Honolulu council to cooperate with mayor after special election, businesses resist new taxes, Big Island rethinks polystyrene ban, Maui officials' raises unlikely, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Col. Brendan Raymond, 25th Infantry Division Artillery Commander ©2019 All Hawaii News

Pohakuloa Training Area showcases live-fire exercises with Schofield Barracks. The bass booms of heavy artillery echoed through the region Sunday morning as plumes of smoke spiraled into the blue skies along the slope of Mauna Loa. West Hawaii Today.

Business leaders resist tax proposals. Lawmakers are considering a package of tax increases and other tax changes in the final weeks of the legislative session that could raise more than $100 million a year to help balance the state budget, but those plans have aroused the ire of major players in the business community. Star-Advertiser.

Airport authority bill once again fails to pass. For the fourth year in a row, a bill that would place authority over the state’s airports in the hands of an independent corporation has failed to pass. Tribune-Herald.

Legislators pushing for electric vehicle chargers. Bills that mandate that EV charging capacity be part of new construction projects or provide developers with incentives for installing more charging stations are under consideration at the Legislature. Star-Advertiser.

Bill to regulate midwives reveals divide. Senate Bill 1033, approved Friday by the Legislature and moved to the governor, licenses midwives and make it illegal for cultural and traditional practitioners to provide midwifery services after 2023. Star-Advertiser.

Where Hawaii Renters Spend Half Their Incomes On Housing. In the state as a whole, people at many income levels who rent — not just low-income residents — face a shortage of rental housing. Civil Beat.

Commentary: Lawmakers must try, try and try again until they forge needed law on vacation rentals. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

After the election: Kobayashi and Caldwell promise to work together more. In the wake of Tommy Waters’ decisive Honolulu City Council win Saturday night, Mayor Kirk Caldwell and Council Chairwoman Ann Kobayashi spoke of the need to set aside politics and work more collaboratively in the coming months. Star-Advertiser.

Waters Wins Honolulu City Council Special Election. The unofficial results show Waters drew 17,491 votes to Trevor Ozawa's 16,487, a margin of 1,004 votes. Hawaii Public Radio.

Waters upsets incumbent Ozawa in a special election for Honolulu City Council. Tommy Waters is now the councilmember-elect for the District 4 seat on the Honolulu City Council. Hawaii News Now.

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HART board chair under federal investigation — but it’s not about the rail project. The FBI is investigating the local electrical workers’ and plumbers’ unions over a $6 million investment in a private company. Hawaii News Now.

Vacation Rentals On Oahu May Face Tough Enforcement And New Limits. Airbnb says bills before the Honolulu City Council could cause economic damage by suddenly removing many tourist rentals from the market. Civil Beat.

Some are worried about the impact homeless encampments have on a learning center for young children. A House Concurrent Resolution urges the state and the city to start a task force, develop strategies and a plan that'll assist those on the streets. KITV.

Hawaii Island

Councilman wants to make more clear what alternatives will be acceptable to polystyrene. Hawaii County’s polystyrene ban could be amended before it goes into effect. Tribune-Herald.

The state Public Utilities Commission, the state consumer advocate and representatives from Hawaii Electric Light Co. were out in force Friday evening for a public hearing on a proposed rate hike. Everyone was at the public hearing, in fact, except for one key component — the public. West Hawaii Today.

UH looks to hold additional hearings on Maunakea rules. The University of Hawaii is requesting a second round of public hearings be held for its draft Maunakea administrative rules after making revisions. Tribune-Herald.

Scrap yard cleanup costs nearly double. The price to clean up the old Kealakehe scrapyard has nearly doubled to $10 million. West Hawaii Today.

Nearly a year later, many eruption evacuees still in search of a permanent home. Of the 626 families who needed help finding a new place to live, only 153 have been able to secure permanent housing. Another 45 families, totaling 156 people, requested plane tickets so they could start over somewhere else. Hawaii News Now.

Is It A Waste Of Time To Complain About Illegal Building Here? Understaffed and saddled with red tape, inspectors have a hard time dealing with issues like a proposed farm complex in Upper Puna that has neighbors upset. Civil Beat.

Maui

3 percent Maui County Council salary hike lacks the votes in Salary Commission. Commission gave administration officials that amount in 2018. Maui News.

Maui Mayor Michael Victorino today announced his commitment to resurrecting Maui County’s longtime water reuse program. The program had been put on hold due to pending litigation involving the Department of Environmental Management’s permitted use of injection wells in West Maui. Maui Now.

The Mayor’s Office of Economic Development recently issued more than $254,000 in grants to various local organizations. Grantees were selected based on their economic impact within Maui County through business and/or the jobs they created or sustained. Maui Now.

New safety questions raised after 2 detainees escape Maui jail through broken door. Two pretrial detainees escaped from the Maui Community Correctional Center early Sunday through a broken door, raising new safety questions about the facility. Hawaii News Now.

Inmate: ‘This is crazy; we going die’. MCCC riot described by those inside Module B. Maui News.

Kauai

DLNR Worker Bought Truck Parts With State Money. The maintenance worker on Kauai faces ethics charges and is expected to be fined $4,500. Civil Beat.

Homeless encampment lies on state DOT land. The Department of Transportation has scheduled an assessment of a homeless encampment on Rice Street for April 17. Garden Island.

Community fears reopening Kuhio Highway will create flood of tourists. The April 14-15, 2018, flood washed out Kuhio Highway, the only route into the small communities of Lumahai, Wainiha and Haena. Since then the road has been opened to local residents but not tourists. Now with repairs almost complete, the state plans to reopen Kuhio Highway to all traffic May 1. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai communities have more miles to go on the road to recovery. Last year’s flooding was Kauai’s worst disaster since Hurricane Iniki struck the island more than 25 years ago. Over 350 homes were destroyed or damaged. A dozen landslides forced the closure of a 2-mile stretch of Kuhio Highway, cutting off the communities of Lumahai, Wainiha and Haena. Star-Advertiser.

U.S. Senate confirms former Hawaii AG as appellate judge, Hawaii to become last state with police standards board, Ige vetoes 8 other bills, Kauai electric co-op generates checks, don't feed the monk seals, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Pohakuloa Quonset huts ©2018 All Hawaii News

The Army plans to demolish nearly 100 World War II-era Quonset huts at Pohakuloa Training Area on Hawaii island — a potential loss of iconic structures that historians are lamenting. Star-Advertiser.

