Showing posts with label Police Chief Susan Ballard. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Police Chief Susan Ballard. Show all posts

Monday, April 12, 2021

Hawaii vaccine passport to start inter-island as soon as next month, Honolulu police chief quits, Hokulea navigator Baybayan dead at 65, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2021 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Native Hawaiians guarding the Hokulea ©2021 All Hawaii News

Crews Mourn The ‘Unreal’ Death Of One Of Hawaii’s Greatest Navigators. Kalepa Baybayan, a longtime Hokule‘a captain who helped rekindle traditional navigation in the Pacific, died suddenly in Seattle on Thursday. Civil Beat. Big Island Video News. Hawaii News Now.

Ige Details Plans For A Hawaii Vaccine Passport. The governor’s latest emergency proclamation also extends an eviction moratorium through June. Civil Beat. Hawaii Public Radio. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

In newest emergency proclamation, Ige extends eviction moratorium through June. Through extending the eviction moratorium through June 8, tenants are prohibited from evicting residents for failure to pay all or a portion of rent, maintenance fees, utility charges, and taxes. Hawaii News Now.

Some businesses are facing a new challenge: Hiring workers back. Businesses said they want to hire more people, but some managers report they’re having a hard time convincing folks to come back to work. Hawaii News Now.

=====

Automatic voter registration bill nears passage. Senate Bill 159 would make voter registration part of the application process for a driver’s license or identification card. West Hawaii Today.

Bans On High Capacity Magazines For Guns Fail At Legislature. Bills to legalize recreational marijuana and collect more data on police use of force also stall. Civil Beat.

State lawmakers advance bill on rise in sea level.
House Bill 243, which unanimously passed the Ways and Means Committee on Wednesday, would require the Office of Planning to work with state departments to identify existing and planned facilities that are vulnerable to the increased flooding and more powerful storms that are anticipated with climate change, and assess options such as flood-proofing or relocating buildings and infrastructure inland. Star-Advertiser.

Legislation proposes dramatic increases to fines for Hawaii tour buses that continue illegal activity. Under Senate Bill 766 the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission, which regulates motor carriers, would be able to significantly increase fines for tour buses that repeatedly flout Hawaii’s laws. Star-Advertiser.

=====

ACLU Hawai'i pushes to continue early-inmate releases. The fight over releasing inmates in the name of the pandemic continues. The ACLU of Hawai'i filed an amicus brief on Wednesday, appealing to the Hawai'i Supreme Court. KITV4.

Police Shootings Board Is Still Doing Nothing As Cases Pile Up. The eight-member board is now down three members and still has no clear plan on when to resume business. Civil Beat.

Ige Withdraws Land Board Nominee Sam Gon. Gov. David Ige has pulled back on one of his picks for the state land board who has generated some community opposition in the past for his support of controversial projects, including the Na Pua Makani wind farm in Kahuku and the Thirty Meter Telescope. Civil Beat.

State ordered to pay $370K in attorneys fees in Hawaiian land trust case. The state is poised to pay $370,418 in attorneys fees after losing a class-action lawsuit filed on behalf of more than 2,700 Native Hawaiians who spent years languishing on the waitlist for homestead land. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Senate VP Says Ige Is ‘Skirting’ Board of Education Nomination Process. The statement came after the governor didn’t submit enough nominees for consideration for upcoming vacancies. Civil Beat.

Home schooling rates soar during pandemic in Hawaii and nationally.
Nearly twice as many families in Hawaii decided to home-school their children this academic year as last year, according to new data from public schools and the Census Bureau. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii schools report 47 new cases of COVID-19.
Coronavirus cases among public school staff and students have been on the rise in recent weeks as more campuses have returned to in-person instruction. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu’s vaccine eligibility expands this week, but the state isn’t getting more doses. Over the next couple weeks, hundreds of thousands more Oahu residents will become eligible for the COVID vaccine. But at the same time, health officials say the federal government will be sending fewer shots. Hawaii News Now.

Some islands have open appointments despite vaccine eligibility increasing. To date, about 20% of Hawaii and Oahu residents have received two doses of the vaccine. Kauai leads the way with 30% of residents with two doses, and Maui is at 18%. KHON2.

April 11, 2021 COVID-19 Update: The state Department of Health reports that there were 92 additional COVID-19 cases reported in Hawai‘i on Sunday, including 72 on O‘ahu, 11 on Maui, six on Hawai‘i Island, and three in Hawai‘i residents diagnosed while out of state. Maui Now.

Oahu

Embattled Honolulu Police Chief Announces Retirement. Chief Susan Ballard said she had lost the support of the Honolulu Police Commission and Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s administration. Civil Beat. Associated Press. Hawaii News Now.

Pay to Play: Some who have dealt with Honolulu’s Department of Planning and Permitting say bribes helped smooth approval process. The U.S. Attorney’s Office charged current and former building plan examiners, a data access and imaging employee, and a building inspector with soliciting thousands of dollars to move building permits through the city approval process. An architect also was charged. Star-Advertiser.

Why One Developer Is Banking On More Digital Nomads Coming To Hawaii. With people flocking to Hawaii to work remotely, a local builder known for affordable green homes is creating a co-living space in an Ala Moana penthouse. Civil Beat.

Bikeshare Hawaii regroups to cut costs, starts removing some stations. Bikeshare Hawaii, the nonprofit organization that manages the Biki bikeshare business, said it will decommission many stations over the next few months as part of an urgent cost-saving plan to survive pandemic-related losses. Star-Advertiser.

