Showing posts with label Police Commission. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Police Commission. Show all posts

Friday, January 10, 2020

Ballistic missile radar coming to Oahu, Kim meets with Ige, Thirty Meter Telescope officials, Honolulu opens traffic center, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

This Aug. 29, 2017, photo provided by the Department of Defense shows a medium-range ballistic missile target is launched from the Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kauai, Hawaii. PC:Latonja Martin
Military leaders, community debate merits of high-powered ballistic missile radar on Oahu. Military leaders are talking about the need for a permanent, high-powered ballistic missile radar on Oahu to see threats to Hawaii and our nation. The Missile Defense Agency wants to build a flat facing radar that three times bigger than the one at the Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kauai. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii government might collect an additional $74M in taxes. A panel of experts tasked with projecting how much the state will collect in taxes has boosted its projection for next year by 1 percentage point, which means lawmakers should have an extra $74 million to spend. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Traffic center finally opens. At long last, the folks tasked with receiving emergency response calls, monitoring traffic and disasters and related duties will be housed under one roof in the $53.6 million Joint Traffic Management Center on Alapai Street, which was dedicated Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu Finally Gets Its Joint Traffic Management Center. The facility was supposed to open three years ago but ran into construction issues. Civil Beat.

City’s $54M Traffic Management Center to welcome its first tenants (finally). A blessing was held Thursday at the city’s Joint Traffic Management Center as it prepares to welcome its first tenants. Hawaii News Now.

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Kamehameha Schools project looks to develop 11,000 homes and cost $4B. About 2,000 acres in Waiawa once largely planted in sugar cane is envisioned for a community with 11,109 homes under a conceptual plan by the state’s largest private landowner. Star-Advertiser.

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After public outcry, city reverses two controversial plans in Waikiki. Plans to ban overnight parking at the Honolulu Zoo parking lot have been postponed “until further notice.” The city also said it would remove one of the two fences that it recently installed on Christmas Eve to block access to the walkway between Leahi and Makalei parks at Diamond Head. Hawaii News Now.

Fence Blocking Diamond Head Seawall Will Be Removed. The city says it will remove one of the two barriers that are blocking the public’s access along the path. Civil Beat.

Makalei Beach Park fence to be removed. The fence installed at Makalei Beach Park between the park and the makai walkway will be removed after public input and discussion. KHON2.

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After months-long delay, EPA to begin removing toxic soil under Kalihi street this month. Efforts to remove lead-contaminated soil under a street in Kalhi will finally begin this month. Hawaii News Now.

E. coli contamination confirmed in Waiahole water system. Residents in Waiahole Valley are being told to boil their tap water before use due to E. coli contamination. KHON2.

Volunteers needed for annual homeless point-in-time count. The survey counts sheltered and un-sheltered homeless persons on a single night in January. KITV4.

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Sheehan Out As Honolulu Police Commission Chair. Loretta Sheehan has led the commission through much of the federal corruption probe. Civil Beat.

Sheehan is replaced as Honolulu Police Commission chairwoman. In the annual election to select the chairman and vice chairman, Sheehan was outvoted 5-2 by Alivado, who was serving as vice chairwoman. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Police Commissioner voted out. The commission that oversees the Honolulu Police Department is moving in a new direction. KHON2.

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Olive Garden to open at Ala Moana Center. Olive Garden is planning its first Hawaii location at Ala Moana Center. Star-Advertiser.

Olive Garden to open first Hawaii restaurant in Bubba Gump space. Restaurant chain Olive Garden Italian Kitchen plans to open its first Hawaii restaurant in Honolulu at Ala Moana Center, where it will replace the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. restaurant at the state's largest shopping mall. Pacific Business News.

Olive Garden files for permit to build first Hawaii location at Ala Moana Center. uilding permits applications filed with the City and County of Honolulu this week appear to show that Olive Garden, the popular mainland Italian eatery, is planning to open a restaurant at Ala Moana Center. Hawaii News Now.

Longtime local restaurant, Willows, to be revived. The Willows is being revived by the owners of the restaurant, Da Spot. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

Kim meets with TMT officials, governor; ongoing discussions planned. Two weeks after Thirty Meter Telescope opponents relinquished control of the Maunakea Access Road, both sides are wondering what the next moves will be. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaiʻi County Mayor Meets With TMT Officials About Mauna Kea's Future. Hawaiʻi Island Mayor Harry Kim met with Thirty Meter Telescope officials this week to discuss next steps in resolving the Mauna Kea dispute. Hawaii Public Radio.

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Hawaii Island Has Decades of Landfill Space But Still Faces Challenges In Dealing With Its Waste. Hawaii Island is in the enviable position of having a landfill with anywhere from 20 to 100 years of capacity left to take in trash. Hawaii Public Radio.

State taking over surf school setup. The state is now taking the lead on permitting commercial surf schools at Kahaluu Bay, a recently filed report to the state Legislature shows. West Hawaii Today.

Problem spot on Alii has been on county’s radar for years, without success. The undermining of the seawall on Alii Drive at Oneo bay where the latest sinkhole appears has been a problem for over a decade. West Hawaii Today.

Waimea Middle Will Get Back Withheld Settlement Money. The Charter School Commission voted Thursday to reinstate the $75,000. Civil Beat.

Macy’s closing Kings’ Shops location. It is the only Macy’s location in the Aloha State closing. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Alberta de Jetley to run for Lanai council seat. Gabe Johnson to campaign again; Riki Hokama is facing term limits. Maui News.

State Harbors Division Seeks Expansion of Cargo Storage in Kahului. The state Department of Transportation Harbors Division is proposing the acquisition of nine acres from Alexander & Baldwin in Kahului for the expansion of its storage yard for short-term containerized cargo. Maui Now.

Waste-To-Energy Plants Stalled in Maui County While Landfills Approach Capacity. Far from the view of the nearly three million visitors who travel to Maui County each year are two landfills that are filling up fast and approaching the end of their lifespans. Hawaii Public Radio.

Senior center at Hale Mahaolu Ewalu blessed. 22-unit Phase II of housing development’s construction underway. Maui News.

Jan Dapitan was ‘force of nature’ for environment and social causes. Ex-parks director dies after 5-year battle with cancer. Maui News.