The United States Senate has confirmed former Hawaii Attorney General Mark Bennett to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit by a vote of 72-27. Star-Advertiser.

Former Hawaii attorney general confirmed to US Court of Appeals. The U.S. Senate confirmed President Trump’s nomination of Honolulu attorney Mark J. Bennett Tuesday in a 72-27 vote Tuesday. KHON2.

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Governor Reverses Himself: Hawaii Will Get A Police Standards Board. All four county police chiefs also switched positions on the bill, according to Honolulu Chief Susan Ballard. Civil Beat.

A bill requiring the creation of a statewide law enforcement standards and training board has become law after Gov. David Ige on Tuesday reversed course and decided not to veto it. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. Ige vetoes 8 bills but reverses decision on giving Hawaii a police standards board. KITV.

Gov. Ige vetoes eight bills, allows two to become law without his signature. KHON2.

3 measures will become law without the governor's signature. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige plans to veto legislation that would expand the state’s hotel tax. Associated Press.

Here are the 8 bills vetoed by the governor. Gov. David Ige vetoed eight bills on Tuesday that covered topics from medical marijuana use, enhanced consumer protections and environmental concerns. Hawaii News Now.

Read Gov. David Ige's full veto list here.

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Why Union Support Matters In The Hawaii Governor’s Race. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa has gathered the majority of big labor endorsements, but incumbent Gov. David Ige has the support of teachers. Civil Beat.

Lt. Gov. Doug Chin was endorsed today by the country’s largest federal employee union in his bid for Congress. Star-Advertiser.

RIMPAC Drill Will Use Hospitals Across the State. Big Island Now.

A U.S. judge gave the green light to lawsuits alleging the weed killer Roundup caused cancer Tuesday, allowing expert testimony linking the herbicide to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Garden Island.

A recent study by University of Hawaii at Manoa researchers revealed more information about where rat lungworm has spread — and where it might spread in the future as the climate changes. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaiian Airlines carried a record 1.05 million passengers in June, a 2.9 percent increase over 1.02 million in the year-earlier period. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

State and federal officials are reminding the public not to feed Hawaiian monk seals after several of the critically endangered species were recently spotted near a bay on the Leeward side looking for food. Star-Advertiser.

New signs are posted at the small bay near Kahe Power Plant asking people especially fishermen not to feed the Hawaiian monk seals. KITV.

Waimea Valley will soon close on a 3.75-acre land purchase that will allow the attraction to undertake its first real expansion since emerging from more than a decade of major financial struggles. Star-Advertiser.

Beachgoers at Magic Island warned of water main break, high bacteria levels. Hawaii News Now.

Crews to test water at Magic Island after finding high bacteria in ocean. KITV.

Toyota Motor Corp. launched a Honolulu car-sharing service today that allows customers to use smartphones to unlock and start cars for rent by the hour or day. Bloomberg.

Servco Pacific Inc. in cooperation with Toyota Connected North America launched car-share program Hui on Tuesday. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

Because so much of Hawaii Island geography is designated as lava zones 1 and 2, it doesn’t make sense to bar construction there, Mayor Harry Kim said Tuesday. West Hawaii Today.

Leilani Estates resident Geoffrey Last has been denied FEMA assistance, but his home is uninhabitable, according to a letter from county officials. Big Island Video News.

Lava imperils charter school and destroys endangered plants. Star-Advertiser.

District 7 hopefuls address issues at West Hawaii forum. The race for the Hawaii County Council District 7 seat is one of the 2018 election cycle’s most hotly contested on the Big Island. West Hawaii Today.

A Big Island firefighter accused of lying to a federal grand jury about his relationship with a Honolulu deputy prosecutor in the fraud and corruption case against her and her husband, the former Honolulu police chief, was put on paid leave. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii County firefighters battled an early morning fire inside a 36,000-square-foot recycling company warehouse in Keaau, and finally putting it out after 5 1/2 hours. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

Property owners can now pay their real property taxes online with the County of Maui’s Treasury Division automatic payment program. Maui Now.

Maui Preparatory Academy in Napili is constructing two new campus facilities that will add over 1200 square feet to existing infrastructure and position the school for future growth. Maui Now.

Maui named top island in Hawaii by Travel and Leisure Magazine. For the seventh year in a row, the Valley Isle was voted the top island in Hawaii. KHON2.

The island of Maui has earned honors once again as the No. 1 spot on Travel + Leisure magazine’s list of “Top Islands in Hawaii” in its 2018 World’s Best Awards readers’ survey. Maui Now.


Kauai

All seven candidates for the Kauai Office of the Mayor were on hand Tuesday night at the Kauai Chamber of Commerce Mayor’s Forum at Kauai War Memorial Convention Hall. Garden Island.

With the passage of Bill 2687 the Kauai County Council seems poised to gift millions of dollars of increased property values to a relatively small number of owners located in Lihue along Rice Street with “no strings attached.” Garden Island.

Kauai Island Utility Cooperative will begin issuing $3.2 million in 2017 patronage capital retirement checks to cooperative members next week. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai Island Utility Cooperative will begin issuing $3.2 million in 2017 patronage capital retirement checks to cooperative members next week. Garden Island.

The Kauai County Housing Agency will be accepting applications for its Section 8 program waiting list. KHON2.

The effects of the April flooding continue to be felt on Kauai and will be for the foreseeable future. Hawaii Public Radio.

Molokai

Committee defers action on Molokai short-term rentals. Residents oppose bill that would allow 25 rentals and grandfather existing ones. Maui News.

Lanai

Four Seasons Lanai applies for $5M in building permits for spa, fitness facilities. The spa buildings are part of The Lodge’s long-planned expansion and upgrade that will reduce the hotel’s room count and rebrand it as a destination spa. Pacific Business News.

Lava takes more homes on trek to the sea, Case running for Congress, Hee bows out of gubernatorial race, councilman files ethics charge against Honolulu mayoral staff, more top news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Ed Case and wife Audrey during 2012 campaign ©2018 All Hawaii News

Ed Case Prepares To Enter Hawaii Race For Congress. The former congressman pulled papers to run Monday, the day before the filing deadline. Civil Beat.