Permit challenges paint a grim picture for the future of a beloved Oahu art exhibit
. Organizers of the ‘Art on the Zoo Fence,’ a popular venue for local residents and tourists since 1953, said they may be forced to fold if the city doesn’t reissue permits for them to reopen. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Council set to scrutinize budget
: Department heads to plead their case in three days of hearings. The County Council, sitting as the Finance Committee, is poised to take a deep dive into the county budget Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. West Hawaii Today.

BLNR fines Ka‘u dam owner:
Edmund C. Olson Trust ordered to pay $7,500 for unaddressed deficiencies. The Board of Land and Natural Resources Friday fined the Edmund C. Olson Trust, owner of the Keaiwa Reservoir above Pahala, for failure to comply with a notice of deficiency issued in February 2020. West Hawaii Today.

Thirty Meter Telescope still on hold
as it deals with pandemic, funding issues. TMT officials Friday said construction near the summit remains on hold as the project continues to assess a number of factors affecting its timeline and schedule. Star-Advertiser.

Rent at housing project on Big Isle starts at $350. A nonprofit developer has started to build an affordable rental housing complex for families on Hawaii island where monthly rents are projected to be as low as $350. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

Frustrated residents push back as Hawaii tourism resurges. Saturday’s “Take Back Our Beach” event calling on residents to pack the beach fronting the Four Seasons and the Grand Wailea resorts was a clear line in the sand. Star-Advertiser.

Preliminary Data: 6,441 Passengers Arriving Daily to Kahului, Maui.
The Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation encourages people planning to fly to or from Hawaiʻi’s Airports to prepare for a busy summer travel season. Maui Now.

Maui County has highest California variant cases in state. Maui County has the largest amount of the highly transmissible California variant among specimens analyzed by the state Department of Health’s Laboratories Division. Maui News.

Health centers look to fill gaps in vaccination efforts.
Providers navigate transportation, language barriers to connect with patients. Maui News.

Kauai

Bill seeks to clarify allowed campgrounds. A bill to define the types of campgrounds allowed on Kaua‘i is moving into the realm of the Planning Commission. Garden Island.

Waipouli residents against acquisition of land for path. Coastal erosion, disrupting shearwater seabirds and a waste of taxpayer dollars are reasons cited for resident protest against possible action by the county to acquire private land for the bike and pedestrian path, Ke Ala Hele Makalae. Garden Island.

Kikiaola harbor improvements begin.
Work on the Kikiaola Small Boat Harbor improvement project got underway Friday as workers from Cushnie Construction Company secured fencing for areas of the facility that will be getting concrete applications. Garden Island.

Monday, April 5, 2021

Vaccine passport coming to Hawaii, coronavirus surge could take Honolulu back to Tier 2, Maui to begin vaccinating 16-year-olds and up, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

 

copyright 2021 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Hawaii travel ©2021 All Hawaii News

New CDC Guidance Paves The Way For Hawaii To Implement ‘Vaccine Passports’. Guidance issued Friday by the CDC gives Hawaii the green light to modify the program that lets arriving travelers avoid a 10-day quarantine by showing proof of full vaccination, the program’s author said. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

Hawaii Parents Say ‘So Far, So Good’ As Schools Push Toward Full Reopening. Schools had to get creative to accommodate more in-person students while maintaining safety protocols to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Civil Beat.

DOE still waiting on funds, approval to address COVID learning loss. Under the state's allotment of the American Rescue Plan funds for education, the department must use 20 percent of the money to mitigate learning loss, or about $78 million. KITV4.

Hawaii lawmakers poised to reform program that allows police to seize cash and cars. Hawaii lawmakers are poised to pass legislation reforming the state’s civil asset forfeiture program, which allows law enforcement agencies to seize property, such as cars and cash, that they suspect is connected to criminal activity. Star-Advertiser.

Police reform bills progress in Legislature.
As the 2021 legislative session got underway, lawmakers were facing calls to pass measures aimed at law enforcement reforms largely in response to police-involved shootings and other deadly incidents here and on the mainland. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Data Landscape: Antiquated Infrastructure, Widespread Distrust. New report from the Hawaii Data Collaborative lays out the challenges faced by the state’s data ecosystem and recommendations on how to move forward. Civil Beat.

State unemployment office to offer help via phone or video appointment. Come Monday, April 5, claimants can sign up for an appointment to speak directly with unemployment staff, either by phone or via video. KITV4.

Consumer aid, vaccines keep state bankruptcies declining. Statewide bankruptcies in March declined 4.3% to 135 from 141 in the year- earlier period, according to new data released by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Hawaii. Through the first quarter of the year, filings are down 20% to 318 from 398 at the same time a year ago. Star-Advertiser.

April 4, 2021 COVID-19 Update: The state Department of Health reports that there were 96 additional COVID-19 cases reported in Hawai‘i on Sunday, including 51 on O‘ahu, 26 on Maui, 15 on Hawai‘i Island, and four in Hawai‘i residents diagnosed while out of state. Maui Now.

Oahu

Oahu moved up to Tier 3 on Feb. 25; the case count has climbed since March. Mayor Rick Blangiardi will likely have a tough decision to make this week when the Wednesday COVID-19 numbers are reported for Oahu. Star-Advertiser. KHON2.

HPD Chief Susan Ballard Is Up For Review This Week. Is She Still Up To The Job?. Four years ago, she was praised for righting a department in turmoil. Now, under fire from critics inside and outside the department, Ballard faces a new assessment from the Honolulu Police Commission. Civil Beat.