Kauai

Housing on LBA agenda. Kauai housing, issues and answers, is the subject of the Lihue Business Association’s meeting 7:30 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 23, at Duke’s Canoe Club on Kalapaki Beach. Garden Island.

Friday, December 15, 2017

Hawaii Supreme Court rules clean environment is a property right in Maui case, Deedy heading back to trial, state sells $170M affordable rental portfolio, insurance snag could ground canoe clubs, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2017 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Hilo canoe race © 2017 All Hawaii News
Insurance snag could keep canoe clubs statewide on land. Next year's regatta season for local canoe clubs may be in jeopardy because the parent association is having trouble finding an insurance company to cover them. Hawaii News Now.

Civil Beat Poll: Lottery Has Big Support In Hawaii. Most survey respondents say a lottery can bring much-needed cash to state government, but critics warn they mostly tax the poor. Civil Beat.

UH economists pump up projections for isle growth. With global conditions improving and the tourism industry continuing to set records, the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization said in its latest forecast due out today that the state’s economy will continue to grow even as the upward trajectory slows going out to 2020. Star-Advertiser.

State selling affordable rental portfolio for $170 million. The state today agreed to sell 1,221 affordable rental apartments at six properties mainly serving low-income residents to a Hawaii and California real estate development partnership for $170 million. Star-Advertiser.

State sells affordable rental portfolio for $170M to California-Hawaii joint venture. The Hawaii Housing and Finance Development Corp. board voted unanimously Thursday to sell 1,221 state-owned low-income rental housing units for $170 million in cash to a joint venture of Los Angeles-based Standard Communities and Honolulu-based Stanford Carr Development. Pacific Business News.

Dept. of Human Services Prepares for End of CHIP Funding. Congress has yet to renew funding for the popular Children’s Health Insurance Program, which provides healthcare to kids in low-income families. Hawaii Public Radio.

How Will Hawaii Fare Under Federal Tax Changes? Limits on deductions for mortgage interest and state and local tax payments could offset the benefits of temporary tax cuts for island residents. Civil Beat.

Hawaii lawmakers voice opposition to net neutrality repeal. Star-Advertiser.

The state Attorney General’s Office says it is “reviewing its options” following the Federal Communications Commission’s vote Thursday to repeal ‘net neutrality’ rules. Tribune-Herald.

Lesbian child support fight goes to state Supreme Court.The Hawaii Supreme Court is considering whether a woman who divorced her spouse in a same-sex marriage is the legal parent of the child her former spouse gave birth to during the marriage and is therefore obligated to pay child support. Star-Advertiser.

Senator Chang: Need a Youth Commission. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

State Department employee Christopher Deedy on Thursday appeared headed for a third trial in the shooting death of Kollin Elderts six years ago at a Waikiki McDonald’s, but it could take years of appeals before Deedy ends up in an Oahu courtroom facing manslaughter charges. Star-Advertiser.

The city prosecutor’s office plans to try State Department federal agent Christopher Deedy a third time in the shooting death of Kollin Elderts at a Waikiki McDonald’s following a Hawaii Supreme Court decision today that denied an appeal by Deedy. Star-Advertiser.

The city prosecutor says he'll seek a third trial against the State Department special agent who fatally shot a man inside a Waikiki McDonald's in 2011. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii State Supreme Court rules third Deedy trial can move forward. KHON2.

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As rail heads downtown, land deals get tougher. With construction of the city’s rail project working its way from West Oahu into urban Honolulu, rail officials say they may need to condemn portions of more than two dozen private properties from Iwilei through Kakaako to make way for the elevated transit system. Star-Advertiser.

The two Kakaako Gateway Parks, which have seen a resurgence in daytime homeless activity, will close from Sunday until Jan. 8 for maintenance, the Hawaii Community Development Authority announced Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

Rising tides are eating away at private property along North Shore.  Hawaii News Now.

Department of Transportation reports high impact traffic projects island-wide are nearly finished. Department of Transportation reports a number of traffic projects that could have a significant impact on drive-times on O'ahu are nearly finished. KITV.

Developer buys Kalaeloa water, wastewater systems. A private developer that acquired 540 acres of former military base land in Kalaeloa from the Navy in 2009 now owns the water and wastewater systems for the area. Star-Advertiser.

Shannon Alivado, director of government relations for the General Contractors Association of Hawaii, has been nominated to the Honolulu Police Commission by Mayor Kirk Caldwell. Star-Advertiser.

Lost WWII sub discovered off Oahu. A wreck-hunting organization announced that its search team has located the sunken World War II submarine USS S-28 in 8,700 feet of water off Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

Federal agents raid home of death row exoneree on Schofield Barracks. A Schofield Barracks soldier and her husband, a death row exoneree, say they are being unfairly targeted because of his past. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island


Ready to respond: Haihai Fire Station completed, dedicated. After four years of preparation, the Haihai Fire Station construction project in Hilo concluded Thursday with a blessing ceremony as the building opened for business. Tribune-Herald.

The Hilo community joined Hawaii County officials and fire fighters for the official blessing of the new Haihai Fire Station. Big Island Video News.

Mayor Harry Kim is once again bringing his former executive director back into the fold to present county priorities before the state Legislature. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii Department of Transportation Deputy Director for Highways Ed Sniffen provided an update on Dec. 14, on high-visibility, current and upcoming highways projects. Big Island Now.

Maui

Court: Hawaii residents can sue to defend their right to 'clean, healthful' environment. By a 3-to-2 vote, the court found that the Sierra Club should have been allowed a contested case hearing when the Public Utilities Commission reauthorized use of the Puunene sugar mills power plant. Hawaii News Now.

Arakawa hit with amended campaign spending complaint. Commission alleges mayor spent too much of campaign funds on charitable donations. Maui News.

The Maui Ocean Center hopes to have 20 percent of all its marine life on display acquired from aquaculture facilities — rather than the wild — by 2020, the center’s curator said last week. Maui News.

Lahaina Bypass From Olowalu to Keawe St Slated for March Completion. The project was highlighted during an update of DOT projects currently underway and on tap across the state. Maui Now.

Kauai


DowDuPont to expand research activities, increase staffing. The agriculture division of DowDuPont has announced major changes in its Kauai operations under which it will expand its Hawaii research activities here, increasing staffing on island by as much as 50 percent. Garden Island.

