tribune-Herald.

Expanded Southwest Airlines Service, Including To Hilo, Goes On Sale. Big Island Video News.

Maui

Ethics Board chides Kelly King over biofuel tax comments. Panel: Member who abstains from vote should not be part of discussions. The opinion, approved by the board in a vote Wednesday afternoon, centered on an ethics complaint against King, who as vice president and co-founder of Pacific Biodiesel, spoke in detail about her biofuel production business and the impact of a proposed 12 cent a gallon tax on biodiesel during council discussions in April. Maui News.

Move-in for senior affordable rentals is February. Kahului Lani is now accepting applications for future tenants. Maui News.

Input Sought on Proposed Wailuku Zoning Updates. The Maui Redevelopment Agency is hosting three workshops in August for the public to help shape the next generation of development in Wailuku. Maui Now.

Lanai, Molokai focus of renewable energy projects. Maui Electric Co. has been focusing on Lanai and Molokai renewable energy projects amid Hawaii’s ambitious green energy goal of 100 percent renewable by 2045. Maui News.

Kauai

Former Kauai Police Department Chief Darryl Perry is suing the county. He is suing for wrongful termination, defamation and several other claims related to an investigation into his conduct that his lawsuit says was inappropriate and intentionally designed to harass. Garden Island.

Southwest expands flights. Southwest has announced inter-island flights to and from Lihue Airport. Garden Island.

Hawaii still tops in homelessness, new tax chief named, Honolulu police chief admits error in gun confiscation, Kauai council passes GET surcharge, attack siren failures reported, Pearl Harbor remembered, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Homeless sleep on Honolulu sidewalk © 2017 All Hawaii News

Hawaii still leads nation in homeless count per capita. The 7,220 homeless people counted across the islands in January as part of an annual, nationwide homeless census put Hawaii’s rate at 51 homeless people for every 10,000 individuals, the worst of all 50 states, according to a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development report released Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Despite broad concerns, governor says tax system upgrades are on track. The governor says a $60 million project to modernize the tax department's outdated computer systems is moving forward with the right team in place. Hawaii News Now.

Ige appoints new director for troubled state tax department. Gov. David Ige today named Linda Chu Takayama as the new director of the state Department of Taxation in an effort to quickly replace outgoing director Maria Zielinski in what has emerged as a pivotal position in Ige’s administration. Star-Advertiser.

Linda Chu Takayama

Ige appoints new interim director of taxation. Hawaii Gov. David Ige has named Linda Chu Takayama as the new interim director of the state Department of Taxation following Maria Zielinski's sudden resignation on Tuesday. Pacific Business News.

Governor Appoints Linda Chu Takayama as Interim Tax Director. Hawaii Public Radio.

Trump advised to alter Pacific Remote Islands monument. Commercial fishing has been banned for nearly a decade in 490,534 square miles of water around several western Pacific islands and atolls. But that could change based on a recommendation issued Tuesday to President Donald Trump. Star-Advertiser.

Can Voluntourism Offset the Environmental Impacts of Hawaii's Growing Visitor Industry? Most tourists come to Hawaii on vacation for rest and relaxation, but there’s a popular trend in visitors coming to Hawaii to volunteer their time and labor. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Lawmakers Are Used To Hearing About Potential Conflicts Of Interest. Legislators argue there are good reasons to vote even on issues where they may have potential conflicts. Associated Press

Why Hawaii Residents Can’t Build Their Own Private Power Grids. As solar systems and battery storage gain popularity, some say Hawaii’s law needs to catch up with the technology. Civil Beat.

Survivors, families to mark 76th anniversary of Pearl Harbor attack. The crowds will be smaller this year. There will be fewer headlines and cameras and big names. Hawaii News Now.

76th Anniversary of National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. Maui Now.

WWII veterans accomplish final mission. Seventy-six years have passed since the “day of infamy.” The call to “Remember Pearl Harbor” has faded, Hotel Street has faded, and the men like Lauren Bruner and Lou Conter, who were there and fought back, are fading, too. Star-Advertiser.

USS Arizona Survivors take special flight to mark 76th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor attack. KITV.

USS Arizona survivors take aerial tour ahead of Pearl Harbor’s 76th commemoration. KHON2.

How Hawaii airports stack up against the competition for international passengers. Pacific Business News.

Island Air workers unable to access 401(k) funds. The company’s 423 workers, already without their final November paycheck and health insurance, now are being shut out from accessing their 401(k) retirement funds — some of which have been deposited in the wrong account. Star-Advertiser.

Following report, judge in Kamehameha Schools sex abuse case recuses herself. Hawaii News Now.

Commentary: Preparing For Hawaii’s Next Constitutional Convention Vote. A referendum is set for Nov. 6, 2018, but now is the time to begin the discussion. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Emergency Leader Concerned Siren Was Hard To Hear In Waikiki. Beachgoers hardly noticed the alarm, which also was hard to hear in some other areas. Associated Press.

HPD in error over cannabis patients with guns, chief says. Honolulu police Chief Susan Ballard said her department’s controversial policy requiring medical marijuana patients to relinquish their guns was wrong. Star-Advertiser.