Watchdogs question HPD chief’s personal purchases from vendors awarded CARES Act funds.
Honolulu Police Chief Susan Ballard bought personal equipment from companies that her agency awarded CARES Act contracts to, Hawaii News Now has learned. Watchdog groups are calling the purchases a conflict of interest. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu mulls registering, regulating, short-term vacation rentals. On Oahu, regulation of short-term rentals has been an especially contentious issue, which some hope will soon come to a head — especially given the rebounding market. There’s a chance for both sides to contribute to bringing additional clarity to the issue Tuesday when the city Department of Planning and Permitting holds a public hearing on the draft rules to regulate and register short-term rentals on Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

University of Hawaii study offers ways Honolulu can adapt to rising ocean waters.
Scientists have been warning that Hawaii could face as much as 3 feet of sea level rise over the coming decades, and Honolulu is perhaps the most vulnerable as coastal flooding threatens to force as many as 13,300 people from their homes and cause an estimated $12.9 billion in economic losses. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

Embattled hotel and condo project near Ala Moana Center hits another major snag. The Hawaii Ocean Plaza — whose plans call for 175 hotel rooms and 216 condos — is part of the city’s transit-oriented development program that allows developers to build more hotel and apartment units. Hawaii News Now.

Remote-working trend for Honolulu employees is here to stay — one year later. More than a year after most companies sent office employees home to work remotely to comply with COVID-19 government mandates, many continue to do so, even as vaccinations are well under way. Star-Advertiser.

Tourism in Waikiki surges, but will it stick? The beaches along world-famous Waikiki on Saturday looked a lot like they did before COVID-19 took hold of the planet: packed. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Auditor candidates narrowed to two: County has been without an auditor five months. A County Council subcommittee searching for a county auditor has narrowed the list to two mainland candidates. West Hawaii Today.

Councilman calls for county to curb climbing coverage costs. Puna Councilman Matt Kaneali‘i-Kleinfelder will introduce a resolution at the County Committee on Governmental Operations, Relations and Economic Development on Tuesday urging the Department of Finance to investigate options to lower home insurance premiums in Lava Zones 1 and 2. Tribune-Herald.

Airport hotel bond bill still alive: Bill would provide up to $50M in revenue bond funding. A bill to issue up to $50 million in revenue bonds for a planned hotel at Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole continues to make it through the Legislature for a final hearing. West Hawaii Today.

Vaccinating the homeless: Clinics in Hilo, Kona slated for April 14. HOPE Services Hawaii will work with West Hawaii Community Health Center and Bay Clinic to help vaccinate the Big Island’s homeless population. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui Health to Expand Vaccine Registration to All Residents 16 and Older Starting Monday, April 5. Maui Health announced this afternoon that it will follow the recent announcement by the Maui District Health Office as well as Hawaiʻi and Kauaʻi counties and expand its vaccine efforts to include registration for all residents ages 16* and older, starting Monday, April 5, 2021. Maui Now.

Want to rent a car? It’ll cost you. High demand and short supply that are causing exorbitant prices for rental autos have also been a boon to locally owned rental car companies on Maui. Maui News.

Maui small businesses have no choice but to change. Economists optimistic for recovery but uncertain over long-lasting damage. Maui News.

Kauai

Managing feral-cat populations. In fiscal-year 2021, the county allocated $50,000 to feral-cat control. This upcoming fiscal year, the budget proposes $120,000. Garden Island.

Hyatt associates get more food. The Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i Resort &Spa’s lobby fronting the registration desk bustled with activity Thursday during the final food drive for its furloughed associates. Garden Island.


Friday, August 7, 2020

Interisland travel quarantine returns, Honolulu closes parks and beaches, hospitals near capacity as COVID-19 climbs, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

from Facebook livestream
Honolulu Police Chief Susan Ballard, Facebook live
14-day interisland quarantine returns. COVID-19 cases rising rapidly — including 152 cases and two deaths announced Thursday — Gov. David Ige imposed a partial 14-day quarantine on interisland travel effective Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

The Interisland Travel Quarantine Is Coming Back, Oahu Beaches And Parks To Close Again. Oahu crackdown begins Saturday, with partial interisland travel quarantine to follow on Tuesday. Gov. David Ige says an announcement on schools and colleges is coming soon. Civil Beat.

Inter-island quarantine reinstated for neighbor island travel after Oahu cases spike. On Thursday, Gov. David Ige said the 14-day interisland quarantine will be reinstated for all inter-island travelers. KHON2.

Ige reinstates quarantine; Anderson warns virus cases could top 500 daily. State officials are clamping down on interisland travel in an effort to steer Hawaii away from the precipice of a medical crisis. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii Inter-Island Travel Quarantine To Go Back In Effect. As COVID-19 cases surge on Oʻahu, the governor announced the mandatory 14-day quarantine for anyone traveling interisland will be reinstituted effective next Tuesday, August 11. Big Island Video News.

Interisland Travel Quarantine Reinstated, as Restrictions Return in Force to O‘ahu. Big Island Now.

Interisland quarantine coming back. Governor David Ige on Thursday announced the reinstatement of a partial interisland travel quarantine effective Tuesday, Aug. 11, prompted by a statewide surge of COVID-19 cases and discussions with county mayors. Garden Island.

Interisland travel quarantine to restart Tuesday, Ige says. Gov. David Ige announced today that the mandatory 14-day interisland travel quarantine will be reinstated beginning Tuesday. Maui News.

Governor Reinstates Interisland Quarantine for Arrivals on Neighbor Islands, Starting Aug. 11. Governor David Ige this afternoon announced he is reinstating the mandatory 14-day interisland travel quarantine for anyone traveling interisland. Maui Now.