KIUC election has five candidates. The Kauai Island Utility Cooperative Nominating Committee has selected five candidates for its Board of Directors election on March 10. Three of the nine director positions are up for election annually. Garden Island.

Friday, November 17, 2017

Record low unemployment rate, feds charge Maui police with witness tampering, state hospital escapee goes on-air, police get raises, monster house bill advances at Honolulu City Council, Hawaiian Airlines CEO retiring, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2017 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Hawaii grocery clerks © 2017 All Hawaii News
Shrinking workforce underlies Hawaii’s best-ever 2.2% jobless rate. Hawaii’s unemployment rate is now at an all-time low and could be the best in the country. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii State Department of Labor and Industrial Relations announced Thursday that the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for October was 2.2 percent, compared to 2.5 percent for September. Garden Island.

How Brian Schatz Is Becoming The Senate’s Chief Science Nerd. From data security to climate change, from net neutrality to telemedicine, the Hawaii senator is front and center on technology issues. Civil Beat.

Hawaii is set to benefit from a $700 billion federal defense bill that passed the U.S. Senate on Thursday. The measure includes investments of more than $300 million for military construction in the state. Pacific Business News.

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A Hawaii psychiatric patient who acknowledges killing a woman nearly four decades ago said Thursday he escaped from his hospital and flew to California to prove he could live responsibly in the community. Associated Press.

Inmate who fled Hawaii psych hospital tells ABC7 escape was 'act of desperation'. ABC-7 News.

'I couldn't believe I actually made it': Hawaii State Hospital escapee speaks out. Island News has obtained a one-on-one interview with Hawaii State Hospital escapee Randall Saito. KITV.

Saito said he escaped to prove his ability to ‘act appropriately’. Escaped murderer Randall Saito said in television interviews Thursday that the Hawaii State Hospital wouldn’t give him a chance — that every time he applied for release, officials made him “sound like a bad guy.” Star-Advertiser.

I’m not a psychopath, okay?’ Saito claims desperation, assaults led to escape. KHON2.

Hawaii State Hospital's neighbors say they don't feel safe in their own homes. Angry Kaneohe residents gathered Thursday night to quiz the state on what's being done to address safety concerns about the Hawaii State Hospital. Hawaii News Now.

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Judge tells Island Air workers they might not get final pay.  Island Air employees have been told by a bankruptcy judge that there is no guarantee they will receive their final paychecks. Associated Press.

Hawaiian Airlines CEO to retire. Mark Dunkerley, 54, said he will step down to attend to family obligations on the East Coast and in Europe and spend a few months reflecting on what he wants to do next. Chief Commercial Officer Peter Ingram, 51, who has been with the company for 12 years, will replace him. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Airlines CEO To Retire In March, Replacement Named. Mark Dunkerley has been one of the longest-tenured CEOs in the airline industry. Civil Beat.

Mark Dunkerley will retire as CEO of Hawaiian Airlines next year and will be replaced by Peter Ingram, the airline’s executive vice president and chief commercial officer, the Honolulu-based carrier announced Thursday.  Pacific Business News.

Hawaiian Airlines Thursday announced the planned retirement of Mark Dunkerley, president and chief executive officer, and the selection of Peter Ingram, executive vice president and chief commercial officer, to replace Dunkerley, effective March 1. Garden Island.

Hawaiian Airlines readies for U.S. West Coast expansion. Hawaiian Airlines welcomed to Honolulu the first of 18 Airbus A321neo aircraft that will shortly begin flying between Hawaii and the U.S. West Coast. Garden Island.

Hawaiian Airlines accepted delivery the first of 18 Airbus A321Neo aircraft this week. The fleet will begin service on Jan. 8 on the Hawaiian's existing Kahului-Oakland route. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

Council bill to rein in ‘monster houses’ advances. A proposal to place more restrictions on large homes moved out of the committee Thursday, setting it up for a final vote of the full Council on Dec. 6. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu City Council Considers Regulating ‘Monster Homes’. Neighbors complain about homes with 15 or more bedrooms, but they’re defended by a man who said they serve mutigenerational households. Civil Beat.

Opponents, supporters of monster homes clash at City Council. So-called "monster" homes spurred a big debate at Honolulu Hale on Thursday. Hawaii News Now.

A plantation-style village for homeless families begins to take shape. Kahauiki Village, the new long-term, affordable housing project for homeless near Keehi Lagoon, broke ground in July. Hawaii News Now.

Special court that gives homeless a second chance plans to expand islandwide. Hawaii News Now.

Caldwell Nominates Former TV Executive For Police Commission. Dick Grimm, who worked at three local stations, would be the mayor’s sixth appointment to the seven-member board. Civil Beat.

Dick Grimm, who led the Hawaii Foodbank for 17 years before his retirement earlier this year, has been nominated to replace L&L Hawaiian Barbecue founder Eddie Flores Jr. on the Honolulu Police Commission. Pacific Business News.

Authorities had not determined Thursday what caused a rubbish fire under the Nimitz viaduct that damaged fiber-optic lines carrying phone, internet and cable TV service, causing widespread disruptions most of Thursday for T-Mobile, Spectrum and Hawaiian Telcom customers. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Hawaii police officers are getting raises, the last large bargaining group to have salaries settled for this year as the county begins crafting a new budget for the next fiscal year that begins July 1, 2018. West Hawaii Today.

The HOVE Deep Well in Ocean View has failed, the Hawaii County Department of Water Supply said Thursday. It is the only county water source serving Hawaiian Ocean View Estates and the Ranchos area in Ka'u. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii County’s Mass Transit Agency is getting close to occupying its new bus baseyard, about a year after it was initially expected to be complete. Tribune-Herald.

High-profile thefts, crippled fleet among problems plaguing troubled transit division. KHON2.

Hawaii County is cutting security at Old Kona Airport Park, which was intended to ensure homeless didn’t re-establish illegal campsites there after police ushered them out in August. West Hawaii Today.

The chief executive officer of one of Hawaii Island’s first medical marijuana dispensary companies has died. William K. “Billy” Richardson, an Oahu-based venture capitalist recruited during summer 2016 to lead Hawaiian Ethos, died Nov. 10 in his sleep. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui police officers charged in federal witness tampering case. Two Maui Police Department officers are facing federal charges after police say they conspired to force a victim to drop his complaint. KHON2.