Council Gives Preliminary OK To Changing How Police Panel Selected. The resolution would allow the City Council to select three members of the seven-member commission. Civil Beat.

Council OKs measures trying to rein in ‘monster’ homes. The Honolulu City Council approved legislation Wednesday that directs the Department of Planning and Permitting to come up with stiffer regulations on large-scale houses and renewed an effort to impose a moratorium on building permits for such structures until new rules are in place. Star-Advertiser.

Council gives OK to Keeaumoku condo tower project. The developers of the Hawaii City Plaza condominium tower in the Keeaumoku area have been given the go-ahead by the Honolulu City Council, despite lingering ill feelings toward the developers by some Council members and concerns by community members that the approval was rushed. Star-Advertiser.

Proposed High Rise With ‘Poor Door’ Stalls At City Council. Councilwoman Kymberly Pine said the developer needs to address concerns about a planned separate entrance to the lower-cost rental units. Civil Beat.

Hawaii health officials have issued an advisory telling people not to eat fish or shellfish caught in the Kaneohe Marine Corps Base Hawaii fuel pier and marina area due to unsafe levels of contaminants. Associated Press.

Crews Are Close to Finally Ridding Waikiki Of The Pacific Paradise. The Coast Guard says the cost of salvaging the wrecked vessel has already exceeded $1 million. Civil Beat.

The state attorney general says no criminal charges will be filed for now in the case of a toddler who was assaulted in a babysitter's care. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu home prices continued their mostly slow and steady rise this year, notching 3 percent gains in November. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu home sales post double-digit increases as prices rise. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

State adding more sirens to alert Big Island about emergencies. The state is adding 17 new Big Island sirens to its system of emergency alerts as it works to fill gaps in a program designed to bolster public preparedness in natural and man-made emergencies. West Hawaii Today.

People in Hilo thought they were hearing sirens. It was actually a leaf blower. Hawaii News Now.

The owner of Cloverleaf Dairy is looking to hand his family business over to another company after a deal reached in 2016 fell through. Tribune-Herald.

VIDEO: Hungarian Automated Telescope On Mauna Kea Made Permanent. A request for permanent continuation of the Hungarian Automated Telescope, or HAT, was approved by the Maunakea Management Board on November 28. Big Island Video News.

Maui

LUC members hear testimony backing ‘agrihood’ project. Land Use Commission members heard several hours of testimony Wednesday as part of hearings on proposed state district boundary amendments for the nearly 500-acre Waikapu Country Town project. Maui News.

Letter: County Liquor officials did not prohibit children at event. The county Department of Liquor Control defended its “limited role” in an October fundraiser by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Maui, writing in a letter last week to the club that no liquor laws or rules prevented youths from receiving awards at the event that served alcohol. Maui News.

Infographic: Sewage Spills on Maui. Maui Now.

Kauai

Council OKs tax hike. On Wednesday, the county council approved Bill 2670 to establish a general excise and use tax surcharge. Garden Island.

Officers seize illegal plants from Kalalau Valley. The Kauai Police Department participated in a two-day multi-agency operation this week that led to the removal of 15 coca plants from Kalalau Valley. Garden Island.

Molokai

New emergency sirens will be tested at five Molokai sites between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. today and Friday, the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency said. Maui News.

Northwestern Hawaii Islands eyed for commerce, net neutrality at issue, governor praises Nimitz homeless cleanup, attorney general probes state mental hospital, Kauai’s Na Pali Coast cleared of squatters, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Papahanaumokuakea Northwest Hawaii Islands

Should Papahanaumokuakea Be Open For Business? GOP lawmakers want restrictions lifted on fishing, mining and energy exploration — even though experts say there is no oil and gas there. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Lawmakers Call on FCC to Protect Net Neutrality. Hawaii lawmakers are among those voicing concerns with the Federal Communications Commission’s plan to dismantle landmark net neutrality rules. Maui Now.

Six investigators from the state Attorney General’s Office are looking into how killer Randall Saito escaped from the Hawaii State Hospital in Kaneohe on Nov. 12 and made his way to Maui and then California while officials at the psychiatric hospital waited 10 hours to notify authorities, Gov. David Ige said Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

They're dirty and they know it': Hawaii State Hospital worker speaks out about killer's escape. A Hawaii State Hospital employee is speaking out about the escape of a psychopathic killer from the facility, saying it underscores the need to "clean house."  Hawaii News Now.

One Senator’s Prescription For Making The State Hospital Safer. Officials say they’re already taking steps to make the facility more escape-proof by adding fences and suspending patient privileges. Star-Advertiser.

Another mental patient is on the run from state custody. Prior to the highly publicized Nov. 12 escape of Hawaii State Hospital patient Randall Saito, acquitted of murder by reason of insanity, another patient under Department of Health custody disappeared, and he remains on the run. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Has Fewer Certified Teachers This Year. Board of Education members want state officials to rethink how they plan to recruit and retain new teachers in the long run. Civil Beat.