Former Hawaii Congressman Ed Case is again vying to serve in the House of Representatives. Hawaii News Now.

Former Congressman Ed Case files papers to run for U.S. House. KHON2.

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Longtime Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustee and former state senator Clayton Hee is pulling out of the governor’s race due to financial considerations but is setting his sights on other political offices. Star-Advertiser.

Clayton Hee Withdraws From Hawaii Governor’s Race. The former state senator will instead seek his former legislative seat or make another bid for lieutenant governor. Civil Beat.

Kaniela Ing Faces More Campaign Finance Questions — This Time From Feds. Already accused of misspending state campaign funds, he now must answer to the Federal Election Commission regarding congressional campaign filings. Civil Beat.

Three landmark bills to combat climate change were signed into law today. Hawaii Public Radio.

Gov. David Ige signs 3 bills combating climate change into law. Star-Advertiser.

The prince and princess of Japan are in Hawaii this week to mark the 150th anniversary of Japanese immigration to the islands. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Honolulu City Councilman Trevor Ozawa has filed an ethics complaint alleging that one of Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s appointees used city resources to give Ozawa’s political rival a boost in the upcoming election. Star-Advertiser.

The Sierra Club of Hawaii criticized the state Department of Health on Thursday for its proposal to allow the Navy up to 20 years to upgrade underground storage tanks at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility. Star-Advertiser.

Audit: Honolulu Parks Could Save Millions By Reducing Potable Water Use. Water usage increased 13 percent over three years, and there are formal plans to install more nonpotable fixtures at city parks. Civil Beat.

Arizona retiree Tom Askland believed so much in the unique design of a proposed tour boat that he invested more than $100,000 in the prototype vessel and the affiliated company created to build, market and sell the concept to customers around the world. Star-Advertiser.

A 20-year-old man arrested for allegedly beating two Japanese tourists in a Kakaako park bathroom is charged with two counts of first-degree assault. Star-Advertiser.

Bikeshare Hawaii, the non-profit behind Honolulu’s Biki bikeshare program announced today it is conducting a nationwide search for a new executive director to replace Lori McCarney. Star-Advertiser.

Jim Leahey, who painted a vivid word picture of Hawaii sports for listeners over 60 years as the state’s most recognizable radio and television broadcaster, confirmed his retirement. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Lava Has Now Destroyed 117 Big Island Homes. New helicopter footage shows lava entering the ocean at Kapoho Bay. Associated Press.

Lava from Kilauea volcano consumed dozens of additional homes and a beloved island destination Monday as the flow filled in Kapoho Bay and destroyed Champagne Ponds. Tribune-Herald.

'No stopping it': Lava claims dozens of homes as it flows to the ocean. Hawaii News Now.

Lava Enters Ocean in Kapoho Bay. Hawaii Public Radio.

Laze Hazard: Ocean Entry Plume at Kapoho Laden with Hydrochloric Acid. Maui Now.

The county’s second highest-ranking official said there are people remaining in Kapoho who have refused to evacuate despite a large lava flow nearby. County Managing Director Wil Okabe said this morning he saw a picture of a guy “still working in his yard.” Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii County Civil Defense continues to coordinate the effort to evacuate, and in some cases rescue, the residents in the lava-inundated area of Kapoho, as Fissure 8 is sending a robust lava channel downslope to the ocean. Big Island Video News.

Two men arrested in unrelated incidents in areas of lower Puna inundated by lava made their initial appearances Monday in Hilo District Court. Tribune-Herald.

Website to centralize Big Island air quality reporting. Hawaii County, Hawaii County Civil Defense, the state Department of Health and the Environmental Protection Agency are working on a website where residents can check levels of sulfur dioxide being measured at air monitoring stations throughout Hawaii island. Star-Advertiser.

Vog continued to blanket West Hawaii on Monday and forecasters say the area is unlikely to see reprieve until Thursday, at the earliest. West Hawaii Today.

Volcano Byproducts Impact Solar Panels. Hawaii Public Radio.

Research says indoor plants improve air quality, combat vog. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park to remain closed. West Hawaii Today.

Geothermal Plant And Its Neighbors Have Clashed For Decades. Lava flows threaten the plant’s destruction along with the property of many who have complained about the facility. Civil Beat.

Military’s Live-Fire Training Ignites Resistance From Some Big Island Neighbors. Pohakuloa Training Area, an Army-controlled site the size of Guam, is the largest U.S. military training ground in the Pacific. Civil Beat.

Maui

A pair of environmental groups filed suit Thursday to block a proposed Kahului sludge farm and power plant. Star-Advertiser.

The Sierra Club Maui Group and Maui Tomorrow are challenging Maui County and Anaergia Services’ proposed sludge farm and power plant along the Kahului shoreline by filing a lawsuit in Maui’s Environmental Court on Thursday. Maui Now.

Maui County has a set of old college dorms in mind for low-income housing. Star-Advertiser.


Kauai

The Kauai County Council approved an operating budget of $218 million for fiscal year 2018-19, while the Capital Improvements Project Budget is set at $40 million. Garden Island.

Concern for many of the issues facing Kauai is why Eleele resident Victoria Franks is running for the Kauai County Council. Garden Island.

Kauai Mayoral candidate Derek Kawakami opened his campaign headquarters on Rice Street on Friday. Garden Island.

Tax hikes for schools, audit sought in $60M state contract failure, Caldwell's State of the City address, Pohakuloa Training Area under fire for pollution, former Kauai mayor running again, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Public school, courtesy Hawaii Department of Education

Constitutional amendment seeks increased taxes for public schools. A plan to ask voters whether the state should create a dedicated funding stream for public schools by taxing investment homes and visitor accommodations is back in play after nearly a month of inaction in the House. Star-Advertiser.

The Senate Ways and Means Committee advanced a measure Tuesday to dramatically cut funding to the Hawaii Tourism Authority, the state agency responsible for marketing Hawaii to the world. Star-Advertiser.

State senators are demanding an audit of the state Tax Department's $60 million computer modernization project. Hawaii News Now.

A project manager who oversaw the $60 million Tax System Modernization project for the state was identified Tuesday as the person who coached an outside consultant on what issues to address and what to say in public reports on the progress of the project. Star-Advertiser.