Mayor seeking approval to dismiss water director. A falling out between Mayor Alan Arakawa and Department of Water Supply Director Dave Taylor has led the mayor to seek Maui County Council approval for Taylor’s dismissal from his $135,884-per-year job. Maui News.

Panel resolution urges state to maintain affordability of units at Lahaina complex. After hearing heartfelt testimony from worried tenants, a Maui County Council committee recommended passage of a resolution urging the state to save the affordability of the Front Street Apartments, where rent for units could rise to market rates by 2019. Maui News.

The Hawaii State Department of Health says it’s notifying the parents of students and staff members of Lihikai Elementary School on Maui of possible exposure to tuberculosis at the school. Maui Now.

Man ‘spewing hateful things’ leads protest outside church. Iao United Church of Christ targeted for rainbow flag, homosexual pastor. Maui News.

Hokulea’s Voyage To Hana Is A Homecoming For Young Captain. Hana native Nakua Konohia-Lind, 24, will be the youngest captain of the storied voyaging vessel when it sails into East Maui. Civil Beat.

Kauai

Bamboo Grill finds second home at golf course. The Wailua Golf Course has not had much luck with those opening a bar/restaurant there. Usually, it’s followed by closing. Garden Island.

Tuesday, October 31, 2017

Trump to stay in Waikiki, doubts raised about sailors adrift, Ige pledges oversight of Kakaako parks, coastal zone regulations eased, Maui News kills postal delivery, more news from all the Hawaiian islands

copyright 2017 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Children with paddleboard in Keaukaha © 2017 All Hawaii News
Hawaii's Sustainable Tourism Stamp is Changing Industry Culture. 2017 is being dubbed the Year of Sustainable Travel by the World Tourism Organization. Hawaii Public Radio.

White House releases details of Trump's 12-day trip to Asia. Trump will start the Nov. 3-14 travel with a briefing from the U.S. Pacific Command in Hawaii. He will also visit Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona Memorial during his first trip as president to the Pacific island. Washington Examiner.

President Trump is expected to arrive in Hawaii on Nov. 3, and the White House has started telling local officials that he's planning to stay in Waikiki. Hawaii News Now.

Six U.S. states want to intervene in Hawaii’s lawsuit challenging President Donald Trump’s travel ban. Associated Press.

Experts raise doubts about Hawaii sailors' harrowing survival tale. The U.S. Coast Guard said today that the two Hawaii women who were lost at sea for five months had an emergency beacon aboard their sailboat that was never activated. Associated Press.

Two high-profile challengers will spice up the races for the embattled Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees. William Aila Jr. and Esther Kiaaina are well-known Native Hawaiians who have spent years working for the state and federal governments, each with an emphasis on conservation and cultural rights. Civil Beat.

Treat PTSD With Medical Cannabis. Combat vets have options for treatment – including medical cannabis -- that could ease their PTSD symptoms. Hawaii Public Radio.

Dialysis clinics stalled waiting on certification. A surge of 700 new Hawaii kidney dialysis patients a year is driving an increase in treatment facilities statewide. Star-Advertiser.

HMSA CEO Michael Gold to retire after 43 years. Michael Gold, the CEO of the Hawaii Medical Service Association, will retire at the end of the year, the board of directors of the state’s largest healthcare provider announced on Monday. Pacific Business News.

Honolulu-based American Savings Bank reported net income of $17.6 million for the quarter ending Sept. 30, an increase of 16.5 percent compared to net income of $15.1 million in the third quarter of 2016. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

As Kakaako parks re-open, governor pledges tougher enforcement efforts. Weeks after they were closed for homeless sweeps, Kewalo Basin and Kakaako Gateway parks and Point Panic reopened Monday. Hawaii News Now.

State to hire private security to enforce Kakaako park hours, Ige says. The state will begin regularly enforcing park closures in Kakaako Makai “regardless of housing status,” Gov. David Ige said today, as some of the area’s parks reopened to the public three weeks after sprawling homeless encampments were cleared. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. Ige announces commitment to keep Kakaako Makai safe. KITV.

Kakaako parks reopen with new security measures, but more work needed at Waterfront. KHON2.

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Honolulu police Maj. Susan Ballard will be sworn in as the Honolulu Police Department’s 11th chief at HPD’s South Beretania Street headquarters Wednesday morning. Star-Advertiser.

Susan Ballard To Be Sworn In Wednesday As Honolulu Police Chief. The 32-year veteran will be first woman to lead the police department in its 85-year history. Civil Beat.

A Look At The Business Execs Up For Seats On Honolulu Police Commission. The City Council is set to vote Wednesday on Mayor Caldwell’s nominees, who would join the oversight panel amid a corruption scandal at HPD. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii Pacific Rim Society has donated $2.3 million to the East-West Center, one of the largest single donations in its history. Pacific Business News.

Senate Transportation Chairwoman Lorraine Inouye wants lawmakers to order an audit of the over- budget, long-delayed construction of a new maintenance and cargo hangar for Hawaiian Airlines at Daniel K. Ino­uye International Airport. Star-Advertiser.

What lies beneath? As Kakaako develops up, questions raised about infrastructure below. KHON2.

Army to install hundreds of rat traps in Waianae, Koolau mountains. Over the next few months workers from Schofield Barracks will place about 1,000 rat traps in the Waianae and Koolau mountains. Hawaii News Now.

Several cases of scabies have been reported at Makalapa Elementary School, and the principal has alerted parents and staff to keep an eye out for the skin infection, which is caused by a parasitic mite. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Streamlining development permits in coastal zones without limiting public input was a balancing act confronting the Leeward and Windward planning commissions Monday. West Hawaii Today.

The Windward and Leeward Planning Commission met on Monday to consider amendments to rules regarding Special Management Areas. Big Island Video News.

As TMT opponents disrupt a BLNR meeting, the governor and Mayor Kim move forward with a plan for a Living Monument for World Peace on Mauna Kea. Big Island Video News.

Big Island Mayor Harry Kim is leading a group to establish a living monument on Mauna Kea. Governor Ige tapped on Kim to come up with ideas to create a symbol of peace on the mountain. KITV.

County cracks down on crop theft. Ken Love, executive director of Hawaii Tropical Fruit Growers, convened a meeting Friday afternoon at the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources Kona Cooperative Extension Service in Kainaliu, which a couple dozen frustrated farmers attended. West Hawaii Today.