HECO, University of Hawaii partner to develop new renewable energy tariff. Hawaiian Electric Cos. and the University of Hawaii have joined forces to create a renewable energy initiative that could help the university achieve its net-zero energy goal and bring more renewable energy resources online. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

Massive viaduct cleanup complete. It cost the state $516,000 to remove 180 homeless people, their belongings and trash from below the H-1 freeway viaduct last month in what Gov. David Ige described Tuesday as a “new approach” to addressing homeless encampments on state land. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii DOT

Crews wrap up Nimitz Viaduct clean-up, hauling out 4M pounds of trash. After nearly a month, the state says it's wrapped up a massive clean-up of entrenched homeless encampments under the Nimitz Viaduct. Hawaii News Now.

Gov. Ige: Clean-up of homeless camp on Nimitz Hwy. complete. Gov. David Ige announced Tuesday that a clean-up of a massive homeless encampment under the Airport Viaduct on Nimitz Highway is complete. KITV.

State promises regular enforcement to keep homeless out of restricted areas. The state is touting significant progress in keeping the homeless out of public areas, saying the pieces are in place to enforce the law. KHON2.

Kahauiki Plantation-Style Village: Jobs First. Hawai’i’s first public-private rental housing project for homeless families should be completed in 2 months. Hawaii Public Radio.

Advocates in 'race' to keep pimps from preying on homeless teens. Youth outreach experts in Waikiki are battling the clock to reach homeless teenage girls before they fall into prostitution as a way to survive. Hawaii News Now.

20 arrested as police raid suspected game rooms in Punchbowl area. Honolulu police conducted a crack-down on illegal gambling operations in a Punchbowl neighborhood on Saturday, arresting at least 20 people for various warrants and gambling-related offenses. Hawaii News Now.

Former city worker gets jail and probation in sex assault. Fired city parks groundskeeper Harold Villanueva Jr. insisted at his sentencing in state court for misdemeanor sexual assault Tuesday that he did not grab the victim’s buttock. Star-Advertiser.

City asks governor to hold off on Airbnb tax deal. Mayor Kirk Caldwell said the city reached out to the governor, to ask that he not rush into any deal with Airbnb, to collect taxes until the city can come up with a possible enforcement fix. KITV.

Hughes Corp. sues over alleged deficiencies in Waiea tower. As the first residential tower in a proclaimed model 21st-century urban Honolulu community, the ultraluxury Waiea high-rise was supposed to be a showcase for Ward Village. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu solar permits declined 16% in October. In October, the city Department of Planning and Permitting issued 307 permits for solar electric systems, down from 367 in the same month last year, a drop of 16 percent. Star-Advertiser.

Three-bedroom homes on Oahu accounted for nearly half of all single-family home sales so far this year, and more than a third of those three-bedroom homes sold in 2017 were bid up over asking price, an increase of 8 percent from last year, according to a mid-month report by Locations. Pacific Business News.

Demand high for three-bedroom homes on Oahu. Hawaii's housing market remains hot especially for three-bedroom homes. KITV.

Ward Warehouse’s demolition yields a trove of materials for reuse. Storefront doors, restaurant kitchen sinks, light fixtures, railings and maybe even a worn trolley car from inside the former Old Spaghetti Factory are among items being salvaged by Re-Use Hawaii, a nonprofit that recycles construction materials. Star-Advertiser.

Shuttered Snappers seeks protection from creditors. A more than 25-year-old Waikiki sports bar that had been trying to deal with disruptive sewer and storm drain flooding along with a federal sexual harassment lawsuit has filed for bankruptcy after closing two weeks ago. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

New 3rd Circuit Court Judge Robert Kim sworn in; heavy caseload ahead. New 3rd Circuit Court Judge Robert D.S. Kim won’t spend his first day meeting co-workers, mingling and filling out HR paperwork — quite the opposite. West Hawaii Today.

Company to expand amphibious tours. Big Island Duck Adventures, a Kailua-Kona company, considers adding more tours on the windward side. Tribune-Herald.

Reporter to be honored for breaking story about former Mayor Billy Kenoi.  West Hawaii Today government reporter Nancy Cook Lauer is being honored for her work in breaking the story of former Mayor Billy Kenoi’s misuse of a county-issued credit card, known as a pCard. Associated Press.

Maui

The Maui Police Department is conducting a citizen survey to evaluate the public’s attitudes and opinions pertaining to the level of law enforcement services currently provided. Maui Now.

Flood-ravaged Iao Valley to finally reopen Wednesday. Just more than a year after major flooding wreaked havoc on parts of the Iao Valley State Monument on Maui, state officials say the park is set to reopen on Wednesday – nearly a month ahead of schedule. Hawaii News Now.

Man accused of harassing interracial teen couple. Two teenagers testified they were “shaken” and “scared” when a stranger used a racial slur and yelled at them while they were waiting for food at a Pukalani restaurant earlier this year. Maui News.

Kauai

Sweeps show improvement in Kauai’s Kalalau Valley. During their latest sweep of Kauai’s Kalalau Valley, state conservation officers cited three campers without permits, dismantled a squatter camp and spotted a handful of illegal camps hidden in the forest. Star-Advertiser.

