Hawaii Democrats lose bid for closed primaries, hepatitis A linked to frozen scallops at sushi restaurant, overburdened Health Department hasn't hired workers, Kenoi wants theft case dismissed, ground broken for Maui hospital, privatization eyed for Big Island, solar sales drop on Oahu, gender-neutral restrooms at UH, super PAC stays out of campaigns, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Democratic Party rally © 2016 All Hawaii News

A federal appeals court is upholding an earlier decision to support the way Hawaii holds its primary elections, rejecting the Democratic Party’s desire to exclude non-Democrats from advancing candidates to the general election. Associated Press.

The state Department of Health ordered the immediate, temporary closure of all Genki Sushi Restaurants on Oahu and Kauai on Monday after determining that the recent hepatitis A outbreak on Oahu was likely due to imported frozen scallops served raw at Genki locations on both islands. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii State Department of Health has ordered all Genki Sushi restaurants on Oahu and Kauai to close immediately. Hawaii Public Radio.

The Hawaii State Department of Health has ordered an immediate shut down of all Oahu and Kauai Genki Sushi restaurants amid the Hepatitis A investigation. Hawaii News Now.

Health officials will hold a press conference at 9 a.m. Tuesday. KHON2.

As customers walked up to Genki Sushi in Kapahulu, many were surprised to see workers cleaning up instead of serving dinner. KITV.

Health Department Hiring Goes Slow — Will The Mosquitoes Wait? The state recognizes an “urgent” need to fill 20 recently authorized positions, but says some administrative delays are unavoidable. Civil Beat.

When the fall semester gets underway Monday at the University of Hawaii, students at the Manoa, Hilo and West Oahu campuses will have access to more than two dozen gender-neutral restrooms as part of a push to ensure safe and accommodating facilities for all students, including those who are transgender. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii's public housing agency has agreed to take steps to remove language barriers for tenants after a family that speaks little English almost got evicted when they didn't understand the legal proceedings against them. Associated Press.

Oahu

Commentary: Now that it’s clear that former U.S. Rep. Charles Djou will be challenging incumbent Kirk Caldwell in the general election for Honolulu mayor, some political watchers were expecting the building trades group Pacific Resource Partnership to make a full-court press with millions of dollars to take down Djou. Civil Beat.

Newcomer Cedric Gates locked hands on stage with fellow Democrats after unseating Representative Jo Jordan by 52 percent.  Some think Gates’ win is under a cloud because in 2014 he previously ran as a Green Party candidate. KITV.

In what legal observers call a risky strategy, Louis and Katherine Kealoha are using lawsuits and media interviews to take the offensive as they are investigated in a federal corruption probe. Civil Beat.

A proposed settlement to end a landmark lawsuit over how the city has been conducting homeless sweeps cleared a hurdle Monday, with a federal judge recommending preliminary approval of the deal. Civil Beat.

State transportation officials have opened a 2-mile stretch of the H-1 freeway’s eastbound shoulder lane in West Oahu to weekday morning commuters — the latest step in their strategy to employ simpler traffic fixes while deferring costlier large-scale highway projects. Star-Advertiser.

Sewage from the Animal Quarantine Station is pouring into Halawa Stream, and it’s been going on for weeks. KHON2.

Data has revealed that the number of solar building permits issued by Honolulu in July was the city's fewest issued in the past year and a half. Associated Press.

Oahu’s solar energy industry continues to lag with a 54 percent drop in permits issued last month when comparing the same month last year and the fewest number issued in the past 18 months. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

A lawyer for Mayor Billy Kenoi has filed a number of pretrial motions in Kenoi’s felony theft case, most seeking to dismiss the indictment or specific charges contained in the indictment. Tribune-Herald.

While favored most heavily on the windward side, Harry Kim had no trouble winning votes in each corner of Hawaii Island in his landslide victory during Saturday’s mayoral primary. Tribune-Herald.

Blank ballots and no-shows influence elections, too. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Even as Gov. David Ige’s administration struggles to carry out plans to privatize three state-owned Maui hospitals, Ige says he anticipates “similar arrangements” will be put in place to establish public-private partnerships at the Hilo Medical Center and the Kona Community Hospital on the Big Island. Star-Advertiser.

A groundbreaking for the long-awaited West Maui Hospital was held this morning at the project site, located on Kakaʻalaneo Drive, between the Honoapiʻilani Highway and the Kāʻanapali Coffee Farms community. Maui Now.

On a day that some residents thought they wouldn't live to see, officials and developers broke ground Monday on the West Maui Hospital and Medical Center, a decadeslong community vision that will bring critical health care to residents who have limited options in emergencies. Maui News.

In the race for the Wailuku-Waihee-Waikapu residency seat, voters on Molokai and Lanai proved to be one of the deciding factors for winner Dain Kane, pushing him through to the general election Saturday night in the tightest County Council primary contest this year. Maui News.

Kauai

After the dust settled and the votes were counted early Sunday morning, one thing was clear: voter turnout for the island was the lowest since Hawaii became a state in 1959. Garden Island.

The North Shore Shuttle launched Monday will help alleviate congestion. Garden Island.

KIUC eyes power shift. Garden Island.

Honolulu airport rated best, DLNR chief canned for probing waste and abuse, cool schools plan falls to hot construction market, cats killing endangered petrels on Kauai, EPA closes Army cesspools, Big Island gambling sweep, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Honolulu International Airport © 2016 All Hawaii News

Honolulu International Airport is the best airport in the nation for the summer travel season, according to a new study from NerdWallet. Pacific Business News.

The state’s ambitious goal of cooling 1,000 public school classrooms by the end of the year is facing a major setback: All construction bids have come in over budget, meaning completion of the project will likely be delayed until next year, members of the Board of Education were told Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

Plans to cool off classrooms throughout Hawaii have been delayed, an assistant superintendent told state Board of Education members Tuesday. The department’s initiative to add air conditioning to 1,000 classrooms has been slowed by high costs resulting from increased construction demand and a shortage of skilled labor, said Dann Carlson, assistant superintendent for the Office of School Facilities and Support Services. Civil Beat.