Mandatory or unconstitutional?: House debates bill that would tax online sales. The House amended a bill Tuesday whose topic of taxing online sales continues to be a big issue at the Capitol — and may even lead to lawsuits from internet companies. Hawaii News Now.

Senate Waters Down Bill To Set Minimum Police Officer Standards. Every state except Hawaii already does so, but a measure that passed the House has been gutted in the Senate. Civil Beat.

Panel supports bill to help Hawaiians keep ancestral land. The bill was introduced after Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg in late 2016 filed lawsuits to identify owners of 14 parcels interspersed within a 700-acre oceanfront estate he owns on Kauai Island. Associated Press.

New push underway to test all students for mental health disorders. Mental health advocates are pushing schools to screen every student for mental health issues. Hawaii News Now.

A bill that would prohibit certain types of restraints and tethers used on animals is moving forward. HB2072 HD2 SD1 just passed the Senate Committee on Ways and Means and will now head to conference committee. KHON2.

Schatz For President In 2020? Don’t Count On It, He Says. Told his name is being “bandied about” as a possible candidate, the Hawaii senator dismissed any notion that he might run. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Reps. Tulsi Gabbard and Colleen Hanabusa introduced bipartisan legislation to strengthen civil defense preparedness in Hawaii and across the country. Garden Island.

Little Agreement Over Toxoplasmosis Solution. The debate largely boils down to one question: should feral cats be eradicated? Hawaii Public Radio.

A $15 Billion Price Tag To Protect Hawaii Highways from Climate Change. As the state braces for sea level rise, vulnerable roads could be moved inland — and tunneled through mountains. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is sponsoring a peace rally today on the 50th anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. Star-Advertiser.

Home prices in Hawaii rose by a smaller percentage than the national average over the past year and Oahu and Maui are among the markets that are considered overvalued, according to the monthly CoreLogic Home Price Index for February. Pacific Business News.

Are there downsides to a low unemployment rate? In Hawaii, which has the United States' lowest jobless rate at a minuscule 2.1 percent, the answer is yes. Associated Press.

Hawaii bankruptcies up 10.5 percent in March. Statewide bankruptcies rose for the second time in three months in March despite continuing signs that the economy remains on strong footing. Star-Advertiser.

A&B finishes mainland real estate sell-off. Alexander & Baldwin Inc. announced Tuesday that it sold its last commercial property on the mainland. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s plan to legalize more vacation rentals but under stricter regulations got mostly lukewarm feedback from a housing advocate and key City Council member, as well as both a supporter and opponent of short-term rentals. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu mayor discusses affordable housing, rail budget in sixth State of the City address. Hawaii News Now.

State of the City: Mayor talks affordable housing, rail funding and short-term vacation rentals. KITV.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell gave his State of the City address on Tuesday night on the grounds of the Neal Blaisdell Center. KHON2.

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Settlement reached after city worker is accused of misusing resources. According to the city's Ethics Commission, the employee did not take appropriate vacation leave when working at a non-city job. KHON2.

Rents in Honolulu steady, or down, two reports say. Renters are paying the same or less for one- and two-bedroom apartments in Honolulu, compared to a year ago, according to reports from Apartment List and Zumper that agree on one thing — rents are not rising in Hawaii’s largest city. Pacific Business News.

Honolulu is looking for a better way to deal with feral chickens after its first attempt at getting a handle on the birds resulted in a cost of $108 per chicken caught and killed. Associated Press.

Iconic Magnum PI house to be demolished. The owner of the 8,900 square-foot Waimanalo mansion, Marty Nesbitt, was purchased for $8.7 million in 2015, but is said to be in disrepair. Hawaii News Now.

Demolition begins for Magnum P.I. home in Waimanalo. KITV.

Hawaii Island

A Circuit Court judge ruled Tuesday that the state Department of Land and Natural Resources failed to “malama aina,” or care for the land, under a lease it has with the U.S. Army at the Pohakuloa Training Area on Hawaii Island. Star-Advertiser.

A Hawaii judge ruled Tuesday that the state has failed to enforce a lease requiring the U.S. military to clean up debris on the Army’s Pohakuloa Training Area on Hawaii Island. Civil Beat.

A Honolulu Circuit Court judge has ruled the state breached its duties to “malama aina” with respect to lands it is leasing to the U.S. Army as part of the Pohakuloa Training Area on Hawaii Island. Tribune-Herald.

Four years after two Hawaiians filed suit against the state for its alleged breach of trust regarding its lease of Pohakuloa lands to the U.S. Army, a circuit court judge has ruled in their favor. Big Island Video News.

Judge orders more oversight at Pohakuloa Training Area. KHON2.

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EnVision Maunakea, a community-based initiative designed to gather a wide range of Hawaii Island perspectives about Maunakea’s future, has released its long-awaited report. Big Island Now.

Senate bill calling for new Mauna Kea management stalls in the House. KITV.

County watching Maui wastewater discharge case. The Hawaii County Environmental Management Commission last week resolved that the county should exceed goals and policies of the federal Clean Water Act regarding wastewater discharge rather than merely comply with the letter of the law. West Hawaii Today.

Kim names Simeon DPW director. Mayor Harry Kim has completed his Cabinet rebuild, following a spate of resignations last fall. West Hawaii Today.

A measure to fund full-time lifeguards at Kua Bay needs to pass its final Senate committee by the end of this week to stay afloat. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The State Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration will hold a public informational meeting for the proposed Paia Relief Route project to address existing traffic congestion along Hana Highway in Paia. Maui Now.

Utility-scale solar projects near the ‘finish line’ but need more time. Lahaina, Kihei projects focused on connection with MECO, Maui grid. Maui News.

Maui Tacos announced plans to expand nationwide, with six new store openings scheduled for 2018 and 12 new stores slated for 2019. Maui Now.

Kauai

Yukimura announces mayoral bid. Councilwoman and former mayor JoAnn Yukimura announced Tuesday she is seeking Kauai’s top elected post. Garden Island.

Former mayor and city council member JoAnn Yukimura has joined the race to become Kauai's next mayor. Hawaii News Now.