State’s consistent enforcement cleans up Kalalau. Fewer people are squatting in Kauai’s Na Pali Coast State Wilderness Park than there were a few months ago. Garden Island.

Beach, trail cleanups set Saturday. Surfrider Foundation Kauai Chapter and B*RAD Foundation are hosting a cleanup at Donkey Beach, north of Kapaa. Garden Island.

Molokai

Over the next week the voyaging canoe Hokulea is in Molokai as part of its "Mahalo Hawaii" sail. KITV.

Tropical crops valued at $7.5M, Trump coming to Hawaii, many Big Island sex offenders don't register, Maui top U.S. fall travel destination, nursing home inspections lagging, Papahanaomokuakea coral thriving, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Tropical fruit at Hilo Farmers Market © 2017 All Hawaii News

Tropical crops reaped $7.5M for isle farmers, survey finds. For the first time in nine years, the Hawaii field office of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service conducted a survey of tropical crop growers statewide. Star-Advertiser.

The farm gate value for Hawaii’s tropical fruit and specialty crops is estimated at $7.5 million, according to new federal data for the year 2016. All told, 4.4 million pounds of tropical crops were produced in the state last year, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Garden Island.

The state last year failed to meet more than half of the federal performance standards for inspections of nursing homes and other health care facilities, continuing a history of poor marks that patient advocates say could signal worsening care. Star-Advertiser.

The state agency charged with providing homesteads for Native Hawaiians produced no new housing units during the year that ended June 30, and closed out the fiscal year with $30 million in unspent federal housing funds. Star-Advertiser.

Airport authority trying again for self-control. Representatives from local airlines and the state Department of Transportation continue to support legislation that would move the state’s 15 airports out from under the DOT and into its own governing body, the proposed Hawaii airport corporation. West Hawaii Today.

The Disturbing State Of Mental Health Care In Hawaii’s Prisons. Despite gains made under Justice Department oversight, care of mentally ill inmates has slipped to troubling levels in recent years. Civil Beat.

Hawaii’s new schools superintendent will face an evaluation process that aims to be more fluid and include more input from both education administrators and members of the public. Civil Beat.

President Donald Trump is scheduled to stop in Hawaii during an upcoming trip to Asia. The trip is scheduled to last from Nov 3 through Nov. 14. No further details about the Hawaii stop were released. KITV.

Many details of the Republicans’ proposed overhaul of the federal tax code remain murky, but one piece of the plan that emerged last week would eliminate a deduction worth $2 billion for 200,000 Hawaii taxpayers in 2015. Star-Advertiser.

Hurricane Maria left Puerto Rico in the dark — 95 percent of the island remained without power Saturday — and Hawaii’s energy industry is taking notes on how to prepare the state’s energy system to bounce back if a similar storm were to hit. Star-Advertiser.

Scientists on a 24-day expedition to the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands found most of the coral reefs thriving, but documented a distinct shift from a coral-dominated reef to an algae- dominated reef in an area where several hundred meters of coral bleaching was discovered three years ago. Star-Advertiser.

Updates on activities within the Papahanaomokuakea Marine National Monument will be presented at a public meeting on Oct. 12 in Honolulu. Garden Island.

A 17-year study reveals primary cause of reef fish decline in Hawaii. The findings suggest fishing is more detrimental to reef fish populations than pollution or any other human influences. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Failure to spend money in a timely manner cost the city nearly $2.4 million in federal HOME funds, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development told the Caldwell administration in a letter last month. Star-Advertiser.

Motorists in Kailua can expect to see major slow downs this week as the city begins construction on a new traffic project. On Monday, crews will start reconstructing a busy intersection into a roundabout design. Hawaii News Now.

Watchdog group wants to reconfigure Kapiolani Park trustees. Commercial activity growth in Kapiolani Park is one of the reasons the nonprofit watchdog Kapiolani Park Preservation Society is taking on the city again. Star-Advertiser.

Three guards at Hawaii's largest jail suffered facial and head injuries Saturday night after being attacked by a mob of inmates. Hawaii News Now.

Inmates attacked several staffers at the Oahu Community Correctional Center Saturday night. KHON2.

Noa Botanicals, one of Oahu’s two certified medical marijuana dispensaries, held an open house on Friday. The public was invited to tour the 6,000 square foot space, located at 1308 Young St., before it houses cannabis products. Pacific Business News.

New online archive spans 177 years of isle newspapers. Thanks to a new partnership between the Honolulu Star-Advertiser and Newspapers.com, readers can now access a fully searchable online archive of the Honolulu newspapers The Polynesian, The Pacific Commercial Advertiser, The Daily Bulletin, The Hawaiian Star, The Evening Bulletin, the Honolulu Star-Bulletin, The Honolulu Advertiser and the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Almost 1 in 5 Big Island sex offenders is noncompliant with state sex offender registry requirements. As of Sept. 11, 73 of 402 “covered offenders” — those required to register — weren’t in compliance with the state’s registry law, according to figures from the Department of the Attorney General’s Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center. Tribune-Herald.