Thomas “Tommy” Friel, chief of enforcement for the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, said he is resigning from his position after only six months on the job because he wasn’t getting the support from above to clean up “a culture of waste, fraud and corruption” in the department. Star-Advertiser.

Just six months on the job, the new Chief of Hawaii's DLNR enforcement division is suddenly forced out. After gushing praise for conservation officer Thomas Friel at his hiring, the state has quickly changed its tune. KITV4.

Enforcement Chief Leaves DLNR. Land Board Chair Suzanne Case thanked Thomas Friel for his brief tenure but offered no explanation for the abrupt departure. Civil Beat.

Legislation establishing an industrial hemp pilot program to allow its cultivation and distribution of its seed in Hawaii for research purposes unanimously passed the Legislature last month and awaits Gov. David Ige’s signature. Civil Beat.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has forced the Army to close 12 illegal cesspools on Oahu and the Big Island and ordered it to pay a $100,000 fine, the first time the EPA has imposed a civil penalty against a federal government facility for operating banned cesspools. Pacific Business News.

The Army has agreed to pay a $100,000 penalty for operating 12 large-capacity cesspools on Oahu and Hawaii island beyond a ban that went into effect on April 5, 2005, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

The U.S. Army has been fined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and will have to close eight illegal large capacity cesspools on the Big Island. Big Island Video News.

Scientists working to prevent coral reef destruction have stumbled onto some good news. In one of the largest global studies reef studies, researchers discovered fifteen “Bright Spots” where reefs were doing better than expected. Hawaii Public Radio.

As our oceans become warmer and more acidic, scientists need to act to make sure their research spurs policies and action that can reverse environmental decline, Aulani Wilhelm told hundreds of scientists, policy makers, cultural practitioners and others Tuesday at the International Coral Reef Symposium. Civil Beat.

Oahu

The city plans to turn a four-story industrial building in Iwilei into the first all-in-one homeless project of its kind in the islands that will provide showers, laundry machines, two floors of permanent housing, and social services pertaining to mental illness and alcohol and drug abuse. Star-Advertiser.

Legal experts are weighing-in after the Honolulu Police Chief, Louis Kealoha, and his Deputy Prosecutor wife, Katherine, sued the city's Ethics Commission -- claiming they are victims of "vindictive" attacks that have damaged their professional and personal reputations. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu’s police chief and his wife say a federal grand jury targeting them can be traced in part to what they call “vindictive and illegal investigations” by the Honolulu Ethics Commission, and they’re suing to set the record straight. KHON2.

The owners of a papaya farm on Oahu are seeking help from the community in catching the thieves who struck their Punaluu property, resulting in a loss of thousands of dollars. Associated Press.

A total of 75 luxury single-family homes and condominiums on Oahu were sold during May, a drop of 13.8 percent from the 87 homes that sold for $1 million or more in May 2015, according to a report by Coldwell Banker Pacific Properties. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

With the addition of a few ramps and rails, a Bayfront parking lot could soon double as Hilo’s only skate park. Tribune-Herald.

They gave it their best shot. But at least one organizer of a proposed Puuanahulu shooting range, after biting the bullet trying to get it built for more than a decade, said Tuesday he’s about ready to cease fire. West Hawaii Today.

Several koa-oriented initiatives are ongoing on the Big Island, including breeding disease-resistant trees and helping private landowners develop best practices for managing their own acreage. Tribune-Herald.

Four Hilo men were arrested Thursday in connection with nine search warrants served March 1 on seven Big Island establishments and two homes police say harbored illegal gambling operations. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

As Maui's affordable housing crisis mounts, local property owners said they're willing to help - but that the county also needs to adjust some of its laws on housing. Maui News.

Undeterred by early-morning rain, about 30 farmers and residents from Hana to Waihee gathered at the Honomanu bridge Saturday to protest House Bill 2501. Maui News.

Maui Medical Group, one of the island's largest health care providers, is referring 100 pregnant patients to other island doctors because its obstetrics and gynecology department will be down to one part-time physician and one nurse practitioner on Aug. 1. Maui News.

Tenants and landlords are being pointed to resources designed to prevent disputes from escalating to eviction. Maui Now.

cat kills petrel, DLNR

Kauai

A cat was caught on camera picking off two Hawaiian Petrels last week, but researchers say the feral feline is actually responsible for recently killing six of the endangered birds. Garden Island.

Feral cats have been blamed for the recent deaths of endangered seabirds found only in the Hawaiian Islands. Associated Press.

North Shore residents and visitors will have another way to get around this summer. Kauai County received $160,000 from the Hawaii Tourism Authority to bring back the North Shore Shuttle program, said George Costa, Kauai County director of the Office of Economic Development. Garden Island.

Hawaiian Airlines gets second Tokyo flight, rail costs increase again, IBEW head won't retire during investigation, more on Honolulu police chief probe, Kauai to regulate homestays, Maui struggles to name liquor chief, tourism president touts millennial market plan, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Visitor captures Akaka Falls © 2016 All Hawaii News

The University of Hawaii was awarded $20 million to combine Native Hawaiian knowledge with modern geological data to figure out exactly how fresh water flows in Hawaii. The grant from the National Science Foundation will give the university funding to study water sustainability throughout the state. Associated Press.

University of Hawaii Gets $20 Million To Study Fresh Water Aquifers. The award, from the National Science Foundation, will be used to better map the flow of water through Hawaii’s aquifers. Civil Beat.

Barack Obama’s decision to make a first-of-a-kind presidential visit to Hiroshima, Japan, later this month prompted U.S. Rep. Mark Takai to invite Japan’s prime minister, Shinzo Abe, to make a similar first-of-a-kind visit to Pearl Harbor for the 75th anniversary of the attack on Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

The U.S. Department of Transportation on Friday announced that Hawaiian Airlines has been awarded a second route from Haneda International Airport in Tokyo to Hawaii, potentially bringing more visitors to the state. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaiian Airlines has been awarded an additional route to Haneda International Airport in Tokyo. The U.S. Department of Transportation made the announcement Friday morning, according to a statement from Sen. Brian Schatz. KITV4.

A national report released Wednesday ranked Hawaii's state court system No. 1 in the country for providing support to those with limited English proficiency. Associated Press.