Removal of banyan trees at Honomu Park to begin. A contractor says his crew will arrive at Honomu Park today to begin clearing a large banyan tree that fell next to the gym earlier this month. Tribune-Herald.

The National Park Service is investigating the case of a Keaau woman who fell to her death at the Kilauea Crater during the weekend. Tribune-Herald.

Trucking Trash All The Way Across The Big Island. The Hilo landfill is filling up, and plans call for most East Hawaii garbage to be hauled west starting in a year. Civil Beat.

Arthur “Art” Taniguchi, senior vice president and Hawaii Island regional manager, announced that he will retire from Bank of Hawaii in January, after 27 years of service. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The Maui News will rescind its recently announced decision to switch home delivery of the newspaper from carriers to the United States Postal Service. Maui News.

Feral pigs made themselves noticed in Maui’s central plain this summer as motorists dodged them on major roadways and state crews have had to pick up the not-so-fortunate ones as roadkill. Maui News.

Hawaiian Airlines is looking to hire 70 people for customer and ramp service contract position at Kahului Airport. Hawaii News Now.


The Hyatt Regency Maui welcomes Klara Crocco as its Director of Marketing and Communications. Maui Now.

Kauai

Kauai’s popular Eastside path is set to complete its span from Lydgate Beach Park to Ahihi Point. And the county is getting a good deal on it. Garden Island.

Kahoolawe

Long-term results in watershed restoration to be studied. Grant funds to benefit efforts on Kahoolawe. Maui News.

Tuesday, October 24, 2017

Civil suits, re-examination of court cases expected to follow arrests of former Honolulu police chief and deputy prosecutor, entire island of Maui without power, advanced stealth warplane headed to Japan, homeless swept from Nimitz viaduct, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2017 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Keaukaha fish pond © 2017 All Hawaii News
Hawaii aquaculture farms generated slightly less revenue last year, marking a second annual consecutive dip after a 2014 record. Star-Advertiser.

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Stolen money, falsified police reports, planted evidence – what sounds like a plot for a police drama is playing out in real life in Hawaii. Former Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha, his wife, and a handful of HPD officers were released on bond after being indicted by a federal grand jury in a public corruption case. Allegations of corruption at the HPD following a case of a stolen mailbox led to a two-year federal investigation that uncovered much more.  Hawaii Public Radio.

The federal public defender who first pointed out potential wrongdoing in the Honolulu Police Department to federal prosecutors is now calling for the resignation of three Police Commission members who had supported retired Chief Louis Kealoha in the wake of his federal indictment on corruption and conspiracy charges last week. Star-Advertiser.

Oversight of secretive HPD unit is urged. The five former or current Honolulu Police Department officers who are charged with being part of the alleged conspiracy were at one time members of the agency’s elite Criminal Intelligence Unit, which is handpicked by the chief to investigate terrorism and organized crime and reports directly to the chief. Star-Advertiser.

The Children’s Trust Fund At The Heart Of The Kealoha Indictment. Federal prosecutors say Katherine Kealoha stole more than $167,000 from two children for whom she was appointed guardian after their father died. Civil Beat.

The federal case against the Kealohas includes allegations that Katherine Kealoha misused money and forged documents while she was the guardian of more than $167,000 for two minors, in separate accounts of $83,884 each. KHON2.

Experts: Criminal case against former HPD chief, wife could bolster civil suits against city. Hawaii News Now.

Four current Honolulu Police Commission members will try to agree on a new police chief Wednesday or Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu Police Commission on Monday embarked on a three-day process of interviewing the seven finalists for the next police chief, with a big shadow looming over the city’s law enforcement community. Civil Beat.

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Pacific Command’s advanced stealth warplane headed to Japan. The F-35A is being deployed under U.S. Pacific Command’s “theater security package” program, which has been in operation since 2004. Star-Advertiser.


Hawaii's Attorney General Doug Chin joined 16 other states in voicing their opposition on controversial concealed firearm legislation. Hawaii News Now.

The state’s only public Hyperbaric Treatment Center capable of treating decompression sickness in divers has temporarily shut its doors due to staffing shortages. Civil Beat.

Oahu


State officials hope sheriff’s patrols, private security and a new fence scheduled to go up today will finally mean the end of the notorious H-1 freeway viaduct homeless encampment, which sheriff’s deputies once again broke down Monday. Star-Advertiser.

The State Department of Transportation is leading a multi-agency effort to clear homeless encampments under the Nimitz Highway Viaduct. Hawaii Public Radio.

For the first time in more than two years the state swept one of the most entrenched homeless encampments on Oahu. Hawaii News Now.

Friends say Marine fatally stabbed in Waikiki was trying to protect others. Hawaii News Now.

A teenage girl was seriously injured Monday night when a tree came crashing down onto a bus stop near Ala Moana Center. Hawaii News Now.

The Marco Polo condominium owners association, under court order, opened the doors of the McCully high-rise Monday to numerous potential claimants and potential defendants such as product manufacturers, their insurers and fire experts from across the nation, to begin looking at the evidence of the largest building fire in Honolulu history. Star-Advertiser.

One fire investigation is over, but another one is just beginning. It is a second chance at finding the cause of the fatal Marco Polo building fire. KITV.

Two weeks after a fishing boat ran aground off Waikiki, authorities are still trying to figure out how to dislodge it from the reef. Star-Advertiser.

Denver-based KSL Capital Partners, which bought Outrigger Hotels and Resorts late last year, is kicking off an aggressive Waikiki reinvestment plan with a $25 million overhaul and re-branding of the Waikiki Beachcomber. Star-Advertiser.

KSL Capital Partners plans to rebrand the Holiday Inn Resort Waikiki Beachcomber under the Outrigger Hotels and Resorts flag before undertaking a $25 million renovation next year to upgrade the 496-room hotel. Pacific Business News.

The Reef Bar and Market Grill opened Monday at the Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort in the former Shore Bird Restaurant and Beach Bar space, which closed last month.  Pacific Business News.

DiamondHead Land has started a $30 million renovation of the Queen Kapiolani Hotel in Waikiki, designed by Honolulu architecture firm G70 and interior design firm Philpotts Interiors and being overseen by The John Hardy Group International. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

The county Board of Ethics is looking for a way to add teeth to what has historically been a paper tiger, almost a decade after the County Council gave it authority to fine public officials who violate the ethics code. West Hawaii Today.