Proponents of sex offender registries cite public protection and deterrence of repeat sex offenses as justification for sex offender registries that publish the offenders’ names, photographs, home addresses and information about their past convictions. But an Aug. 31 ruling by a federal judge in Denver could, at some point, have implications for how state sex offender registries operate nationwide. Tribune-Herald.

Starting Monday, the 3rd Circuit will fully implement a new procedure that allows criminal defendants who have not been proven guilty to appear unrestrained in court. West Hawaii Today.

If Council Chairwoman Valerie Poindexter has her way, Hawaii County will be the third county in the state to send a non-binding resolution to the state Legislature asking that body to also be governed by the state Sunshine Law, requiring open meetings. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii County has big plans for its mass transit system, and it’s time for the public to weigh in. The county has scheduled its first series of public meetings to get input on how best to implement an overhaul that includes a “hub and spoke” design for the Hele-On bus system. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Maui was rated the most popular domestic destination for Fall travel bookings and beyond, according to the 2017 Fall Travel Trends Survey released by Travel Leaders Group. Maui Now.

Second medical marijuana dispensary opens on Maui. Pono Life Sciences Maui LLC opened its dispensary for appointments after receiving state approval Friday to begin medical marijuana sales. Star-Advertiser.

Maui’s medical cannabis patients will soon have two options to purchase products after Pono Life Sciences Maui LLC was given the green light by the Hawaii Department of Health to begin selling medical marijuana. Pacific Business News.

Maui police responded to 811 Front Street in Lahaina on Friday, Sept. 29, 2017, at approximately 10p.m., in response to witnesses who reported that two males approached a monk seal that was sleeping on the shoreline south of the address and attempted to push it back into the water. Maui Now.

Maui police are investigating an incident involving a Hawaiian monk seal. The seals are endangered and protected by federal and state laws. KHON2.

Kauai

No takers for federal funds for cesspool upgrades in Hanalei. Little interest shown in financial program to upgrade cesspools, septic tanks in Hanalei. Garden Island.

Homeless in Lihue police themselves. No solutions reached at county homeless meeting, although all agree action is needed. Garden Island.

Sterilization clinic exceeds expectations. Animal Balance clinic sterilized 657 animals in six days. Garden Island.

Papahanaumokuakea spared in Trump cuts; study recommends sugary drink, 'sin' taxes to balance budget; a few leave voter rolls after Trump commission data request; $1.4M for Honolulu electric buses; Kauai protestors stop Hanalei gate, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Papahanaumokuakea Marine Monument, PC: NOAA

Papahanaumokuakea Marine Monument spared from Trump cuts. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke is recommending that two marine national monuments in the Pacific and four other national monuments be reduced in size. Star-Advertiser.

Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke has recommended that President Trump modify 10 national monuments created by his immediate predecessors, including shrinking the boundaries of at least four western sites, according to a copy of the report obtained by The Washington Post.

Higher liquor, tobacco and marijuana taxes, fees on sugary drinks among proposals. A consultant hired to study the Hawaii tax code is recommending a potentially controversial package of tax cuts and increases as a way of rebalancing the state tax system and potentially raising hundreds of millions of extra tax dollars for the state. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii voters aren’t leaving the rolls in droves over the prospect of some of their information being sent to a commission impaneled by President Donald Trump, but there have been a few. West Hawaii Today.

Helping Those Who Help Their Kupuna: State Aid Program Takes Shape. The Legislature approved a $600,000 effort to help people who give up their time, work and financial security to help relatives. Civil Beat.

The recent hurricanes in Texas, the Caribbean and Florida are a reminder of just how vulnerable Hawaii is to disaster. That includes the islands’ food supply. Last year Governor David Ige called for a doubling of food production in the Islands by 2020. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz is one of the few congressional Democrats who broken from a consensus in the party to hold fire on climate change politics while hurricane victims in Florida and Texas recover. Star-Advertiser.

Another Growing Threat To Hawaii’s Coral Reefs: Invasive Algae. Several years ago, the state stopped the infestation of leather mudweed by pulling up 3 million pounds of the algae. Now it’s back. Civil Beat.

Scientists are asking the public for help tracking green sea turtles as they return to Hawaiian islands after their nesting season. Associated Press.

Shipping companies’ expansion in isles could go bust for some. A glut could result if the company, TOTE Inc., executes its plan to haul containers on four new ships while two existing carriers, Matson Inc. and Pasha Hawaii, maintain or increase their fleets. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Airlines, one of the state’s largest private employers with a workforce of about 6,500, is increasing its ranks by 300 as part of a major expansion. Star-Advertiser.

Travelers will now have more options when heading to New Zealand. Hawaiian Airlines is expanding its weekly service to Auckland in response to high demand for the 5-year-old route. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Honolulu will receive more than $1.4 million in federal funds for electric buses in an effort to reduce carbon pollution, U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz announced Monday. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation spokesman Bill Brennan said that the local rail agency sent its complete “recovery plan” to the FTA’s Washington, D.C., and San Francisco offices late in the afternoon on Friday, the latest deadline to submit that report. Star-Advertiser.