U.S. Rep. Mark Takai of Hawaii has introduced legislation that would provide money for families to increase accessibility in their homes for kupuna who may need wider hallways for wheelchairs, handlebars in showers or ground-floor bathrooms. Civil Beat.

Young Brothers Ltd.’s interisland cargo shipments keep showing incremental growth. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s blood supply is particularly vulnerable should there be a widespread outbreak of mosquito-borne illnesses such as Zika or dengue fever on the islands. Civil Beat.

Hawaii hotel occupancy fell statewide by 1.9 percentage points during the first week of May, taking Hawaii hotels to 73.2 percent occupied, according to Hospitality Advisors and STR’s weekly report. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

The official cost estimates for Honolulu’s rail transit system have grown by nearly $350 million in recent months, raising more concerns that the city’s new five-year rail tax extension won’t be enough to finish the project. Star-Advertiser.

Drivers should start mentally preparing for lane closures because rail construction crews are nearing their work to extend the concrete guideway over the H-1 Freeway in Aiea. Hawaii News Now.

Mayor Kirk Caldwell received his first major endorsement for his re-election campaign from the Hawaii Construction Alliance. Hawaii News Now.

The criminal defense attorney hired by the Honolulu police chief and his prosecutor wife said he expects a federal grand jury to return indictments in the ongoing investigation surrounding possible wrongdoing within the Honolulu Police Department. Star-Advertiser.

The key witness in the federal probe into the police chief and his wife, a deputy city prosecutor, is a police officer who was related by marriage to the power couple. Hawaii News Now.

Brian Ahakuelo, head of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1260, used union funds for personal expenses over the last three years, according to a list of allegations assembled by the parent union. Star-Advertiser.

The embattled head of a Hawaii electrical workers union is being accused of using union money on personal first-class travel, hotel accommodations, and to pay for his son's attorney fees in a felony case. Hawaii News Now.

Two days after announcing his retirement, the head of the IBEW Local 1260 has changed his mind. KHON2.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell announced Thursday that he has appointed local businessman Peter Adler to serve on the city and county’s Ethics Commission. Civil Beat.

The parking crunch in Kakaako could be getting a lot worse. There’s a plan in the works to create a lot of new housing, but it may not come with a lot of parking stalls. KHON2.

Hawaii

A Hawaii County budget review held Thursday evening at the West Hawaii Civic Center was part numbers for future spending, part update covering ongoing projects and partly a look back on eight years of West Hawaii priorities. West Hawaii Today.

The Hawaii Island Community Development Corporation recently submitted permit applications for a 30-unit expansion to the Mohouli Heights Senior Neighborhood, according to its executive director. Tribune-Herald.

New tourism chief looks to millennials for growth. West Hawaii Today.

Scuba diving is popularly connected with the Navy SEALS, not the Marines and Army. But two veterans from each service have become skilled divers, exploring this week the Kona Coast through the Soldiers Undertaking Disabled Scuba, or SUDS. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The Liquor Control Commission is scheduled to re-interview four candidates for director of the Department of Liquor Control on May 24, an official said Wednesday. Maui News.

A request for an additional $1.9 million this fiscal year for the county Department of Fire and Public Safety received initial approval Wednesday from the County Council's Budget and Finance Committee. Maui News.

With Kaiser Permanente set to take over three public hospitals in Maui County in less than two months, the national health care provider announced new leadership Wednesday for its Maui Health System. Maui News.

The Maui County Council's Budget and Finance Committee voted Wednesday to recommend adoption of a resolution giving county ocean safety officers a 16 percent pay raise as part of an arbitration decision earlier this year. Maui News.

A Maui High School English teacher who had also served as head football coach pleaded no contest Thursday to five counts of indecent electronic display to a child. Star-Advertiser.

A former teacher and head football coach at Maui High School, David Bui, pleaded no contest today to five counts of indecent electronic display to a child. Maui Now.

Maui County residents and tourists are being advised to stock up on mosquito repellent because of an expected increase in the number of people infected by the Zika virus coming to the county this summer, said the state Department of Health county district health officer. Maui News.

Kauai

Council members voted to recommend passing a bill that aims to define and regulate homestay operations on the island during a planning committee meeting Wednesday. Garden Island.

The developers of a planned beachfront time-share resort on Kauai say they would like the project to open under a Hyatt Hotels Corp. brand. Pacific Business News.

Some of these kids have never ridden an escalator before, said Trisha Page, special events and bookings manager at the Kauai Marriott Resort and Beach Club Thursday morning. Garden Island.

Indictment likely for Honolulu police chief, Kauai kills general excise tax increase, China still set for RIMPAC, attorney general had investigated former state auditor, lawmakers quietly oppose marine protection expansion, state Supreme Court to hear 2014 election case, new rules for Hawaiian Home Lands, Maui lets lifeguards get raises, Honolulu's rising middle class, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Uptown shops in Waikiki © 2016 All Hawaii News

In cities across America, the middle class is hollowing out. However, Honolulu’s middle class appears to be increasing. Associated Press.

Amid the flurry of final votes on hundreds of bills last week, Hawaii lawmakers privately weighed whether to sign a letter to President Obama that Rep. James Tokioka was circulating during the last few days of the legislative session. The letter called on the president not to consider expanding the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument, stating that “there is no scientific justification or conservation benefit in doing so.” Civil Beat.

Hundreds of the world’s top ocean scientists will gather in Honolulu next month for the 13th International Coral Reef Symposium. It’s the first time the conference will be held in Hawai‘i. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Senate President Ron Kouchi has a confidential report in his possession that involves possible wrongdoing in the state Auditor’s Office. The report is the result of a Hawaii Attorney General’s Office investigation. Civil Beat.

The federal government for the first time has developed an administrative rule to provide more clarity in implementing the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, the federal law that established a land trust to benefit Native Hawaiians. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. David Ige announced Wednesday that he has signed House Bill 1581 to help expedite the resolution of disputes on actions by state agencies. The new law, which takes effect Aug. 1, allows contested case hearings before the commissions on Water Resource Management, Land Use, Public Utilities, the Hawaii Community Development Authority and cases involving conservation districts to be directly appealed to the Hawaii Supreme Court, according to a release from the governor’s office. Civil Beat.