The South Hilo Sanitary Landfill will reach its permitted maximum capacity within the next two years, and plans to deal with the situation are underway. Big Island Video News.

Domestic violence victims told lawmakers Monday they feel let down by the judicial system and that not enough is done to protect them and their children. Tribune-Herald.

The state has approved a $25 million emergency room expansion at North Hawaii Community Hospital on Hawaii island. Star-Advertiser.

A new 20-year contract for the Kulaimano Elderly Housing Project will adjust the HUD-approved monthly contract rate to $700 per month. Big Island Video News.

Maui

The Maui Electric Company said severe weather has knocked out power out to the entire island as well as a portion of Molokai. Hawaii News Now.

Maui Electric officials confirm island-wide power outages on Maui. KHON2.

Kauai

About 50 people gathered Sunday at Camp Naue in Haena to reflect on the status of the historic Community Based Subsistence Fishing Area — a zone that extends a mile out to sea from Wainiha to Napali State Park, where fishing is subject to new rules enacted two years ago. Garden Island.

Auto auction benefits Anahola. Anahola may not be known as a business-rich community. However, Anahola Marketplace manager Garret Danner looks to change that. Garden Island.

Dog stuck in plastic container rescued. KHS director helps rescue Airedale with head caught in plastic container. Garden Island.

Monday, October 23, 2017

Honolulu reels from arrests of former police chief and deputy prosecutor wife, police chief candidates' interviews begin today, Tsutsui won't run for Maui mayor, pension plan improves, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

screen grab from video
Former Honolulu Police chief Louis Kealoha and his wife, city deputy prosecutor Katherine Kealoha
How Far Will The Honolulu Police Corruption Investigation Spread? The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue its grand jury investigation into corruption and abuse of power. Civil Beat.

A curious allegation of mailbox theft unraveled into a tale of corruption that reached the highest levels of Honolulu law enforcement, culminating in a U.S. investigation that found the former police chief and his prosecutor wife bilked clients and relatives out of hundreds of thousands of dollars to spend on their lavish lifestyle and then used their power to orchestrate a plot within the police department to target anyone who threatened them. Associated Press.

Honolulu’s former police chief and his city deputy prosecutor wife were arrested Friday in the most significant case of alleged public abuse of power in state history, and prosecutors said the investigation could lead to even further charges. Star-Advertiser.

One day after a federal grand jury completed a two-year investigation into public corruption and abuse of power in Hawaii law enforcement, former Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha and his wife, Katherine, a high-ranking city prosecutor, were arrested Friday by the FBI and indicted on 20 counts of criminal conspiracy, fraud and obstruction of justice. Civil Beat.

A Guide To The Case Against The Kealohas. The former Honolulu police chief and his wife, a city prosecutor, have pleaded not guilty to the charges contained in a federal indictment. Civil Beat.

Read full indictment here.

Frustrated Honolulu residents may feel a greater urgency for members of the Police Commission to pick a successor to Louis Kealoha in the wake of the arrest of the former chief two days ago. Star-Advertiser.

Federal case likely to raise doubts over work as prosecutor. The federal indictment of Deputy Prosecutor Katherine Kealoha on charges ranging from bank fraud to obstruction of justice raises enough red flags that prosecutors should review all the cases she’s worked on the past several years to ensure they were handled properly, according to criminal defense attorneys. Star-Advertiser.

The first interviews for finalist up for the job of Honolulu's Police Chief begin on Monday. KITV.

Commentary: Kealoha’s tenure began with such promise. Star-Advertiser.

Commentary: Kealoha arrests drag down HPD. Star-Advertiser.

Commentary: Let’s Scrap The Police Chief Search And Start Over. Civil Beat.

=====

Lawmakers press home lands agency to create housing. As the state grapples with a severe shortage of affordable housing and the highest rate of homelessness per capita in the country, some lawmakers want the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to pitch in resources to help solve the pressing problems. Star-Advertiser.

Pension fund ends year on a slightly higher note. Hawaii’s largest public pension fund performed slightly better in fiscal year 2017 than it reported two months ago in its preliminary numbers. Star-Advertiser.

Planners release 30-second nuclear preparedness PSAs. State emergency planners have released their first public service announcement related to North Korea preparedness, a nonthreatening 30-second video that doesn’t specifically mention the rogue nation or remote possibility of a nuclear attack on Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

‘Golf ball’ radar’s limitations seen. The Sea-Based X-Band Radar, a key link in the nation’s defense against North Korea, spent eight months at sea before returning to its home in Pearl Harbor last month. Star-Advertiser.

The University of Hawaii’s Hyperbaric Treatment Center has closed indefinitely because of staffing problems, a University of Hawaii spokesman said Sunday. Star-Advertiser.

Timeshare property sales in Hawaii have exceeded $1 billion annually in recent years, and a new report tries to quantify how much employment and spending is tied to this segment of the tourism industry. Star-Advertiser.

Lessor intends to seize Island Air’s last 3 planes. An attorney for Island Air’s aircraft lessor said he is planning to take legal action to seize the airline’s three remaining aircraft and is demanding the state’s second-largest carrier make payments if it is going to be allowed to use them. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Electric Co. customers have two new ways to add photovoltaic systems to their homes after a decision Friday by the state Public Utilities Commission. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Rail’s ‘Plan B’ not vetted by federal agency. State lawmakers last month approved a $2.4 billion funding package to build the full rail line to Ala Moana Center. Last week the project’s federal partners said they never determined whether a scaled-back, less costly alternative to Aloha Tower would have worked instead. Star-Advertiser.

The state Land Use Commission has approved one of two petitions by corn seed producer Monsanto to restrict portions of farmland the company owns on Oahu and Molokai for agriculture use under a state law aimed at preserving prime farmland. Star-Advertiser.

State Plans To Clear Out Homeless Camp Under Honolulu Freeway. Moanalua Stream will also be blocked, in order to keep those with rafts or boats from returning or setting up camp elsewhere. Civil Beat.

Boat That Ran Aground 0ff Honolulu Sent No Distress Signal. The wreck of the fishing vessel, carrying workers from Southeast Asia, raises concerns about the treatment of foreign crews. Civil Beat.