=====

Governor Ige and officials take action, implement restrictions to combat spread of COVID-19. Governor David Ige, Mayor Kirk Caldwell, Honolulu Police Chief Susan Ballard, and Honolulu's Acting Prosecuting Attorney Dwight Nadamoto held a press conference on Thursday to discuss the actions the state plans to take to combat the spread of COVID-19. KITV4.

The Latest: 2 More Deaths, 152 Cases; Governor OKs Rollback On Interisland Travel, Oahu Reopening. Starting Tuesday, the 14-day mandatory quarantine for interisland travel will be reinstated, Gov. David Ige announced today. Restrictions on Oahu also will return, including closure of city and state parks and beaches starting tomorrow at midnight and extending to Sept. 4. Hawaii Public Radio.

Governor noncommittal on next steps for schools, trans-Pacific travel plans. During a news conference Thursday, as coronavirus cases across the state continue to soar, Gov. David Ige declined to address how the latest set of measures designed to prevent large gatherings would apply to Hawaii’s public schools, or to his plans to re-open trans-Pacific travel, with new testing protocols in place, on Sept. 1. Hawaii News Now.

=====

Oahu doctor says hospitals are near capacity. The impact of coronavirus on Hawaii hospitals was gradual compared to other states, but the latest spike in cases is now being felt among doctors and nurses. KHON2.

The decision to close parks and beaches on Oahu and reinstate an inter-island traveler quarantine was fueled by alarms set off by Hawaii’s hospitals. Hilton Raethel, CEO and president of Healthcare Association of Hawaii, said Kaiser Moanalua was at maximum capacity two days with both COVID-19 and regular patients in every ICU bed. Hawaii News Now.

=====

COVID-19 Has Overwhelmed One Essential Strategy To Control The Virus. State and local officials who warned months ago that the state needed more contact tracers are frustrated and angry with the state health department. Civil Beat.

Hawaii health officials update COVID-19 figures to 152 new coronavirus cases following deaths of 2 Oahu residents. The Hawaii Department of Health reported late this afternoon that today’s statewide new coronavirus case tally is 152, with 148 of those on Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

VIRUS TRACKER — Aug. 6: 2 Deaths And 152 Cases. UPDATED: The state initially reported 53 cases because it was missing test results from a private laboratory. Civil Beat.

=====

State has paid $2.6B in jobless claims. The state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations Thursday announced updated unemployment insurance claims information, including paying $2,620,848,963 for 2,464,674 weeks claimed since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic on March 1. Garden Island.

Thousands Languish Without Unemployment Checks Months Into Pandemic. The state labor department says it can’t just ramp up staffing overnight, but applicants are growing more desperate. Civil Beat.

Do you have the right to know if a coworker tests positive for COVID-19? With the recent spike in coronavirus cases, legal experts say more and more employees want to know what their rights are if a co-worker tests positive. Hawaii News Now.

Mail Voter Turnout Already Exceeds 2016 Primary, Edging Pass 2018. Voter turnout for the 2020 primary is on its way to surpassing participation in both the 2016 and 2018 elections across the state. Hawaii Public Radio.

HEI posts profit as customers struggle to make payments. Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc.’s net income rose 15% in the second quarter as it postponed utility maintenance work and made accounting adjustments to make up for customers behind on their electricity bills and homeowners in arrears on their mortgages. Star-Advertiser.

Major Hawaii retail landlord A&B takes hit on unpaid rent. Honolulu-based A&B on Thursday reported a $4.7 million net loss for the three months ended June 30, up from a $1.2 million loss in the same period last year. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Oahu beaches, parks and team sports will be halted once more. Oahu parks and beaches, which reopened in May, will be closed again, starting 12:01 a.m. Saturday. Star-Advertiser.

Parks and beaches to close, partial inter-island quarantine reinstated amid COVID-19 surge. An inter-island traveler quarantine will be reinstated, Oahu beaches and parks will be closed, and Honolulu police will dramatically dial up enforcement of emergency orders as part of a broad new push to rein in the island’s surge of COVID-19 cases. Hawaii News Now.

New restrictions with more enforcement on Oahu as COVID cases surge. On Oahu, Mayor Kirk Caldwell announced that all parks, beaches, and other places where large gatherings take place will be closed starting Saturday until September 4. KHON2.

=====

Honolulu Police Department to crack down on rule breakers. Honolulu police will ramp up enforcement starting this weekend for quarantine breakers and violators of newly instituted emergency proclamation orders as Oahu sees a surge in COVID-19 cases. Star-Advertiser.

Police chief says her officers will cite, arrest those who ignore emergency orders. Police Chief Susan Ballard is pledging strong, islandwide enforcement of planned park and beach closures on Oahu that begin at midnight Friday. Hawaii News Now.

Police union president "relieved" by new COVID-19 response unit. Honolulu Police Department Chief Susan Ballard said Thursday the department is bolstering strategic enforcement of COVID-19-related restrictions with a team of 160 officers. KITV4.

LIST: Here’s what the city and state are closing on Oahu to rein in the spread of COVID-19. City and state parks and beaches on Oahu will be closed at midnight Friday as government officials try to prevent people from gathering and spreading COVID-19. Hawaii News Now.

Member of Honolulu City Council support staff tests positive for COVID-19. City Clerk Glen Takahashi said the person, whom he declined to identify due to medical privacy issues, works in the Office of City Clerk’s Council Support Services Division on the second floor of Honolulu Hale. Star-Advertiser.

3 more coronavirus cases brings HFD total to 11. The Honolulu Fire Department has confirmed another firefighter from the Moanalua Fire Station and two more firefighters from the Kalihi Kai Fire Station have tested positive for COVID-19. Star-Advertiser.