The U.S. invitation allowing China to participate in the upcoming Rim of the Pacific maritime exercises off Hawaii appears to be holding — even as American accusations fly that China is militarizing the South China Sea, while China maintains America has no business “provoking the new maritime order.” Star-Advertiser.

Struggling U.S. and international stock markets are dragging down Hawaii’s largest public pension portfolio. The state Employees’ Retirement System fund eked out a 0.6 percent gain in the first three months of 2016 but is in danger of finishing the fiscal year ending June 30 with its first loss since 2012, according to a report presented to ERS trustees Tuesday by Portland, Ore.-based Pension Consulting Alliance Inc. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s judicial system ranks among the top three in the country when it comes to access to justice, according to the National Center for Access to Justice’s latest state-by-state ranking. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha and his wife, deputy city Prosecutor Katherine Kealoha, have hired a prominent criminal defense attorney to represent them in the potential federal criminal case against them. In an interview Wednesday with Hawaii News Now, attorney Myles Breiner said he and the Kealohas expect there will be a grand jury indictment in the case.

Extra-tall towers are out, but the density of buildings could double and include less parking in some parts of Kakaako under new proposed rules for development tied to the city’s rail project. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii regulators unveiled an update Wednesday for the Honolulu neighborhood of Kakaako’s transit-oriented development plan calling for diverse residential building types, ground-oriented family housing near transit stations, additional reserved housing, grocery stores, cultural and community amenities, food trucks and spaces for artists. Pacific Business News.

Ross Dress for Less on Ward Avenue in Honolulu is expected to be displaced by the Honolulu rail transit project that’s being built from West Oahu to Ala Moana Center. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii lawmakers sent a strong message last week to two brothers who claim to own portions of eight streets in Kakaako where they started charging for parking six years ago after decades of free public use. Star-Advertiser.

Repairs to a collapsed pier at Waianae Boat Harbor have finally been approved. KHON2.

Hawaii

The Hawaii Supreme Court has agreed to hear a complaint questioning the residency status of Ron Gonzales, who in 2014 unsuccessfully challenged Kohala Councilwoman Margaret Wille for the District 9 council seat. West Hawaii Today.

What started as a bill to increase County Council terms from two years to four has morphed through a series of compromises into a bill adding one more two-year term, so council members would be eligible to serve 10 consecutive years before being term-limited. West Hawaii Today.

Native Hawaiian activists drew closer to their goal of barring further geothermal development on Hualalai, following a hearing Wednesday in the Environmental Court. West Hawaii Today.

The design, engineering and potential capabilities of the Thirty Meter Telescope were front and center Wednesday at the West Hawaii Civic Center. Telescope system scientist Warren Skidmore walked about two dozen people through the technical aspects of the 180-foot tall, $1.4 billion project, which, if built, would be the second largest telescope on Earth, behind a 39- meter scope being constructed by European interests in Chile. West Hawaii Today.

For almost 16 miles of coastline stretching north from South Point, there is no public access to the shoreline. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

After hearing more than an hour of testimony from lifeguards and their supporters, the Budget and Finance Committee today recommended approval of funding for the ocean safety labor contract by a unanimous 6-0 vote. Maui Now.

Pay raises awarded to hundreds of lifeguards and law enforcement officers statewide cleared a major hurdle on Wednesday. Hawaii News Now.

The 70 unit Waiʻale Affordable Housing project proposed for development on 10.36 acres just north of the Waikapū Gardens subdivision on Maui, surfaces for consideration at the Maui County Council’s Land Use Committee meeting at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 18, in the Council Chamber. Maui Now.

The Maui Planning Commission advanced two proposed Kihei projects Monday, approving the 129-unit Kamaole Pointe workforce housing complex and recommending a zoning change for the 22,000-square-foot Kihei Wellness Center. Maui News.

Maui County has agreed to pay $24,000 in damages and to enter into a three-year consent decree to settle an age discrimination lawsuit that alleged the Maui Police Department failed to hire a qualified 45-year-old Hawaii resident as a police officer. Maui News.

Kauai

After two hours of discussion during committee Wednesday, Kauai council members voted 4-3 to recommend killing a proposed bill that would increase the General Excise Tax. Garden Island.

Mason Chock is seeking re-election to the Kauai County Council. Garden Island.

Paul Cienfuegos, a community activist from Portland, Oregon, is on Kauai for one reason: he says there’s another way to shut the door on unwanted corporate industry. Garden Island.

Hawaii House and Senate reach $13.7B budget deal, medical marijuana bid winners to be announced today, Alexander & Baldwin to continue diverting Maui stream, Honolulu has world's most expensive bread, 'Peter Boy' parents indicted on Big Island, Honolulu police chief files civil rights case in corruption probe, man arrested in Kauai pregnant monk seal attack, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Legislature in joint session, courtesy Hawaii House Majority

House and Senate lawmakers reached an agreement Thursday to finalize the overall state budget, including $160.5 million for the Hawaii State Hospital, $17 million for Hawaiian Home Lands and $81 million to more aggressively pay down unfunded liabilities for health benefits promised to public workers. Civil Beat.

State lawmakers have wrapped up negotiations on a $13.7 billion budget for the coming year that includes a financial bailout for Wahiawa General Hospital and $160 million to rebuild much of the Hawaii State Hospital for the mentally ill. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii state lawmakers have approved a state budget that includes $2.5 million for the Wahiawa General Hospital and another $700,000 for the Wahiawa Center for Community Health. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii state lawmakers have agreed to set aside nearly $62 million of this year’s budget to subsidize the construction of rental housing units and $35 million to repair aging public housing units. But Sen. Jill Tokuda and Rep. Sylvia Luke, who lead each chamber’s money committees, said they don’t plan to hold a hearing for a proposal to increase a tax credit for renters, even though Hawaii renters are among the most cost-burdened in the nation. Civil Beat.

Despite a last-minute legal demand to delay the announcement, Hawaii’s Department of Health plans on Friday to announce the eight companies that will receive licenses to grow and sell medical marijuana. Civil Beat.