Grounding raises fresh concerns over foreign fishermen. A boat that ran aground off Waikiki while transporting foreign fishermen to work in Hawaii’s commercial fishing industry has raised new questions about the safety and working conditions for foreign laborers in this unique U.S. fleet. Associated Press.

Two recent ground-breakings in Kapolei represent significant additions to their respective markets. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hotel market heating up outside the Waikiki core. Developers and the visitor industry say more hotel construction could be coming outside the usual resort districts, and even in them if the market continues to shine. Star-Advertiser.

Denver-based KSL Capital Partners, which bought Outrigger Hotels and Resorts late last year, is kicking off an aggressive Waikiki reinvestment plan with a $25 million overhaul and re-branding of the Waikiki Beachcomber. Star-Advertiser.

The Howard Hughes Corp. has started demolition work at the shuttered Ward Warehouse shopping complex in Honolulu and plans to tear the buildings down by the end of the year, but has yet to schedule construction of the Gateway Towers project that will replace it. Pacific Business News.

Sales of single-family homes in Kaneohe nearly doubled last month, while the number of condominiums and townhouses sold in the Windward Oahu town rose 24 percent, compared to September 2016, according to the monthly local market report from the Honolulu Board of Realtors. Pacific Business News.

Real estate developer Bruce Stark — who left his stamp on Hawaii with the building of residential condominiums, offices and retail space beginning in 1966 — died Thursday at age 82. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Hawaii County is leading the state in motor vehicle traffic fatalities — trailing only Honolulu when it comes to overall roadway deaths — according to data released last week by the state Department of Transportation. West Hawaii Today.

Three weeks after the Thirty Meter Telescope was granted its construction permit, the developer and eventual operator of the planned $1.4 billion cutting-edge observatory says it is still evaluating its next move. Star-Advertiser.

Hundreds of acres of Hawaiian home lands have been set aside for subsistence-agriculture plots along the road leading to Akaka Falls and the surrounding region, and the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands has scheduled community meetings to discuss the project. Tribune-Herald.

Reality is setting in that the South Hilo Sanitary Landfill will have to be closed within two years. A draft environmental assessment has been published for the Hilo landfill closure project, a costly (approximately $19 million) and highly regulated undertaking that must confirm to various county, state and federal rules. Big Island Video News.

The state Department of Transportation will extend four lanes on Highway 130 to Shower Drive over the next month as it restripes a 2-mile stretch of pavement. Tribune-Herald.

A Keaukaha fixture for more than 50 years might be gone by this time next year. Members of the Hilo Yacht Club will decide later this year whether the club will remain at its current location or move to a new building. Tribune-Herald.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is awarding nearly $3 million in funding to a community association for a subdivision in Puna to improve its community drinking water system. Star-Advertiser.

Iwo Jima vets meet the new guys. West Hawaii Today.


Maui

Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui said Friday that he will not be running for Maui County mayor in 2018 due to family reasons in an announcement that throws open the race to succeed Mayor Alan Arakawa, who is term limited. Maui News.

The Maui News is going back to afternoon home delivery for many newspaper subscribers and will cease producing a Sunday paper in a move to cut costs. Star-Advertiser.

Maui's only big box bookstore, Barnes & Noble is set to close. Hawaii News Now.

Scientists Dana Reed and Cathy Maxwell will be at Kohola Brewery in Lahaina at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday to share information and answer questions about the nearshore water quality in West Maui. Maui News.

Maui Disposal reported 6 tons of material was collected at the 13th annual Lahaina Town Clean Up on Sept. 16. More than 300 volunteers spent the day cleaning up Lahaina streets, harbors and beaches from Puamana to the Mala Boat Ramp. Maui News.

Kauai

Kauai Community College’s nursing program has been awarded accreditation for eight years, the longest period possible, by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. Garden Island.

County celebrates hiring collaboration. Summer Youth Employment Program praised. Garden Island.

Hawaii gun laws hit target. Residents, representatives praise state policies. Garden Island.

Geographic boundary changes in the Kalaheo area will go into effect for school year 2019-20. The change will result in more students enrolling at Waimea Canyon Middle and Waimea High schools. Garden Island.

Power line collisions kill about 1,800 seabirds annually on Kauai, according to a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service-commissioned study. Members of the Center for Biological Diversity are on Kauai this week finding ways to help curb the collisions. Garden Island.

Wednesday, October 18, 2017

Hawaii judge blocks Trump travel ban; Hawaii AG sues Homeland Security, Department of Education; Honolulu police chief candidate has spotty record; Spam now under lock and key; released inmate allegedly sets fire to old Hilo jail, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2017 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Hula on Honolulu palace lawn © 2017 All Hawaii News
Honolulu has been named one of the top cities in NerdWallet's new quality of life ranking. Hawaii's state capital ranked 18th out of 177 U.S. cities with a population of more than 150,000. Pacific Business News.

A federal judge in Hawaii blocked most of President Donald Trump’s latest travel ban Tuesday, just hours before it was set to take effect, saying the revised order “suffers from precisely the same maladies as its predecessor.” Associated Press.

Federal District Judge Derrick K. Watson today ordered a nationwide injunction against President Donald Trump’s third travel ban. Maui Now.

See the judge's full temporary restraining order on Trump's travel ban here.

Hawaii’s missile defense urged as North Korean threat persists. Although the United States has been stymied in reining in North Korea’s nuclear program, a former U.S. Pacific Command deputy commander said President Donald Trump’s tough words can be matched with real action by enhancing the defense of Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Months after President Donald Trump declared – by Tweet – that he would ban transgender individuals from serving in the U.S. military, Democratic-led states are joining together in opposition. Big Island Video News.

Hawaii Joins 10 States Suing Homeland Security Department. Attorney General Doug Chin joined a coalition of 10 attorneys general in suing the U.S. Department of Homeland Security today for its failure to respond to a request for information relating to the detention and deportation of immigrants. Maui Now.

Discussions underway over where Trump should stay during Oahu visit. Sources say there are discussions underway about whether to put the president up at the Marine Corps Base Hawaii or in Waikiki during his stay Nov. 3. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Is Still Falling Short In Its Inspections Of Health Care Facilities. The state has been doing better at inspecting nursing homes, but lack of staff means other inspections take a back seat. Civil Beat.