U.S. Navy confirms positive coronavirus cases. The United States Navy confirmed on Thursday that crew members at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility tested positive for coronavirus. KITV4.

COVID-19 present in wastewater treatment plants on Oahu. Once a week, the city takes samples from its nine waste water facilities, then it's sent to a lab for COVID-19 testing. KITV4.

Mail-in ballots pushing Honolulu votes to historic high. Saturday represents the last chance to drop off your ballot — and even register and vote on the same day — to make sure your vote is counted in the primary election, which is already breaking records on Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu home sales still light but showed improvement in July. Oahu’s housing market remained depressed in July, though new sales data shows the severity of the decline is easing. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island


Council members get $100,000 CARES money each to give to constituents. A fast-tracked resolution unanimously approved Wednesday gives each County Council member $100,000 in federal coronavirus relief money to distribute to constituents, without competitive bids or public notice. West Hawaii Today.

Judge takes motion for partial summary judgment in Maunakea Access Road lawsuit ‘under advisement’. A motion seeking partial summary judgment against the state over its management of land around the Maunakea Access Road was heard Tuesday in Honolulu. West Hawaii Today.

South Kohala District Court to Reopen Aug. 18. The South Kohala District Court, which has been closed since Aug. 4 due to an employee testing positive for COVID-19, will reopen on Aug. 18. Big Island Now.

Amazon Air expands operations to Kona International Airport. Hawaii Island residents ordering products via Amazon can expect faster shipping following the start of Amazon Air operations Thursday at Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Front Street Apartments case could be decided soon. Decision focuses on whether rents stay affordable or go market rates. Maui News.

Amazon Air Announces New Regional Gateways at Kahului and Kona Airports. Amazon Air begins operations today at Kahului Airport on Maui and Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole on Hawaiʻi Island. Maui Now.

Kauai

KFD addresses pension spiking. In February, the Mayor’s Office ordered the Kaua‘i Fire Department to suspend most overtime and nonessential expenditures to curb pension spiking, which has penalized the county consistently over the last few years. Garden Island.

Wednesday, January 22, 2020

Hawaii's high cost of living major focus of Ige's state of the state speech, attorney general seeks TMT protest group bank records, University of Hawaii gets new football coach, Honolulu honors fallen police officers, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

captured from video 2020
Gov. Ige address the 2020 Legislature PC:Capitol TV screen capture
Governor Calls For Major Housing, Cost-Of-Living Initiatives In State Of The State Speech. Gov. David Ige delivered his sixth State of the State address Tuesday, laying out details about efforts worked out with legislative leaders that aim to address Hawaii's high cost of living in areas that include housing and child care. Hawaii Public Radio.

Governor promotes proposals for working families. Gov. David Ige on Tuesday outlined a plan to boost preschool education, housing and tax relief for families as he delivered his annual state of the state address. Associated Press.

Ige Delivers 2020 State of State Address. State and county leaders and community members gathered in the House Chambers at the State Capitol as Gov. David Ige delivered the 2020 State of the State Address Tuesday morning. Big Island Now.

Governor avoids talk of crime, mental health in State of the State. In his State of the State address Tuesday, Gov. David Ige paid tribute to the two officers killed in an ambush in Diamond Head on Sunday. But beyond that, he didn’t talk about crime or mental health in his speech. Hawaii News Now.

Gov. David Ige's 2020 State of the State Address. Full text here.

Senate President Ron Kouchi’s address on opening day of the Hawai‘i State Legislature Jan. 15. Here.

House Speaker Scott Saiki's opening day remarks. Here.

=====

Sunday Shooting Overshadows Hawaii Governor’s State Of The State. The public can expect a more concerted effort to close gun loopholes but proposals to address Native Hawaiian issues remain uncertain. Civil Beat.

Gov. Ige hails slain officers in his State of the State address. Gov. David Ige began his annual State of the State address Tuesday with a moment of silence for slain Honolulu Police officers Tiffany Enriquez and Kaulike Kalama, describing them both as heroes. Star-Advertiser.

State of the State: Ige still believes TMT can be resolved peacefully. At his State of the State address this morning, Gov. David Ige reiterated his belief that the conflict surrounding the Thirty Meter Telescope can still be resolved peacefully. Tribune-Herald.

Governor Remarks On TMT Situation During State Address. Governor David Ige made some brief remarks on the Thirty Meter Telescope during his State of the State address on Tuesday, in a bid to bring together both sides of the controversial project planned for Maunakea. Big Island Video News.

=====

Lawmakers consider ban on lending of guns. State lawmakers said Tuesday that they were considering changes to Hawaii gun laws this session even before Sunday’s shooting deaths of two Honolulu police officers at a Diamond Head home presumably at the hands of a man who had no permit to own any guns. Star-Advertiser.

For 5th Year Running, Lawmakers Consider Giving Airports More Autonomy. After years of failing to address infrastructure problems at state airports, lawmakers will once again consider making a change this session. Hawaii Public Radio.

Creating More Treatment Options in Hawaii’s Fractured Mental Health System. A key feature of the proposed reforms includes diverting the mentally ill from ERs into outpatient and residential programs more tailored to their needs. Civil Beat.

Interagency task force provides update on fight to eradicate invasive species. Lawmakers have been updated on a 10-year inter-agency plan launched two years ago to help manage biosecurity risks. KITV4.

Hawai‘i Health Officials Offer Guidance on Novel Coronavirus Outbreak in China. Hawai‘i Department of Health is providing guidance to healthcare providers in the state for the 2019 Novel Coronavirus outbreak in China, which has already includes more than 300 confirmed infections and several deaths in China. Maui Now.