Final approval for a major expansion of the city’s Honouliuli Wastewater Treatment Plant in Ewa now rests with the state Land Use Commission. Star-Advertiser.

Proposal advancing to form dedicated group to oversee traffic, ease congestion in Waikiki. KHON2.

Water wagons set up for east Oahu residents as BWS works to fix leak. A transmission line leak in east Oahu is causing low water pressure in Kalama Valley and Queen's Gate. Hawaii News Now.

Low water pressure for some East Honolulu communities due to leaking transmission line. KHON2.

Permanent shutdown of Waialua kitchen foils farmers. Waialua Community Kitchen was forced to shut down in June over what some thought was a correctable permit problem. Star-Advertiser.

Aloha Green Holdings Inc. is changing its name to Aloha Green Apothecary. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

Wait For Drug Treatment On Big Island Can Stretch Months. For those coming out of prison, there are only a handful of residential treatment centers. Civil Beat.

Japan Airlines returns, daily flights resume between Kona, Narita. The airline suspended service to Kona in 2010 as part of a corporate reorganization. West Hawaii Today.

Six NASA-backed research subjects who have been cooped up in a Mars-like habitat on Mauna Loa since January emerged from isolation Sunday. They devoured fresh-picked tropical fruit and fluffy egg strata after eating mostly freeze-dried food while in isolation and some vegetables that they grew during their mission. Associated Press.

Return to Earth: Mars simulation participants leave dome after 8 months. West Hawaii Today.

After eight months sequestered away in a geodesic dome on the slopes of Mauna Loa, the six HI-SEAS crew members “felt the sun and wind on their faces and ate fresh tropical papaya, pineapple and bananas with friends and family,” University of Hawai‘i officials report. Big Island Video News.

Several hula halau are scrambling to find alternate accommodations for Hilo’s Merrie Monarch Festival, now that Hawaii County has ruled out overnight stays in county-owned gyms, citing fire code violations. Star-Advertiser.

Jim Channon, corporate shaman and basis for Hollywood character, dies at 77. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

New documents reveal state system that failed abused boy. Star-Advertiser.

Having affordable rentals, hot showers, a place to do laundry and a resource center are some ideas that around 35 people, some homeless, came up with Saturday as ways to help the homeless population in South Maui. Maui News.

Maui Disposal reported that six tons of materials were collected from Lahaina streets, harbors and beaches from Puamana to the Māla Boat Ramp by over 300 volunteers, including residents and visitors and members of school groups, civic clubs and local businesses. Maui Now.

Four years after Puu Kukui Elementary School opened its doors, its students finally have a playground to play on. Maui News.

Kauai

Residents stop county from erecting gate in Hanalei. Community members stop gate installation at Black Pot Beach Park in Hanalei. Garden Island.

Bacteria levels in Hanalei Bay have spiked again and the state Department of Health has issued another advisory for the bay. Garden Island.

The executive director of Animal Balance is on Kauai for the next week with a team of 16 people — including five veterinarians — to do 600 spay and neuter surgeries in six days. Garden Island.

Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument could be spared, state sued over harbor lights, Lehua rat poison drop commences, special session on rail funding nears, Board of Regents poised to vote on Thirty Meter Telescope resolution, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument map

Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke said he’s recommending that none of 27 national monuments carved from wilderness and ocean and under review by the Trump administration be eliminated. The Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument is on the list for consideration. Associated Press.

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House and Senate negotiators have tentatively agreed on a plan to bail out the city’s rail project by raising hotel room taxes statewide and extending the general excise tax surcharge on Oahu for another three or four years, according to sources familiar with the discussions. Star-Advertiser.

A decision to move forward with a special session to address funding for Honolulu’s rail project could be made Thursday. KHON2.

Saying they are frustrated with the city's failure to talk about new ideas on how to find money for rail, state lawmakers are looking to place tighter reins on money collected to pay for system's project $2.8 billion shortfall. Hawaii News Now.

Could recent plunge in public transportation ridership spell trouble for rail? KHON2.

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Three conservation groups filed suit against the state Wednesday, claiming it has failed to address the harm to imperiled seabirds on Kauai, Maui and Lanai caused by bright lighting at its facilities in violation of the Endangered Species Act. Star-Advertiser.

Conservation groups today filed a lawsuit against the Hawai‘i Department of Transportation for allegedly failing to address injuries and deaths of three species of critically imperiled seabirds.  The lawsuit claims the deaths and injuries are the result of by bright lighting at state-operated airports and harbors on Kauai, Maui and Lanai. Maui Now.

In response to a lawsuit filed by environmental activists over the death of endangered birds, the state Department of Transportation says their facilities don't violate any environmental regulations. Hawaii News Now.

The Hawaii Department of Transportation is facing a lawsuit over lights at its airports and harbors. KHON2.

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The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Wednesday that police officers working off-duty jobs at private events may not qualify for legal protection. Hawaii News Now.