Project expected to help meet housing need. The 235 lots planned for Kealia Mauka Homesites are aimed at local families, according to project representatives working on a draft environmental impact statement. Garden Island.

Gov. David Ige issued today an emergency proclamation for Kauai after heavy rains caused a series of landslides onto Kuhio Highway, isolating the communities of Haena and Wainiha near Hanalei. Star-Advertiser.

The governor on Tuesday declared the District of Hanalei a disaster area. Garden Island.

Kauai's Russian Fort Might Be Less Russian Than Believed. Paulaula o Hipo, the site of Fort Elizabeth, the fort built by Russian trading interests in the early 19th century, is best remembered as the setting for the brief alliance between the Russian-American Company and Kauai's High Chief Kaumualii. Hawaii Public Radio.

Thirty Meter Telescope could influence governor's race, Trump travel ban hurts convention business, GET surcharge one hot potato, Arakawa seeks to fire water director, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Crowds at Daniel K. Inouye Honolulu International Airport © 2017 All Hawaii News

State economists have ratcheted up their expectations for Hawaii’s economy on the heels of a stronger-than-expected tourism market, increased air seats and a record-low unemployment rate. Star-Advertiser.

TMT controversy likely to figure in race for governor. Just months after taking office, Gov. David Ige found himself caught in the undertow of the fierce dispute over the Thirty Meter Telescope, a $1.4 billion project with determined supporters and fervent opponents.Star-Advertiser.

Hanabusa says UH had deal to clear way for telescope. U.S. Rep. Colleen Hana­busa said state lawmakers believed they had a “deal” with unnamed community members in 2010 that would clear the way for the Thirty Meter Telescope if the Legislature agreed to fund construction of the College of Hawaiian Language at the University of Hawaii at Hilo. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu City Councilman Ernie Martin is joining the growing field of local political figures who plan to run in the Democratic primary next year for the congressional seat representing urban Honolulu. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu City Councilman Ernie Martin plans to run in the Democratic primary next year for the congressional seat representing urban Honolulu. Associated Press.

Trump travel ban, N. Korean threat erode convention center earnings. Travel ban woes lost the center its bid for the 2025 International Union for Nutritional Science, which went to Paris, and for Women Deliver 2018, which went to Canada, along with an electrical engineering conference slated for 2018 and an international medical association conference that would have come to Hawaii in 2022. Star-Advertiser.

Fight Over Trump Travel Restrictions Back To Appeals Courts. Hawaii’s challenge goes before a three-judge panel in Seattle on Wednesday. Civil Beat.

Democracy In Hawaii Needs A Tuneup — Here Are Some Tools To Do It. Government officials can do more to encourage public participation — and citizens need to stay engaged, conference participants say. Civil Beat.

HSTA Responds to Criticism of Public Unions. The President of the Hawaii State Teachers Association, Corey Rosenlee, responds to a recent interview on The Conversation that made the case for weakening public sector unions. Hawaii Public Radio.

The Last Wild Place. The Northwestern Hawaiian Islands is one of the most remote places on Earth. Now it’s threatened by climate change, pollution and politics. Civil Beat.

Navy, coral, whales topics of Wednesday Oahu meeting. Two councils will be jointly meeting to discuss coral, whales and their ecosystems in Honolulu on Wednesday. Garden Island.

Kamehameha therapist accused of abuse was respected member of society. Star-Advertiser.

UH Graduate Students Say GOP Tax Plan Could Derail Their Education. Many are already financially strapped, and one Republican proposal would increase their tax liability by thousands of dollars. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Public forum to address future of Waikiki beaches. The erosion at Kuhio Beach, made worse by summer’s king tides and elevated sea levels, is the worst it’s been in a decade, said Dolan Eversole, a scientist for the University of Hawaii Sea Grant Program, who coordinates the Waikiki Beach Special District Improvement Association. Star-Advertiser.

Release of 70 rescued shearwaters launches Oahu Seabird Aid Program. The Hawaii Wildlife Center, based in Kapaau on Hawaii island, brought its rescue van to Oahu as part of the pilot, three-week Oahu Seabird Aid Program, which is here until Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

Complications halt attempt to remove grounded boat. The Pacific Paradise is a-bobbing but still not a-budging from the Waikiki reef on which it has been stranded for more than seven weeks. Star-Advertiser.

'Pacific Paradise' isn't moving anytime soon. Coast Guard officials called off removal operations for the grounded fishing boat near Waikiki — yet again — on Sunday. Hawaii News Now.

Grounded fishing boat still stuck off Waikiki beach. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

Time is running out for the County Council to consider a general excise tax surcharge granted by the state Legislature during its special session earlier this year. West Hawaii Today.

Federal regulators will give parts of Pohakuloa Training Area’s radiation monitoring plan another look in response to a petition from a Hawaii Island resident. Tribune-Herald.

With no public hearing scheduled for the U.S. Army Garrison Pohakuloa's draft Integrated Cultural Resources Management Plan, the people decided to hold their own. Big Island Video News.

Big Island Dairy to process its own milk, bypassing Meadow Gold. Hawaii consumers can soon expect to see a new brand of local milk, and for the first time in a long time it will be direct from a major dairy. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii County is looking to acquire land for a wastewater treatment plant in Pahala through eminent domain. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii Island has a greater shortage of infant and toddler care options than anywhere else in the state, according to a report by the University of Hawaii Center on the Family. Tribune-Herald.

The Department of Health confirmed six more cases of mumps in Hawaii County in the past week as the outbreak of the virus continues across the state. West Hawaii Today.

NOAA symposium in West Hawaii creates space where marine science, management converge. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

County Department of Water Supply workers and members of the community urged Maui County Council members to retain Water Director Dave Taylor, despite Mayor Alan Arakawa calling for his ouster. Maui News.

Tour of East Maui Irrigation ditch system draws just 1 commissioner. Seven-member state panel will decide how much water to restore to taro farmers, residents after the closing of Maui’s sugar plantation. Maui News.

Na Wai Eha stream flow standards proposed. Exceptions to hearings officer’s report for Maui rivers due Jan. 5 to the state water commission. Maui News.

Kahului Elementary School students will be returning to school Monday with needed repairs completed and temporary arrangements made to accommodate the 137 students displaced by a suspicious fire that damaged six classrooms Nov. 24. Maui News.