=====

Former ASU football coach Todd Graham hired as head coach at Hawaii. Former Arizona State University head football coach Todd Graham will be introduced Wednesday as the next head coach of the University of Hawaii football program, school officials announced Tuesday. Hawaii News Now.

Todd Graham picked to lead University of Hawaii football team. In a move that was surprising in its quickness and choice, Todd Graham was selected as the Hawaii football team’s head coach. Star-Advertiser.

Former Arizona State coach Todd Graham to become new Hawaii head coach. Former Arizona State head coach Todd Graham will become the 24th head coach in program history, per a UH release. KHON2.

Todd Graham set to take over as UH head football coach. Announced around 6pm on Tuesday that Todd Graham will become the 24th head coach in UH football program history. KITV4.

Oahu

Police Chief: State’s handling of mentally ill who pose threat should include ‘tough love’. The suspect in Sunday’s deadly rampage at Diamond Head showed signs of mental illness for years. Now Honolulu's police chief is demanding more tools for her officers to use in cases where mental health is involved. Hawaii News Now.

HPD Chief says more needs to be done to track the mentally ill. After Sunday’s shooting, HPD Chief Susan Ballard says more needs to be done to track the mentally ill. KHON2.

Diamond Head landlord was ‘closest to family’ the attacker had. The suspect and victim, presumed to have died in or before the fire at the house the blaze started, had a trusting friendship for more than a decade prior to the Sunday attack, shootings and fire. KHON2.

Police confirm second set of human remains found on Hibiscus Drive. Honolulu police have confirmed that a second set of human remains was located at the site of 3015 Hibiscus Drive this afternoon. Star-Advertiser.

2 sets of human remains found in ashes of Diamond Head property. Police cadaver dogs have led investigators to two sets of human remains in the ashes of a Diamond Head home where the suspect in Sunday’s violent rampage and his landlord are believed to have died, sources confirmed to Hawaii News Now. Hawaii News Now.

Suspect may have used his landlord’s gun collection to ambush officers. The suspect who fatally shot two police officers in the Diamond Head area Sunday shouldn’t have had access to guns. Hawaii News Now.

Mourners gather to remember officer. Hundreds turned out Tuesday for a candlelight vigil for fallen Honolulu police officer Tiffany Enriquez, bringing an emotional end to a day that was as much about celebrating lives as it was confirming losses. Star-Advertiser.

Candles and memories shine bright at a vigil honoring HPD’s 2 fallen officers. Family and friends of Honolulu Police Officer Tiffany Enriquez, who was killed in the line of duty in Diamond Head on Sunday, organized a candlelight vigil in Waikiki on Tuesday. Hawaii News Now.

Officer Kaulike Kalama remembered: ‘A good friend to all who knew him’. Officer Kaulika Kalama, affectionately known as “KK,” was a nine-year veteran of the Honolulu Police Department when he was fatally shot. Hawaii News Now.

Communities gather to mourn fallen HPD officers. A vigil was held in Waikiki to celebrate the life of Officer Enriquez, while a statement from the family of Officer Kalama was released. KHON2.

=====

U.S. seeks forfeiture of 2 more properties connected with illegal gaming. The U.S. Attorney’s office for the District of Hawaii announced Tuesday it is seeking forfeiture of two more properties involved in an illegal gambling operation. Star-Advertiser.

Plastics Ban: What’s Next. O‘ahu’s new law restricting single-use plastics has business owners scrambling to comply with the impending bans – just as happened on the Neighbor Islands after similar bans were imposed. Hawaii Business.

Hawaii Island

Hawaii AG Is Seeking Bank Records Of Mauna Kea Protest Group. The AG argues the Native Hawaiian nonprofit is illegally using donations to fund civil disobedience; the organization says the request is intimidation. Civil Beat.

India Wary Of TMT Construction On Mauna Kea. India’s Department of Science and Technology is part of the Thirty Meter Telescope consortium. Civil Beat.

Testifiers at public hearing urge recycling. The Solid Waste Advisory Committee, convened every 10 years, took the 10,000-foot view of the island’s trash issues. But many of the two dozen or so people attending a public hearing in Hilo Tuesday evening had very specific concerns. West Hawaii Today.

Fears of Invasive Beetle Spreading to West Hawai‘i. An invasive beetle caught the attention of Big Island farmers in the Spring of 2018 because of its assault on fruit trees in East Hawai‘i. Big Island Now.

Maui

Catching drunken drivers. 5 vehicles towed under new law; Friday was first day of enforcement. Maui News.

Weekend DUI Enforcement Nets 8 Arrests, 5 Vehicles Towed on Maui. Maui police arrested eight individuals for driving under the influence of an intoxicant and towed a total of five vehicles during a weekend enforcement effort in which police utilized Maui’s new DUI Tow law. Maui Now.

County Seeks Housing Project Ideas. The request through the Housing Division of the Department of Housing and Human Concerns would use the Experimental and Demonstration Housing Projects Fund for the provision, protection and expansion of experimental and demonstration housing projects, including the rehabilitation of existing structures, land purchase or other acquisition of land or property entitlements, planning, design and construction. Maui Now.

Kauai

Land developer sues county. A North Shore property owner is suing the Kauai County Planning Commission over its refusal to allow him to develop 134 acres of agricultural land in Moloa‘a. Garden Island.

Learn history on Historic Hapa Road. Koloa ohanas can now use the Historic Hapa Trail to get to the beach thanks to four men who have continued the legacy of caretaking the trail. Garden Island.