After Hawaii sought bids last month for a lucrative new contract to house hundreds of its prisoners on the mainland, no rivals stepped up to challenge the state’s current contractor. The Hawaii Department of Public Safety announced Thursday that Nashville, Tennessee-based Corrections Corporation of America, the largest for-profit prison company in the country, was the sole bidder for the contract. Civil Beat.


State lawmakers are looking to make Hawaii one of only a few states that allow psychologists to prescribe medication in an effort to increase access to mental health services. Associated Press.

Hawaii has the highest rate of residents using solar panels in the nation, and lawmakers want to extend the state’s leadership role by offering incentives or rebates to those who buy batteries to store their renewable energy. Associated Press.

The head of the Native Hawaiian Education Council and an insurance company executive are among five nominees being considered for positions on the Hawaii State Public Charter School Commission. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Honolulu’s chief of police, Louis Kealoha, and his wife Katherine, a deputy prosecutor, are firing back at the city ethics commission, saying they’ve been unfairly targeted for years.  They also say they’re not the only ones, so they’ve filed a federal civil rights complaint. KHON2.

Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha and his wife, Katherine Kealoha, took to the television Wednesday to proclaim their innocence in a wide-ranging federal grand jury investigation that involves allegations of corruption and abuse of power. Civil Beat.

A bill that would create more incentive for homeowners to apply for second dwellings on a property got a preliminary approval from the City Council Zoning and Planning Committee on Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

So far this year, there have been eight pedestrians killed on O‘ahu’s roads. Advocates say one solution includes revamping streets to make them safer for all users, whether on bike, car or foot. Hawaii Public Radio.

Honolulu has a new claim to fame. It has the most expensive cost of bread in the world, according to expatistan.com. Pacific Business News.

As rail construction makes its way to the city, small businesses owners in Kalihi are bracing themselves. Pre-construction has already begun along Dillingham Boulevard and major construction is set to begin sometime between 2017 and 2018. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii

The battle of the budget is officially over, with House and Senate committees agreeing Thursday on the 2016-17 supplemental funding bill. Here’s how West Hawaii fared. West Hawaii Today.

The parents of Peter Kema Jr., aka “Peter Boy,” are in police custody and have been charged with his murder. Peter Kema Sr., 45, was arrested at 5:31 p.m. Thursday and charged with second-degree murder for the 1997 death of his 6-year-old son. Kema was already in custody at the police cellblock, having been arrested earlier in the afternoon on a charge of driving without a license. Tribune-Herald.

The 19-year-old disappearance of a 6-year-old Big Island boy, who would have turned 25 on Sunday had he lived, will finally be adjudicated. Star-Advertiser.

Around 15 people testified against tuition increases at a roughly two-hour meeting, which was one of 11 held statewide this spring to gather feedback before regents convene next month to make revisions. A second meeting was held at UH-Hilo later in the day. Tribune-Herald.

Big Island Invasive Species Committee collaborates with retail giant to remove night-blooming jasmine and medinilla from garden centers in Hawaii. Big Island Video News.

Maui

On Thursday, House Bill 2501 HD2 SD 2 CD1, or the Maui water rights bill, was approved. The bill allows Alexander & Baldwin Inc. to continue a previously authorized disposition of water rights for three years or until its pending application for water rights is resolved, whichever occurs sooner. KITV4.

The House on Thursday passed a controversial bill that would allow Alexander & Baldwin to retain the rights to the water flowing through dozens of streams in East Maui while administrative and legal challenges to its request for a long-term lease for water are resolved. Star-Advertiser.

The House voted Thursday evening to approve a bill that lets Alexander & Baldwin continue leasing stream water from East Maui, to divert to farmland in Central Maui, where the last sugar mill in Hawaii is soon to close. That sets up House Bill 2501 for its final vote in the Senate on Tuesday. If passed, the bill would then head to Gov. David Ige for his signature. Civil Beat.

Alexander & Baldwin Properties' new residential community in north Kihei is accepting applications for its first neighborhood, which includes up to 170 condominium homes. Maui News.

Kauai

The Kalalau Valley is world renown for its majestic scenery and breathtaking wilderness. Because of that, it’s a nest of illegal camping activity and ground zero for periodic enforcement sweeps by the Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement. Garden Island.

A 19-year-old Eleele man was arrested Thursday in connection with an attack on a Hawaiian monk seal at a Kauai beach. Star-Advertiser.

Shylo Akuna was picked up by Department of Land and Natural Resources DOCARE and NOAA Office of Law Enforcement special agents around 2:30 p.m., just two days after a video showing a man harassing a well-known Kauai monk seal named RK30 began circulating the internet. Garden Island.

The trial for the Kauai police officer charged with negligent homicide for allegedly causing the death of a 19-year-old man on Kaumalii Highway has been moved to October. Garden Island.

Ige seeks enhanced trespassing laws, millions for Hawaiian Home Lands, state recruits Mainland teachers, grand jury mulls Honolulu police corruption, OT raises county costs, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Pocket park along Diamond Head © 2016 All Hawaii News

Gov. David Ige’s administration wants to make it a crime to trespass on all state lands, but homeless advocates worry that could give homeless people a criminal record by expanding the areas that are off-limits to set up camp. Associated Press.

Gov. David Ige announced Monday he will ask the Legislature to boost funding for the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands by millions of dollars, representing the “highest level of funding” that the department has ever received from the state. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige is asking lawmakers to give an additional $20 million to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands over the next two years. Associated Press.

Gov. David Ige announced Monday he is asking state lawmakers to approve $17.1 million to cover the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands’ operating budget and administrative expenses for fiscal 2016, which ends June 30. Civil Beat.

Gov. David Ige is proposing to almost double the Department of Hawaiian Home Land’s administration and operation budget for the next two fiscal years. Garden Island.

The Hawaii Department of Education is finishing the last two of five Mainland recruiting trips this week as officials scramble to deal with a growing teacher shortage. Hawaii News Now.

As the Zika outbreak takes hold in Latin America, researchers thousands of miles away in Hawaii are using data to figure out where it might spread next. Associated Press.

Hawaii Gas, which has plans to ship liquefied natural gas in bulk amounts to the Islands as a replacement for oil, among other uses, has sliced its project cost for this venture by $100 million. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

A grand jury is looking into allegations of civil rights abuses and corruption by the Honolulu Police Department that emerged from a theft case involving the police chief’s mailbox, a federal public defender said Monday. Associated Press.