Kahului Elementary School students to return Monday. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

Hawaii’s Marijuana Scene Takes Center Stage At Kauai Conference. Politicians and industry reps attend the event in Poipu, where visitors wonder why the islands haven’t legalized recreational use. Civil Beat.

Mayoral candidates attend trade expo. The three current candidates for Kauai mayor — Derek Kawakami, Lenny Rapozo and Mel Rapozo — will be guest speakers at the Kauai Board of Realtor’s annual Christmas meeting on Thursday at the Kauai Marriott Beach and Resort Club. Garden Island.

Hawaii Supreme Court nixes back pay for substitute teachers, marijuana dispensaries lose insurer, Don Quijote Group buying Times Supermarket, House committee saves Kauai missile testing, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Supreme Court

The Hawaii Supreme Court has ruled that several thousand public school substitute teachers are not entitled to millions of dollars in back wages and interest that a lower court had previously awarded. Star-Advertiser.

In a unanimous decision, the Hawaii Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that substitute and part-time teachers who worked in Hawaii between 2000 and 2012 were not entitled to the $56 million in back pay and interest that they were seeking. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled that public school substitute and part-time teachers are not entitled to back wages or interest on back wages for alleged underpayment by the state over a 12-year period. Pacific Business News.

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Hawaii’s medical marijuana dispensaries are facing another hurdle after the state’s largest workers’ compensation provider decided to drop their insurance policies. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Employers’ Mutual Insurance Co., the state's largest workers' compensation insurer, said Wednesday that it sent a 30-day policy cancellation notice to seven medical marijuana dispensaries following a “thorough legal evaluation of state and federal law regarding the production and sale of medical marijuana in the state of Hawaii.” Pacific Business News.

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Hawaii-based Times Supermarkets is being sold to the Don Quijote Group for an undisclosed price. The 24 supermarkets include 17 Times Supermarket stores on Oahu, Maui and Kauai; five Big Save Markets on Kauai, and Shima’s Supermarket and Fujioka’s Wine Times on Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

Don Quijote Holdings Co. Ltd on Wednesday said that an affiliate has executed a stock purchase agreement to acquire Hawaii-based Times Supermarkets. Pacific Business News.

The Don Quijote Group will buy Times Supermarkets and its affiliated grocery stores in Hawaii, the companies announced Wednesday. Hawaii News Now.

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Hawaii managed to hold onto one of the two at-large seats it has historically held on the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council thanks to the governor of the Northern Mariana Islands nominating someone from the Aloha State. Civil Beat.

AARP Hawaii is conducting Caregiver Workshops throughout the state this summer. Hawaii Public Radio.

Malaysian carrier AirAsia X began its maiden U.S. service between Kuala Lumpur and Honolulu on Wednesday, ushering in a connection between Hawaii and Southeast Asia that has the potential to add millions of dollars to Hawaii’s tourism economy. Star-Advertiser.

Scientists, including Tina Weatherby with the University of Hawaii at Manoa School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, published a study wherein they reconstructed the skin of endangered green turtles, marking the first time that skin of a non-mammal was successfully engineered in a laboratory. Garden Island.

Oahu

Mayor Kirk Caldwell signed into law a bill that will increase the vehicle weight tax from 5 cents a pound, to 6 cents next year, and 7 cents in 2019. KHON2.

City officials said they hope the computer problems that have shut down motor vehicle registration and driver’s licensing operations in all four Hawaii counties since Monday can be fixed by Friday. Star-Advertiser.

Experts advise major changes for TheHandi-Van with demand, costs both soaring. KHON2.

A California development firm’s newest attempt at subdividing Oahu’s historic Dillingham Ranch ran into community resistance at a North Shore Neighborhood Board meeting Tuesday night, but the board didn’t end up with enough votes to oppose the project. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Department of Transportation plans to spend up to $30 million to outfit two gates at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport to serve the world’s largest commercial jumbo jet. Civil Beat.

There's been a long-standing homeless population along the Pearl City bike path. But some say the numbers have been increasing in the past few weeks, with some bikers and joggers saying they're now avoiding the path. Hawaii News Now.

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Honolulu’s long-anticipated bike-share rental system went live Wednesday, starting with a blessing at the state Capitol for the distinctive turquoise bicycles. Star-Advertiser.

Bicycle-Sharing Program Hits The Streets Of Honolulu. Biki features 1,000 bicycles at 100 stations from downtown to Diamond Head. Civil Beat.

Honolulu’s bike share program was five years in the making. It's reality now. The next step is shaking out the bugs. KITV.

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The proposed redevelopment of Hawaii's Aloha Stadium could be pushed back before it even starts following Gov. David Ige's notice that he intends to veto legislation that would allow public-private partnerships. Pacific Business News.

Embattled ship 'Falls of Clyde' one step closer to returning home to Scotland. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Big Island Dairy was sued Wednesday by the Hawaii Center for Food Safety and Kupale Ookala, a group of local residents, who claim the company is polluting nearby waters with animal waste. Civil Beat.

A group of Ookala residents is moving forward with a lawsuit against Big Island Dairy for alleged violations of the federal Clean Water Act. Tribune-Herald.

Pohakuloa Training Area sewer, storm water collection system project just 1st phase of multiple improvements.  Tribune-Herald.

Several weeks of logging in a small Waimea neighborhood has appeared to come to a halt after an injunction was granted by the 3rd Circuit Court and a citation was issued from the Department of Public Works. West Hawaii Today.

State Senator Russell Ruderman, the Democrat serving district 2 (Puna), offered constituents a frank look at the 2017 state legislative session during his talk story on Tuesday. Big Island Video News.

Community reacts to homelessness initiatives at forum. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Installing new grass, reviewing high administrative costs and assessing employee duties at the Waiehu Municipal Golf Course are some of the areas a Maui County Council committee will explore to help the island’s only public course increase revenue and decrease financial losses. Maui News.

A $12 million expansion of the state’s harbormaster building and various improvements around the Lahaina Harbor received unanimous approval Tuesday from the Maui Planning Commission. Maui News.

The owner of the South Maui Gardens Nursery is withdrawing his application for a commercial and residential development in Kihei, a surprise move after the project got the early go-ahead from the Maui Planning Commission Tuesday. Maui News.