Thursday, March 21, 2019

Orchid industry in decline, Legislature rejects plastic ban, new allegations in Zuckerberg Kauai land dispute, Hirono pays up, HPD chief gets high marks, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2019 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Orchid show in Hilo ©2019 All Hawaii News
Orchid Industry in Decline. Statewide the production of flowers and other nursery products are worth more than $77 million, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Orchids make up almost 20 percent of that value. But the state’s orchid industry has been struggling in recent years. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii legislative committees reject plastics ban proposals. Two Hawaii legislative committees have rejected proposals that would have banned a variety of plastics used by the food service industry. Associated Press.

Are Hawaii Legislators Paid Too Much? It depends on who you compare them to. Compensation for lawmakers varies widely from state to state. Civil Beat.

Lyon contract scandal leaves Hawaii government officials scrambling. State and city agencies have been canceling or suspending contracts with Honolulu-­based Lyon Associates in the wake of a federal corruption probe involving the civil engineering firm whose president recently pleaded guilty to bribing government officials in Hawaii and Micronesia to obtain more than $10 million in contracts over the past decade. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii leads nation in union membership. Hawaii once again led the country in union membership with 139,000 unionized workers in 2018, 23.1 percent of wage and salary workers across the islands, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Pushes Bank Of America To Resolve Multimillion-Dollar Dispute. The company left the islands in 1997, but it had already been ordered to make $180 million in loans, partially because of discrimination against Native Hawaiians and Filipinos. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii Department of Transportation is thinking about switching drivers from a gas tax fee to a mileage fee, as a way to get more funding to fix our roads. Wednesday night was the first of many public meetings on the proposal. KHON2.

Here’s how to share your thoughts on the state’s plan to tax drivers by the mile. A controversial idea to charge Hawaii drivers based on how much they drive is now open to public input. The state Department of Transportation is starting a series of community meetings on the potential road usage charge. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii’s young people joined a national campaign against flavored tobacco Wednesday, marching from Aloha Tower to the state Capitol to take their message to lawmakers. Star-Advertiser.

Students Rally in Opposition to Teen Vaping. Hawaii Public Radio.

Execs with Xbox, 3Sixty Duty Free to advise Hawaii's Mana Up accelerator. Mana Up has added an executive with Microsoft’s Xbox video game business and an executive with 3Sixty Duty Free, an inflight duty-free retailer to the Hawaii-based product accelerator’s team of advisors. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

Honolulu Police Chief Susan Ballard won high marks in her first annual review from her bosses at the city Police Commission. Star-Advertiser.

HPD Chief gets a good review for time on the job in new review system. Hawaii News Now.

Great annual review for Honolulu Police Chief Susan Ballard. KHON2.

Chief Ballard gets good marks in first evaluation. The full evaluation will be available to the media and the public Thursday. KITV.

HPD Chief Ballard Says Allegations Of Doctored Test Scores Are Unfounded. The chief told the Honolulu Police Commission Wednesday the city settled the case for $550,000 for financial reasons. Civil Beat.

=====

EVs costing state millions, blamed for airport parking congestion. The state is losing out on millions of dollars each year in annual parking revenues because electric vehicles get to park at the airport for free. Hawaii News Now.

Flying for spring break? Don’t count on airport parking. If you’re traveling off­-island during the busy spring break period, you might want to consider getting dropped off at Honolulu airport instead of parking there due to a parking crunch, state officials said. Star-Advertiser.

Bill to fund repairs on Pali Highway moving forward. A House committee approved the bill which would provide up to $15 million for landslide clean-up and rockfall mitigation. KHON2.

Work is continuing on stabilizing the slope above the Pali Highway along the Old Pali Road. An emergency proclamation was issued Feb. 22, designating the location of the Pali Highway landslides a disaster area and providing relief for related damage and losses. Star-Advertiser.

A private utility company in California with operations in Hawaii has agreed to acquire former Navy water and wastewater systems serving Kalaeloa. California Water Service Group announced the deal Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono made good on her word to donate her salary during the partial federal shutdown with a donation to The Food Basket, Hawaii Island’s Food Bank. The Democrat on Wednesday presented a check to The Food Basket Executive Director Kristin Frost Albrecht that’ll cover the purchase of enough rice to feed 450 families. West Hawaii Today.

Residential subdivision proposed for Puueo. A major Hawaii Island landowner is seeking to subdivide 39 acres of former sugar fields in Puueo for a residential development. Tribune-Herald.

Puna boat ramp study added to capital budget. Another bill to provide funding for a Puna boat ramp feasibility study appears dead for the legislative session. But the Legislature might still allocate the funds through the capital budget. Tribune-Herald.

Although there were no "new announcements", executives representing Southwest acknowledged the desire to bring affordable options for air travel to the Hilo-side of the Big Island. Big Island Video News.

The United States Postal Service is considering the relocation of services from the Kamuela Post Office, and the community will have the chance to comment on the proposal. Big Island Video News.

Maui

Officials ‘pleased’ with mayor’s housing nominee Lori Tsuhako. Linda Munsell named second in command. Maui News.

Water Restoration Advocates Critical of Kahoma Stream Management. Maui Now.

Thousands of o'opu die after stream dries up. Water diversions kept the stream dry for close to a 130 years.  Efforts community groups, made to bring water back now down the drain. KITV.

16 More MCCC Detainees Tranferred to Halawa, 5 Returned to Maui. Maui Now.

16 more MCCC inmates transferred to Halawa Correctional Facility. Sixteen more inmates have been identified in the March 11 riot at Maui Community Correctional Center. Star-Advertiser.