The Hawaii Community Foundation today will bring together more than 200 island nonprofit organizations to prepare for potentially devastating cuts in federal funding under the Trump administration. Star-Advertiser.

State civil defense officials say they are prepared to add air-raid sirens to monthly exercises as early as Nov. 1, but will meet with mayors before setting a date. Tribune-Herald.

The advent of Donald Trump on the national stage has had a galvanizing effect on many Democrats in the country, and none more so than U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono, who is running for re-election in 2018. Civil Beat.

The who’s who of Hawaii’s medical cannabis dispensary program will be meeting today. The Medical Cannabis Working Group has been meeting every month for the past year. This will be the first meeting since dispensaries have opened. Hawaii Public Radio.

During a hearing at the state Capitol Wednesday, Department of Health officials weren't able to provide lawmakers with a clear timeline for the certification of medical marijuana testing labs. Hawaii News Now.

Pasha Hawaii has ordered the construction of two new ships that will join its Hawaii-Mainland trade lane. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

Building several hundred affordable rental apartments on state land in the Liliha- Palama area is now likely 15 months or more away from getting started, pushing back construction from what had been an anticipated start late last year. Star-Advertiser.

Kunia Village, an affordable rental housing development reserved for farmers and their families making less than 60 percent of the area median income, has been completed. Pacific Business News.

The city could start cracking down on sleeping along Oahu streams. After an increase in homeless along our waterways, a bill to block this type of illegal camping advances at the Honolulu city Council. KITV.

Oahu’s Cheapest Source Of Power Is About To Go Away. How HECO plans to replace that electricity for Oahu customers is still unknown but Hawaii’s last coal-fired power plant intends to shut down in just five years. Civil Beat.

The Caldwell administration is considering switching back to a call-in, by-appointment-only system for bulky item trash pickup on Oahu, Environmental Services Director Lori Kahikina said Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Valuable crime fighting tool credited for a decrease in crime in Oahu neighborhood. KHON2.

Hawaiian Airlines and the Honolulu International Airport have each scored top spots in a new ranking by free travel service RewardExpert. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

With the Thirty Meter Telescope project nearing a key regulatory hurdle, the University of Hawaii Board of Regents is expected to reassert its commitment to the stewardship of the Mauna Kea summit in a resolution on the board’s agenda today. Star-Advertiser.

A foam food container ban will be back on the table next month, following a unanimous endorsement by the county Environmental Management Commission. West Hawaii Today.

Amazon.com Inc. said it has no intention of pulling the Kindle online book series “Peter Boy: Hawaii’s Most Notorious Case of Child Abuse and Murder” from its website. Tribune-Herald.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustees unanimously approved the Wao Kele o Puna Comprehensive Management Plan during a Resource Management Committee meeting on Oahu Wednesday. Big Island Video News.

The University of Hawaii at Hilo’s efforts to draw more students to its Hale Alahonua residence hall appear to be paying off. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Agricultural shipments from Kahului Harbor were down 40 percent in the second quarter with interisland shipper Young Brothers blaming the closing of Maui’s oldest and largest farming cooperative at the end of June for the severe drop-off. Maui News.

With talk of the impeachment of President Donald Trump stirring on Capitol Hill, Hawaii U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz addressed the possibility of the president’s removal from the White House a couple of times Tuesday during a town hall meeting before a mostly progressive crowd of about 150. Maui News.

Maui Family Support Services will receive $1.3 million for its Early Head Start program, U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz announced last month. Maui News.

The University of Hawaii Maui College registered a slight uptick in enrollment as it began the fall semester Monday with 3,318 students enrolled, up from 3,298 a year ago. Maui News.

Kauai

The state proceeded Wednesday with the first of three rodenticide bait drops in the latest effort to eradicate rats on a tiny island off Niihau. Star-Advertiser.

The clouds cleared around Kauai and Niihau Wednesday morning and the Lehua Island restoration project began. Garden Island.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources began aerial application of rodenticide today in an attempt to control the rat population at Lehua Island, an area managed as a State Seabird Sanctuary. Maui Now.

Molokai

Molokai Planning Commission Chairman Rob Stephenson said Tuesday that he hasn’t made a decision yet on how he’ll respond to the calls for him to step down from his post. Maui News.

Building a new police station in Kaunakakai, capping vacation rentals on Molokai’s east end and finding ways to ease tax burdens on kuleana land owners are just some of the goals for Molokai as the island’s updated community plan nears completion. Maui News.

Federal appeals court panel hears Hawaii's travel ban lawsuit, bill gives Hawaii unions more power, Hawaii insurer benefits from Obamacare battle, homeless count questioned, mumps hits 16-year high, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Albatross at Papahanaumokuakea, courtesy NOAA

The Trump administration’s review process for 29 national monuments, including the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, is sparking some outrage during the public comment period. Civil Beat.

An executive order signed by President Donald Trump directs Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke to review 27 national monuments established or expanded by three other presidents since 1996. Associated Press.