A Maui police sergeant says he took part in a scheme with another officer and a third person to bribe a witness who accused the other officer of stealing $1,800 from him. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai

The House Armed Services Committee approved a defense amendment Wednesday that would safeguard continued missile testing on Kauai and assess the effectiveness of a new medium-range radar before taking additional steps to protect Hawaii from North Korean threats such as activating the Aegis Ashore facility. Star-Advertiser.

Hoola Lahui Hawaii on Kauai will receive $2.4 million as one of five grants awarded to the Native Hawaiian Health Care Systems programs totaling $10.6 million. Garden Island.

July isn’t just the month that celebrates America’s independence. It’s also the month that celebrates Hawaiian sovereignty. Garden Island.

Hawaii projects spared in federal budget, Chipotle finally coming to state, Honolulu seeks homeless sanitary stations, local outcry against raising transient accommodations tax for Honolulu rail, Maui Brewing company named top small business in nation, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

East-West Center © 2017 All Hawaii News

‘Hawaii Got Almost Everything We Sought’ In Federal Budget. Despite dismal expectations, the plan preserves spending levels for the Coast Guard, East-West Center and Native Hawaiian services while boosting defense spending. Civil Beat.

The East-West Center — its federal funding on the chopping block — was spared over the weekend in a bipartisan spending deal that also included additional funding for Native Hawaiian health and housing programs. Star-Advertiser.

Life And Death Drama— For Bills — At The Hawaii Legislature. A look at some of the survivors and casualties in the unpredictable waning days of the session. Civil Beat.

State health officials have begun investigating an "increasing number" of mumps infections across the state, and have confirmed two new cases on Monday. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii bankruptcy filings plunged to their lowest monthly total of the year as the state’s low unemployment rate appeared to be keeping consumers out of financial distress. Star-Advertiser.

Chipotle Mexican Grill could finally be coming to Hawaii, following the restaurant chain's registration of two business entities with the state Department of Commerce & Consumer Affairs last month. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

The city has imported an idea from San Francisco to convert two obsolete Honolulu city buses into Hawaii’s first “mobile hygiene centers” to give Oahu’s homeless a place to use the bathroom and clean themselves. Star-Advertiser.

Local rail officials released today their highly anticipated “recovery plan.” The 249-page report, which was due Sunday, leaves the main question of how to pay for the island’s cash-strapped transit project unresolved, but it looks to assure federal officials that the latest cost estimates and management are sound. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation on Monday released its new plan, submitted to the Federal Transit Administration late last week, for completing the 20-mile, 21-station rail line, which has been plagued by cost overruns and delays. Civil Beat.

In a recovery plan submitted to the Federal Transit Administration last week, the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation said it is committed to the project’s original route. Pacific Business News.

What’s happening to dozens of vacated properties purchased for rail? KHON2.

Honolulu city officials and business leaders Monday asked lawmakers to reject last-minute proposed legislation to increase Hawaii’s hotel room tax by 30 percent to fund the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation’s 20-mile long, 21-station rail line, which has been plagued by cost overruns and delays. Civil Beat.

The mayor has withdrawn his support for a deal that would increase hotel room taxes to help pay for rail. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu City Council members have unanimously passed a resolution calling on Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s administration and the Honolulu Police Department to not spend city money assisting federal agencies tasked with enforcing President Donald Trump’s immigration policies. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu Museum of Art is increasing its admission price for the first time in 10 years — but only for visitors. Pacific Business News.

The University of Hawaii Foundation has closed on its purchase of the YMCA of Honolulu Atherton property for $8 million and plans to spend another $5 million upgrading the property. Pacific Business News.

Honolulu ranks in bottom half among best U.S. cities to start a business. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

Federal officials plan to apply two rodenticides at Pohakuloa Training Area as part of a study, prompting concerns from hunting groups. Tribune-Herald.

The Hawaii County Council is poised to authorize up to $50,000 plus expenses to defend former police officer Jody Buddemeyer, accused of fatally striking a bicyclist with his patrol car while on duty. West Hawaii Today.

Public comments on Alii Drive culvert project. West Hawaii Today.

A Hilo lawmaker wants the University of Hawaii at Hilo to beef up its new enrollment growth plan by adding more specifics and raising the targeted student goal. Tribune-Herald.

UH 2.2-meter Telescope Repairs Set To Begin. Big Island Video News.

Commentary: A House bill has morphed into a sweetheart deal to create perpetual leases for tenants on state land,  possibly including the Thirty Meter Telescope. Civil Beat.

Maui

On Monday morning, demonstrators rallied in front of Kahului Harbor, calling for an immediate halt to sand excavations and barge shipments. KHON2.

The owners of Maui Brewing Co. have been named the 2017 National Small Business Persons of the Year for transforming their small brewpub into the largest craft beer producer in Hawaii. Maui News.

The husband-and-wife team who started Maui Brewing Co. were recognized today as the most outstanding small business operators in the nation, and were congratulated in Washington, D.C., by Vice President Mike Pence. Star-Advertiser.

Maui Brewing Co.'s husband-and-wife duo Garrett and Melanie Marrero on Monday were named the 2017 National Small Business Person(s) of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration. Pacific Business News.

Kauai

Local officials react: Hawaii lawmakers are expected to make a decision today on a bill that seeks to reduce the counties’ cut of the Transient Accommodations Tax. Garden Island.

Gov. David Ige will be here for the Kauai Chamber of Commerce’s 19th annual Governor’s Luncheon on June 1. Garden Island.

Hawaii Senate panel advances budget, judge continues blocking Trump travel ban, shave ice as state snack, tour companies could get monopoly over Maunawili Falls hike, airport investigates dog shooting, Sunshine Law complaint over Maui liquor rules, protest over Pohakuloa Training Area bombing, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Ways and Means Committee on Wednesday, courtesy Hawaii Senate majority

 Senate Committee Unveils A Streamlined State Budget. The general fund spending plan approved by the Ways and Means Committee is $114 million lower than what the governor proposed. Civil Beat.

Senate Committee Adds $628M to State Biennium Budget. Hawaii Public Radio.

A federal judge in Hawaii decided Wednesday to extend his order blocking President Donald Trump’s travel ban, preventing the government from suspending new visas for people from six Muslim-majority countries and halting the U.S. refugee program. Associated Press.