More inmates transferred to Halawa Correctional Facility in wake of last week's disturbance. KHON2.

500 indigenous scholars on Maui for conference. It is first time research event held in Hawaii. Maui News.

Kauai

New allegations in Zuckerberg dispute. Several people with ancestral claims to the disputed land parcels on Mark Zuckerberg’s 700-acre North Shore estate are accusing a corporation controlled by the Facebook CEO of using deceitful, high-pressure sales tactics while attempting to convince them to sell their families’ shares in the land. Garden Island.

County asks court to stop vacation rental. A month after filing a lawsuit against a local real estate developer for using his vacation home as a short-term rental property, the Kauai County Planning Department is taking on the billionaire founder of Oakley. Garden Island.

Invasive annihilation. From brown tree snakes to coqui frogs, parakeets and mongoose, miconia and common rush, Kauai has a list of invasive species that have taken root, and is planning to prevent other species from arriving. Garden Island.

The Enduring Appeal Of Hippies. A remake of a documentary evokes nostalgia for a different time when an enclave of free spirits sprang up on Kauai’s north shore. Civil Beat.


Friday, December 21, 2018

Surfrider grades beaches, Oahu getting major military projects, Alexander & Baldwin sells 41k acres of Maui sugar land, Big Island residents oppose vaccinations, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2018 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Girl playing on Waikiki beach ©2018 All Hawaii News
Hawaii received a C-plus in the Surfrider Foundation’s annual State of the Beach Report Card, which grades 30 U.S. states and the territory of Puerto Rico on policies that address climate change, shoreline erosion and extreme weather. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources has joined forces with various marine and animal protection organizations to make it easier for people to report illegal aquarium collecting activity across the state. Big Island Video News.

Hawaii-based marine and animal protection organizations have joined forces with the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources to make it easier for people to report illegal aquarium collecting activity across the state. Garden Island.

NOAA’s Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary reminds the public that humpback whale season in Hawaii is underway. Maui Now.

U.S. Commission on Civil Rights now supports federal recognition of Native Hawaiians. In a major reversal, the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights is supporting federal recognition of Native Hawaiians. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Pentagon awards contract for powerful missile radar defense system on Oahu.  The Missile Defense Agency has awarded Lockheed Martin a $585 million contract to design and build a powerful ballistic missile radar defense system on Oahu. Hawaii News Now.

New $680M Coast Guard cutter arriving in Honolulu. The first of two new $680 million Coast Guard cutters is expected to arrive in Honolulu Saturday, officials said. Star-Advertiser.

Police Chief: Sharing Information With Kaneshiro Not In City’s ‘Best Interest’. Mayor’s office is “seriously considering” Susan Ballard’s request that the prosecuting attorney be excluded from public safety meetings because of reports he’s under investigation. Civil Beat.

Here’s the email the police chief sent to the city about Honolulu’s prosecutor. Hawaii News Now.

Citing what it said were the lowest fees in conferences it competes in, the University of Hawaii athletic department began laying the ground work for raising the mandatory athletic fee it charges students. Star-Advertiser.

String of major storms proved fatal blow to popular Nalo Farms. Repeated bouts of severe weather has lead to the closure of Nalo Farms. Hawaii News Now.

Nalo Farms closes business after being impacted by April's heavy rains. A well-known Waimanalo farm impacted by last April's heavy rains is now shut down for good. KITV.

Hawaii Island

Public testifiers spoke out in opposition to immunization and examination requirements for school attendance in Hawaii. Big Island Video News.

It's a Big Island power plant, but now an Oahu County political party is getting involved. Thursday night, the Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities is holding a public event to talk about Hu Honua Bioenergy power plant. KITV.

A crew is working to remove a derelict boat that’s been sitting on the makai side of Queen Kaahumanu Highway, south of Kua Bay, for more than a month. West Hawaii Today.

Charter Commission chairman to speak in Honokaa. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

A&B sells all of its farm holdings for $262 million. Alexander & Baldwin, which grew sugar cane on Maui for 150 years and ceased operations in 2016, is leaving agriculture behind on the island, announcing the sale of its 41,000 acres of farm land for $262 million to a farming venture between a California investment group and Canada’s Public Sector Pension Investment Board. Maui News.

New Era of Ag on Maui: A&B Sells 41,000 Acres to Mahi Pono. Alexander & Baldwin today announced an agreement that will launch a new era of agriculture on Maui.  According to company executives, the agreement provides for the sale of the former Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Company lands to Mahi Pono LLC for purposes of cultivating a variety of food and energy crops, ensuring the continued agricultural use of these lands, the preservation of green, open space in Central Maui, and a consistent and long-term source of revenue for the local economy. Maui Now.

A&B sells 41,000 acres of former Maui sugar lands. Alexander & Baldwin has sold about 41,000 acres of former Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Company lands on Maui as part of a $262 million deal aimed at boosting local food production. Hawaii News Now.

Former HC&S land on Maui sold for $262 million. KHON2.

=====

The Maui County Planning Department will hold a public hearing on proposed revisions to the Department’s Administrative Rules for the Agricultural District. Maui Now.

MPD seeks recruits to fill more than 40 vacant positions. Some police officers have been reassigned to work patrol shifts, and some promotions are being delayed, as police continue recruiting officers to fill more than 40 vacant positions. Maui News.

Kauai

Community-Focused Rebuilding on Kauai's North Shore. A new community-driven initiative on Kauai's North Shore aims to ensure residents have a say in rebuilding their coast after the massive flooding earlier this year. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kauai woman pleads guilty to stealing almost $365K from US government. Hawaii News Now.