An attorney for Hawaii told a federal appeals court Monday that President Donald Trump’s revised travel ban on citizens from six predominantly Muslim countries amounts to establishing Islam as a disfavored religion. Star-Advertiser.

The Trump administration faced tough questioning from a panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the second time in four months as it defended its revised executive order on immigration. A 9th Circuit Court of Appeals panel Monday heard arguments in Hawaii’s lawsuit to block key parts of the executive order restricting travel and immigration from countries. Civil Beat.

Trump confident travel ban is lawful. Associated Press.

Did Hawaii Lawmakers Just Give Public Worker Unions Too Much Power? Government officials fear a bill sitting on Gov. Ige’s desk will strip them of their ability to tell their employees what to do without union interference. Civil Beat.

The state launched a public hearing schedule today to determine the feasibility of growing industrial hemp in Hawai’i. Hawaii Public Radio.

The state has taken $10 million away from a successful energy program -- Hawaii Energy -- to give it to a failing one-- Green Energy Market Securitization. Star-Advertiser.

The Supreme Court has turned away challenges to open primaries in Hawaii and Montana that allow voters to take part in party primary elections regardless of their political affiliations. Star-Advertiser.

Obamacare hasn’t been repealed and replaced yet under the administration of President Donald Trump, but the suspension of an Affordable Care Act fee for insurers greatly benefited the state’s largest health insurer, Hawaii Medical Service Association. Star-Advertiser.

The number of people infected during the current mumps outbreak in Hawaii jumped to 39 Monday with the confirmation of eight new cases on Oahu and another on Kauai. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawai‘i State Department of Health today confirmed nine additional cases of mumps in Hawai‘i residents, bringing the total number of cases in 2017 to 39. Maui Now.

Kamehameha Schools graduates and teachers are criticizing a list of finalists for a $165,000-a-year trustee position that includes the names of two individuals without any Hawaiian heritage. Hawaii News Now.

Following the bloodiest World War II battle of the Pacific at Okinawa, the United States brought some 3,000 prisoners of war to Hawaii, where they were held in detention camps between July 1945 and December 1946. Early next month those POW days will be formally remembered when a delegation from Okinawa, led by a pair of elderly camp survivors, returns to Hawaii to retrace their steps. Star-Advertiser.

The U.S. Department of Defense on Monday awarded contracts totaling $129 million to several companies for various medically related administrative and programmatic support services across the country, including Hawaii. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

Looking around the disheveled homeless encampments on Oahu, it’s difficult to reconcile some of the more extraordinary numbers that came out of the latest homeless census last week — specifically, a 29 percent reduction in homelessness in Waikiki and East Honolulu. Star-Advertiser.

48 fallen officers remembered during 'Police Week' in Honolulu. Hawaii News Now.

Why even the state’s smallest fix-its are facing big delays. KHON2.

Planned Parenthood said Monday it will open a new location in Honolulu. Star-Advertiser.

The chimpanzee exhibit at the Honolulu Zoo is closed indefinitely after an ape escaped late Sunday morning. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

The Hawaii County Council will get a crack this week at Mayor Harry Kim’s proposed $491.2 million budget and tax increases that go with it. Tribune-Herald.

The budget proposed by Mayor Harry Kim will add seven new positions to county government. West Hawaii Today.

The hydrologist who studied potential impacts that a development in Kahaluu could have to groundwater said Monday that while the proposed timeshare project could slightly decrease the flow rate of groundwater and slightly increase its salinity, it would also lead to a decrease in the level of unwanted nutrients in the water that discharges at the shoreline. West Hawaii Today.

After years of planning and months of delay, the Hawaii Island Meat Cooperative has started processing local meat at its mobile slaughterhouse unit. Tribune-Herald.

A 36-year-old U.S. solider has died during a training incident on Hawaii island. Star-Advertiser.

University of Hawaii’s John A. Burns School of Medicine announced last week that it plans a residency rotation in obstetrics and gynecology via a partnership with Bay Clinic and Hilo Medical Center, which already hosts primary care medical residency. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii Island landowner and entrepreneur Edmund C. Olson was recognized by the Hawaii Small Business Administration on Monday with a special lifetime award for his work stimulating the state’s economy, protecting the environment and helping train a generation to follow in his footsteps. West Hawaii Today.

The many friends and family of the late State Senator Gilbert Kahele gathered Monday to dedicate “Kahele Point” on the small, oceanfront dock of the Grand Naniloa Hotel on Banyan Drive. Big Island Video News.

Maui

The 39th annual Visitor Industry Charity Walk set a new record for Maui County with events on Maui, Lanai and Molokai bringing in $1,159,053, an increase of $125,670 from last year, the Maui Hotel & Lodging Association announced. Maui News.

Kauai

A recent flurry of activity on social media about illegal goings on in the Kalalau Valley has stirred anti-squatter sentiment on Kauai, and some are calling for a change in the area’s management. Garden Island.

After years of planning and deliberation, Island School’s efforts to reclassify 38.4 acres of land to urban usage could be decided in July. Garden Island.

No evidence tree fungus is here. Garden Island.