A federal judge in Hawaii decided Wednesday to extend his order blocking President Donald Trump’s travel ban. U.S. District Judge Derrick Watson issued the longer-lasting hold on the ban just hours after hearing arguments. Associated Press.

The Hawaii judge who blocked President Donald Trump’s revised executive order on immigration two weeks ago extended his nationwide stay Wednesday, brushing aside the administration’s argument that the scope of his ruling was too broad. Civil Beat.

A resolution that at least one state legislator says is tantamount to rendering Hawaii a sanctuary for undocumented immigrants was adopted by the Hawaii House of Representatives Wednesday. West Hawaii Today.

President Donald Trump’s executive order pumping up coal production and undermining climate change regulations is being roundly criticized in Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Women in Hawaii may soon be able to obtain birth control pills and other forms of hormonal contraceptives directly from a pharmacist, cutting out the need to make a doctor’s appointment to obtain a prescription and increasing access to birth control for women with limited access to health care providers. Star-Advertiser.


It’s a favorite among locals and tourists, now some state lawmakers want to designate shave ice as the official snack of Hawaii. KHON2.


While the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands moves forward with housing plans, the relatively new Homestead Housing Authority says it can help, too. Civil Beat.

Fueled by an 11.5 percent increase in total daily spending, total visitor spending in Hawaii rose 8 percent in February, despite a modest gain of 2 percent in total arrivals, according to preliminary statistics released by the Hawaii Tourism Authority Wednesday. Pacific Business News.


Visitors to Hawaii in February rose nearly 2 percent to 700,426 and spending increased nearly 8 percent to $1.3 billion, according to preliminary data released Wednesday by the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii visitor spending outpaces inflation. Hawaii News Now.

The Hawaii Tourism Authority says average daily spending by visitors jumped 11.5 percent last month compared to the year before. Associated Press.

Despite years of talks between the two ridesharing companies and the Hawaii State Department of Transportation, Uber and Lyft are still not allowed to do business at any of Hawaii’s airports. Pacific Business News.

For the past three years, Hawaii residents have paid a small surcharge on their electric bill for clean energy funding. Now lawmakers want to make modifications because they feel the GEMS program has lost its luster. KITV.

Scientists Race To Help Hawaii Corals Survive. Some corals are starting to rebound on their own and scientists have plans to help other species survive global warming. Civil Beat.


Protest against Native Hawaiian items up for auction in Paris. KITV.

Oahu


Legislators in the state Senate are proposing that the state build a new prison and a new jail at Halawa to ease overcrowding in the correctional system, earmarking $66 million in the Senate draft of the state budget to jump-start that plan. Star-Advertiser.

Reservations to hike? Proposal limits Maunawili Falls trail access. Hawaii News Now.

It’s getting harder for Hawaii employers to find good help. With the state’s jobless rate now tied for the second lowest in the nation at 2.8 percent, about 150 employers set up booths Wednesday at the Neal Blaisdell Center Exhibition Hall hoping to find a few good men and women. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Department of Transportation says it is launching an investigation after a security guard at Honolulu International Airport shot a passenger’s dog during an incident at the airport’s interisland terminal on Tuesday evening. Pacific Business News.

The shooting of a family dog by a Securitas private security officer at Honolulu International Airport is another black eye for the private security company paid $35 million a year by the state, a state lawmaker said. Hawaii News Now.

Leisha Ramos was looking forward to her return to her home island of Oahu after living on the Big Island, when a series of events led to a security guard fatally shooting her dog Kai’ele at Honolulu International Airport Tuesday night. Star-Advertiser.

Marriott has opened its newest Hawaii property under its Autograph Collection Hotel brand, the Laylow Hotel, after completing a $60 million renovation. Pacific Business News.

The shuttered 30-room Waikiki Prince budget hotel near the Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort and Spa is reopening in July, its owner confirmed to Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

The developer of the Thirty Meter Telescope signed a 75-year agreement with officials in the Canary Islands Wednesday giving the international consortium the right to construct and operate the giant telescope on the island of La Palma if Mauna Kea doesn’t work out. Star-Advertiser.

Their oli were loud, but the teeth-rattling boom of sporadic mortar rounds was louder, as more than 50 protesters employed Native Hawaiian chants to express their opposition to the latest series of training exercises at the U.S. Army garrison. West Hawaii Today.

A group of Native Hawaiians, environmentalists and peace activists gathered at the gate of Pohakuloa Training Area along Saddle Road on Wednesday. Big Island Video News.

Ookala residents concerned about pollution from the large dairy farm mauka of the village have gotten the attention of the state Department of Agriculture. Tribune-Herald.

Hilo physician fights to prove he is a primary care provider. Tribune-Herald.

The Kona Community Aquatic Center is a victim of its own success. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

A Sunshine Law complaint has been filed against the Maui County Liquor Control Commission for allegedly providing insufficient notice to the public about recent rule changes that include eliminating dry hours for liquor sales at retail stores countywide. Maui News.

The Maui County Council may choose not to fund 12 percent pay raises for Mayor Alan Arakawa, his department heads and deputies. Maui News.

Council panel mulls sale of Maui Lani lots. Bulk sale of 51 lots won in legal settlement could boost affordable housing fund. Maui News.

The 2nd Annual Maui County Carnival that was scheduled for April 6-9, 2017, has been cancelled. Representatives from E.K. Fernandez Shows say that the shipping rates for neighbor island fairs and carnivals have risen over 40% in the past three years, making it almost impossible to ship the equipment necessary to produce these events. Maui Now.

Kauai

With a royal land patent in his hand, Noa Mau-Espirito said he walked into the Coco Palms last spring to make claim of the property. Almost a year later, Mau-Espirito, who says he is a descendant of King Kaumualii, and a group of about 25 of his formerly homeless family members, continue to live on 17 acres of land in Wailua on Coco Palms property. Garden Island.

A study released Tuesday by the Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute has named Kauai County as the healthiest in state. Hawaii News Now.

Do you know what moku and ahupua‘a you live in? You will soon find out, as ahupua’a signs are now being installed along Kaua‘i’s roadways. Garden Island.

Visitors to Kauai are spending more money. Lots more. Garden Island.