The Honolulu mayor’s race is slowly taking shape as three seasoned politicians appear to be positioning themselves for potential challenges to incumbent Kirk Caldwell. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Ethics Commission Executive Director Chuck Totto was back at work Monday after a month-long suspension over allegations of improper management and possible violations of the Hawaii Whistleblower Protection Act.  Civil Beat.

A community park has been left in disrepair for years. Community members want the city to let them take over upkeep. But with so many other parks across the city also in need of help could this be the answer to keeping up with Honolulu’s neglected parks? KHON2.

Turtle Bay Resort plans to expand farming on land mauka of its hotel on Oahu’s North Shore, following completion of a $6 million deal Monday to preserve the agricultural property. Star-Advertiser.

An independent investigation is underway to determine the cause of a laboratory explosion last month at the University of Hawaii at Manoa that seriously injured a 29-year-old researcher. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Overtime pay is driving some county employees’ salaries much higher than their bosses’ and even higher than the mayor’s, the chief elected official on the island. Mayor Billy Kenoi makes $132,000. In fact, some Hawaii County employees make more than the governor. West Hawaii Today.

Perspectives on Mayor Billy Kenoi's Legal and Personal Futures. Hawaii Public Radio.

A range fire that began March 24 within the Pohakuloa Training Area (PTA) on Hawaii island during a combined armed live-fire exercise is contained but still smoldering near Range 3 in the PTA impact area, where officials say it is running out of fuel. Hawaii Independent.

After three decades of growing bananas, Richard Ha has overseen his last harvest. On Friday, the Ha family and their farm workers gave away 300 boxes – close to 12,000 pounds – of Hamakua Springs Country Farms bananas at the Hilo soccer fields. Big Island Video News.

Maui

An agricultural giant would be allowed to continue diverting water from East Maui streams for three years under legislation that cleared a critical committee Monday at the Capitol. Civil Beat.

An energy industry veteran from Colorado has been tapped to be the next energy commissioner of Maui County, filling the spot vacated by Doug McLeod, who recently left to become an energy and real estate consultant, the county said. Pacific Business News.

Discovery Land Company, a luxury community developer, is preparing for the construction phase of its development of Makena Golf & Beach Club at Makena Beach & Golf Resort, which will close on July 1, 2016. Maui Now.

Kauai

A proposed roving Jet Ski patrol program stayed afloat Monday in the wake of intense scrutiny of the county’s police and fire budgets. Garden Island.

Nadine Nakamura, managing director for the County of Kauai, formally filed her papers to run for the State House of Representatives, District 14, Monday. Garden Island.

GMO hearings planned for June, rail officials want Ala Moana station, bond sale saves state $32.8M, judges shun Kenoi case, OHA's Lindesey suffers stroke, PR for Honolulu police, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Store display in Hilo © 2016 All Hawaii News

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals may hold hearings in June on three cases related to genetically modified farming in Kauai, Maui and Hawaii counties. The appeals court hasn’t officially scheduled the hearings yet, but it notified parties recently that they may be held June 13-17 in Honolulu. Civil Beat.

Gov. David Ige’s plans to address Hawaii’s homelessness crisis and affordable-housing shortage are competing for funding with other priorities in the Legislature, and some advocates are concerned that lawmakers are not setting aside enough money to solve those pressing problems. Associated Press.

The state refinanced $345 million in general obligation bonds Thursday in a move that will save the state $32.8 million during the next eight years, according to an announcement from Gov. David Ige. Star-Advertiser.

A bill to allow the cultivation and distribution of industrial hemp for research was approved by the House Finance Committee on Friday. Civil Beat.

Hawaii spends roughly $17 million a year on the salaries of state employees whose main mission is to keep the islands safe from natural- and human-caused disasters. Civil Beat.

State utility regulators are weighing a switch to smart meters for thousands of Hawaiian Electric Co. customers. Associated Press.

Embattled telecommunications company Sandwich Isles Communications has asked the Hawaiian Homes Commission to certify it as an eligible telecommunications carrier so that it can potentially resume receiving millions of dollars in federal ratepayer funds to subsidize its phone and Internet service on Hawaiian homelands. Star-Advertiser.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs Chairperson, Robert K. Lindsey Jr., suffered a stroke a few weeks ago, and the agency says he is now in the process of recuperating. Big Island Video News.

The University of Hawaii will be presenting its proposed tuition schedule for fall 2017 through spring 2020 to the community at public meetings statewide from Monday, March 28 to Thursday, May 5. KHON2.

Oahu

City rail officials appear to be massaging their construction schedule to preclude the Legislature, City Council and public from any temptation to stop the financially troubled $6.57 billion project at Middle Street instead of running to Ala Moana Center. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu Police Department will pay a public relations firm about $125,000 over a year to train its two police public relations professionals as well as leaders and officers. Associated Press.

When they were announced last year, accessory dwelling units were touted as a potential quick fix to help alleviate O‘ahu’s housing shortage. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii

It appears no Big Island judge will hear the pending theft trial of Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi. Tribune-Herald.

The state indictment charging Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi with theft and lying about purchases he made with his county-issued credit card does not include any of the more egregious allegations, including that he used the card to pay Honolulu hostess bar tabs, to buy a surfboard and bicycle or to pay his state lawyer association dues, according to an analysis of the credit card statements. Star-Advertiser.

Retired Hawaii Island Circuit Court Judge Riki May Amano has been chosen as the hearings officer to conduct a new contested case hearing regarding the proposed Thirty Meter Telescope project atop Mauna Kea, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources announced Friday. Civil Beat.

A retired Hawaii state judge will serve as a hearing officer for a contested case hearing redo for the Thirty Meter Telescope land permit, the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources said. Pacific Business News.

A bill to privatize Honokohau Harbor after years of disrepair is gaining steam at the Capitol. And the state agency which now oversees the facility is backing what could become a model for privatization of small boat harbors across Hawaii. West Hawaii Today.

A group of Papaikou mill beach users and their supporters stood along Highway 19 on Friday to again urge Hawaii County officials to make the only trail to the small black sand beach a public path.Tribune-Herald.

A Life Flight helicopter which has been allowed to permanently park on Hilo Medical Center’s helipad will soon be getting the boot. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

The Special Committee on County Governance voted 6-5 on Thursday afternoon to pursue some form of county manager government. Maui News.

Hawaiian Electric Cos., including subsidiary Maui Electric Co., is seeking to embark on a $340 million project to install smart grid technology which will allow customers to monitor their electricity use by computers or mobile devices and the utility to improve grid operations and integration of renewable energy. Maui News.

Kauai

Creating transportation alternatives that would decrease Kauai’s traffic congestion and carbon footprint is a long road. Garden Island.

State health officials are blaming the fecal waste of feral pigs, sheep, rats, birds and possibly a dozen land tortoises for polluting a stream that people frequent on the south shore of Kauai. Civil Beat.

In its continuing effort to maximizing efficiency, the Kauai Transportation Agency next month plans to implement new bus routes, resulting in savings of up to $120,000, according to the county. Garden Island.

Lanai

Technical difficulties in maintaining clear videoconference or phone communications with Lanai testifiers pulled the plug on the Maui County Council's attempt to pass the Lanai Community Plan update on first reading Friday. Maui News.

House Finance Committee tries to stanch red ink, Honolulu police chief gets glowing review despite federal probe, Trump and aloha spirit, Maui waste-to-energy plant could be $35M over budget, Pearl Harbor sailor buried 75 years later, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Humpback headstand, courtesy NOAA

Scientists are reporting peculiar behavior among this season’s humpback whales. A recent video by NOAA's Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary shows a female humpback standing upside down with her tail sticking out of the water, performing a sort of underwater headstand. Hawaii Public Radio.

Humpback whale video here.

House Finance Chairwoman Sylvia Luke on Wednesday unveiled a proposed $13.7 billion budget for the coming year, but said she isn’t willing to commit just yet to some of Gov. David Ige’s most expensive spending initiatives. Star-Advertiser.

The House Finance Committee took its first pass at the overall state budget bill Wednesday. It left largely intact Hawaii Gov. David Ige’s proposed $7.1 billion general fund spending plan for next fiscal year, which begins July 1. Civil Beat.

Legislators are advancing a bill that effectively would shut out the public from the decision-making process in the awarding of temporary land permits by the state Department of Transportation. Star-Advertiser.

Some political observers wondered how Donald Trump, a candidate who has insulted so many — women, minorities, veterans, the physically challenged, entire countries — and bragged so much could so easily prevail in an island state that is said to revere respect, tolerance and modesty. Civil Beat.

Commentary: Lawmakers Return To The Bad Old Days Of Backroom Deals. A political fight over funding for the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands has unfairly ensnared the judicial system. Civil Beat.

President Barack Obama has selected Hawaii’s High Technology Development Corp. along with 14 others to join the a national initiative to train the workforce for technology jobs. Pacific Business News.

Commentary:  What really happened at the ʻAha, part II. Whitewashed press releases, a sinister state bill and a flippant disregard for the rules of the Native Hawaiian convention. Hawaii Independent.

Oahu

The Honolulu Police Commission on Wednesday gave police Chief Louis Kealoha an above-average score for his job performance for last year, marking four consecutive years of high marks. Star-Advertiser.

Federal investigation into police chief broadens. Hawaii News Now.

The Honolulu Police Commission announced Wednesday the results of its annual performance evaluation of Chief Louis Kealoha. KHON2.

City building officials this week gave a Makiki homeowner a second notice to clean up his Pensacola Street property — which is littered with three derelict vehicles, old furniture and trash — within 30 days or face additional fines. Star-Advertiser.

A sailor killed in the attack on Pearl Harbor has been buried with full military honors nearly 75 years later. Associated Press.

75 years later, a Navy sailor killed in the attack on Pearl Harbor has gotten a proper burial. Petty Officer 1st Class Vernon Luke was laid to rest during a ceremony Wednesday at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii

With support from Gov. David Ige and the state Legislature, all systems are go for a $50 million upgrade to make Kona International Airport ready to welcome international commercial flights again. West Hawaii Today.

A new trail the state plans to open later this year will offer hikers and other outdoor enthusiasts an up-close look at Hawaii’s dryland forests, home to the rare Hawaiian honeycreeper ­— the palila. Tribune-Herald.

The state health department has released a new dengue fever risk map, and it appears Hawaii Island is on the verge of ending the mosquito-borne disease outbreak. Big Island Video News.

No new cases of dengue fever were confirmed on Hawaii Island on Wednesday. The Kailua-Kona area, previously deemed the lone area on the island where people were at a high risk for infection, has been downgraded to a low-risk area. West Hawaii Today.

Legislators now are looking to public-private partnerships — similar to those being pursued by Maui and East Hawaii — in the hope there might be a way to slow or stop the onslaught of invasive pests on Hawaii Island’s delicate ecosystems. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

A 20-year agreement signed by Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa for a waste-to-energy facility is projected to cost Maui County taxpayers $35 million more than expected, an audit released Wednesday revealed. Star-Advertiser.

County Defends Solid Waste Costs Following Release of Audit Report. Maui Now.

As Kaiser Permanente Hawaii prepares to assume management of the state hospitals on Maui by July 1, the health care provider began distributing job packets and offers on Wednesday. Pacific Business News.

Kauai

Hawaii should dramatically improve its regulation of pesticide use and study its impacts — something the Legislature has repeatedly refused to do — according to a draft version of a report commissioned by the state and Kauai County. Civil Beat.

Frustrated with what they called a lack of support from the state in addressing major transportation problems on Kauai, the county council on Wednesday lashed out at state officials for their “ineffectiveness” in handling crucial local road needs. Garden Island.

Lanai

Hawaiian Airlines is filling some of the void created when Island Air pulled out of the Lanai market. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Airlines’ interisland subsidiary, Ohana by Hawaiian, plans to add daily flights to Lanai in May, following an announcement by Island Air that it would cease flights to the Pineapple Island by the end of this month. Pacific Business News.

Legislature seeks to remove shroud of secrecy surrounding police departments, Honolulu PD promotes cop with criminal record, Ige seeks $5M for United Way to combat homelessness, Honolulu voters oppose rail in poll, money for Native Hawaiians, arguments begin in Maui cane-burning lawsuit, Coco Palms races deadline, new hearings on Thirty Meter Telescope, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii police on parade © 2016 All Hawaii News

A bill that could unravel years of secrecy surrounding police officer misconduct in Hawaii  cleared its first hurdle Thursday at the State Capitol. The Senate Public Safety Committee passed Senate Bill 3016, which would change the state’s public records law to allow access to information in the disciplinary files of police officers who’ve been suspended. Civil Beat.

Gov. David Ige wants Aloha United Way to build on its existing efforts to combat homelessness by funneling $5 million of state money throughout the islands over the next year with the goal of immediately helping 1,300 households get off the streets or avoid becoming homeless. Star-Advertiser.

One in five people in Hawaii qualify for public housing -- but only one in 20 get in. In other words, there's too much demand for affordable rentals and not enough supply. Hawaii News Now.

A House committee this week shelved a proposal to fly homeless people back to the mainland, representing the fourth consecutive year the idea has died in the state Legislature. Star-Advertiser.

The state agency responsible for improving the well-being of Native Hawaiians is asking the legislature to lift a decade-old funding restriction. Hawaii Public Radio.

After listening to Hawaii residents speak out against vaccines and saying they cause everything from autism to the Zika virus, Hawaii lawmakers killed a bill to speed up the state’s process for adopting federal vaccination guidelines. Associated Press.

Hundreds of Hawaii teachers and their supporters are expected to rally today at the Hawaii State Capitol to support a 10-part education bill that officials believe will improve the state’s school system. Garden Island.

The House Higher Education Committee gave initial approval this week to measures that would impose legislative control over tuition hikes and new construction at the University of Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

With less than five months until medical marijuana dispensaries are up and running, Hawaii lawmakers are considering a bill to create an oversight committee for the future industry. Associated Press.

A proposed bill could make intrastate crowdfunding in Hawaii simpler, by easing regulations required by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Pacific Business News.

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz had $2.6 million in cash on hand as of Dec. 31. According to his year-end filing with the Federal Election Commission, the Democrat raised a hefty $400,000 in the fourth quarter. Civil Beat.

It's been nearly seven years since the Hawaii Superferry shut down. Now there's talk of bringing a similar system back to the islands. KITV4.

Competition from Virgin America is driving down California-Hawaii flight fares. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

Three out of four Hawaii voters say they either feel that Oahu’s rail project is a bad idea, or that they are troubled by how it’s progressing. A mere 16 percent of voters say they feel good about the $6.6 billion project, one marked by revenue shortages, construction delays and costs overruns. Civil Beat.

Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha has promoted to assistant chief an officer who was convicted of assaulting a family member in 1994 and has had two temporary restraining orders sought against him in the years since. Civil Beat.

Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha defended the promotion of a major who was arrested in 1994 for domestic violence after a lawmaker complained the selection is bad for the department's image. Associated Press.

Police are trying to cut back on the number of dismissed DUI cases, while courts are moving to clear a backlog of cases. KHON2.

The University of Hawaii-Manoa and two of its faculty members squared off before the Hawaii Labor Relations Board on Thursday in a case that could have implications for the university’s reputation and its ability to attract high-quality faculty. Civil Beat.

Overcrowding stresses Waianae bus routes. Star-Advertiser.

SunEdison Inc.’s planned 50-megawatt solar energy farm on Oahu’s North Shore may be in serious jeopardy of not being developed, according to public documents filed this week. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

A judge on Thursday cleared the way for a new round of hearings by the state Board of Land and Natural Resources on the proposed Thirty Meter Telescope near the summit of Mauna Kea. Tribune-Herald.

The Windward Planning Commission declared Banyan Drive “blighted” Thursday as it voted unanimously to form a new redevelopment agency. Tribune-Herald.

Two companies seeking to expand quarry operations in Hawaiian Ocean View Estates got a green light Thursday from the Windward Planning Commission, but the go-ahead comes with conditions attached. West Hawaii Today.

Residents in the heart of dengue territory in South Kona are nervous about the disease, and still want more done to address an outbreak that has dragged on for four months now. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii Island representatives are hoping the third try is the charm for a bill that would bolster ambulance services in Puna. Tribune-Herald.

After using a stun gun and beating a Kona man while he lay incapacitated on the ground, Hawaii County police delayed seeking medical attention for the 39-year-old resulting in his death, a lawsuit filed on behalf of Randall Hatori by his brother claims. West Hawaii Today.

An investigation is underway on the Big Island following a police-involved shooting early Friday, authorities said. Hawaii News Now.

Eighteen months after thousands of albizia trees toppled by Tropical Storm Iselle damaged homes, blocked roadways and knocked out power in lower Puna, multiple bills up for discussion by legislators this session appear poised to tackle the troublesome invasive species. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Arguments begin in Stop Cane Burning lawsuit. If Stop Cane Burning and three Maui residents prevail in their lawsuit, it could impact more than 140 agricultural operations in the state - including taro farmers - and invalidate Hawaii's air pollution controls, said an attorney for defendants in the case, which include the state and Alexander & Baldwin, parent company of Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co. Maui News.

Mayor Alan Arakawa, Public Works Director David Goode and officials with the Mayor's Office of Economic Development and Maui Police Department will be attending a Makawao community meeting at 6:30 p.m. today in the Makawao School cafeteria. Maui News.

The Maui Police Department reports that their forensic facility currently has 11 unclaimed remains. Maui Now.

Rock work on a large scale progresses along the new Kahului Airport access road near the airport Tuesday. Maui News.

Kauai

The County Council on Thursday waded through details of changing to a council/mayor system of government that employs a county manager. Garden Island.

Developers committed to rebuilding the shuttered Coco Palms Hotel on Kauai are at risk of having their redevelopment permits revoked because of a lag in planned demolition work. Star-Advertiser.

Mount Waialeale, known as one of the wettest spots on Earth, was far from it in January. Garden Island.

Lanai
Maui County Council members will take up the Lanai Community Plan update at their regular meeting Friday and, again, at a public hearing March 12 on Lanai. Maui News.