A statewide coalition of health professionals, educators, business and community representatives are teaming up to record oral health data in Hawaii. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii sues US Department of Education. Attorney General Doug Chin on Tuesday joined a coalition of 18 states led by Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh and Pennsylvania Attorney General Joshua Shapiro in suing the U.S. Department of Education and Secretary Betsy DeVos for refusing to enforce the Gainful Employment Rule, a federal regulation designed to protect students from predatory for-profit schools. KITV.

The state Department of Agriculture said Tuesday it began airing three public service announcements promoting agricultural food safety in the community. Star-Advertiser.

Just days before Island Air filed for bankruptcy protection, it was in a pitched battle with the owner of three of its five planes to prevent the turboprops from being repossessed. Star-Advertiser.

After a (really dry) dry season, Hawaii's about to see a wetter, wet season. From October through April, the National Weather Service predicts more rain than what the state normally gets during Hawaii's "wet season," but it's forecast to fall mostly over windward areas. Hawaii News Now.

Wet season expected to be rainy but uneven across isles. The National Weather Serv­ice released its annual wet-season forecast Tuesday, saying an above-­average rainy season is likely for the windward areas of the islands, while signals remain cloudy as to whether leeward areas will see more rain than usual. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Finalist for police chief defends integrity after criminal trial 24 years ago. Retired federal agent Thomas Aiu is being forced to defend himself after questions have been raised regarding his testimony in a 1992 tax fraud case, United States v. Harada. Hawaii News Now.

2 tentatively agree to serve as city police commissioners. The Honolulu Police Commission could soon have a full complement of seven members again, but likely not before the panel picks a new chief. Star-Advertiser.

City officials said enforcement of a new ban on smoking in cars with keiki will begin immediately without any educational or warning period. Star-Advertiser.

Former accountant gets 20-year term for embezzlement. State sheriff deputies took the former managing partner of what was one of Hawaii’s largest accounting firms into custody today after a state judge sentenced him to prison for stealing more than $400,000 from the company. Star-Advertiser.

Patrick Oki, the former managing partner of accounting firm PKF Pacific Hawaii LLP, was sentenced to 20 years in prison on Tuesday for stealing more than $400,000 from the company. Pacific Business News.

A 45-year-old woman whose job it was to collect payment from advertisers in Hawaii Magazine, Honolulu Magazine and Hawaii Business magazine admitted Tuesday in U.S. District Court that she deposited checks worth more than $3.8 million into her own bank accounts instead of the account of her employer. Star-Advertiser.

Sacred Hearts Academy, an all-girls Catholic school in Kaimuki, has fired a teacher after two high school students reported “inappropriate behavior,” according to a letter sent to alumnae on Friday. Star-Advertiser.

Homeless accused of siphoning gas, vandalizing moving company's trucks. A moving company in Mapunapuna has become the repeated target of theft and vandalism. Hawaii News Now.

A private helicopter, which was headed to help in the search for a downed chopper off Molokai, lost power and made an emergency landing at the Waipio Soccer Complex in Central Oahu at around 1 p.m. Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

Why It’s So Difficult To Clean Up This Honolulu Hoarder House. The city is seeking a court order to clean up a house where decades of piled trash have provided a haven for rats and feral cats. Civil Beat.

A Hawaii family with over 1,600 acres in the Waianae mountains is on a mission to restore the natural forest, one sapling at a time. Hawaii News Now.

Target’s seventh store in Hawaii is getting ready to welcome customers. There are high hopes for the new location at Ala Moana Center. KHON2.

Get ready — Target is about to open in Ala Moana Center. The largest Target store in Hawaii is set to open this weekend. Hawaii News Now.

Commentary: Why Spam Is Now Under Lock-And-Key At Oahu Stores. The popular canned meat is a favorite target of thieves in Honolulu, who sometimes sell the goods for quick cash to buy drugs. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

A man released from jail Monday is suspected of intentionally starting a fire at the old Hilo jail hours after his release. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii County Police have more information on Monday night’s fire at the old Hilo jail, which they are investigating as a burglary and arson, and the 33-year-old male that was arrested at the scene. Big Island Video News.

The days were numbered for the old Hilo jail before a former inmate allegedly set it on fire Monday evening. Toni Schwartz, spokeswoman for the state Department of Public Safety, said the unoccupied building will be torn down next year. Tribune-Herald.

Authorities are investigating the theft of two county vehicles later found torched in South Kona. West Hawaii Today.

During a public meeting held Monday night in Keaukaha, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands introduced beneficiaries to a new plan to Subsistence Agriculture Lots for homesteaders in Honomu. Big Island Video News.

Maui

The Army Corps of Engineers will repair nearly 4,000 linear feet of levees in Wailuku River that almost collapsed due to last year’s 100-year flood. Maui News.

The state has certified Maui’s first medical marijuana laboratory to test the purity of the drug for Hawaii’s dispensaries. Star-Advertiser.

Maui-based Pharmlabs Hawaii LLC is the state’s second laboratory to be given the greenlight to begin testing for medical cannabis, according to the Hawaii State Department of Health, which oversees the state’s medical marijuana program. Pacific Business News.

Maui Lab Gets Green Light on Medical Marijuana Testing. Pharmlab Hawaii LLC, a private independent laboratory on Maui, has been given the green light to begin testing medical cannabis from Hawaii’s licensed medical cannabis dispensaries and registered patients and caregivers. Maui Now.

Kauai

The state Department of Education reports that seven qualified school bus drivers are still needed on Kauai. Garden Island.

The state’s account of the project to rid Lehua of invasive rats will be aired on KFVE-TV (K5) in a half-hour documentary this weekend. The program was produced by the state Department of Land and Natural Resources with support from the Lehua Island Restoration Steering Committee, which represents organizations and agencies involved in the project. Garden Island.

First whale sighted off Kauai. Visitor documents first humpback sighting near Kauai. Garden Island.

Kauai police are warning the public to be aware of a financial letter scam being circulated to Kauai residents. Garden Island.

Kauai students help release 3 shearwaters into the wild. Keiki from Kauai's Island School released three Newell Shearwaters into the wild at the shore near Lydgate Park Tuesday. Hawaii News Now.

Molokai

Flight instructor, student missing after helicopter goes down off Molokai. The U.S. Coast Guard and the Maui County Fire Department continued to search for two people today from a helicopter that went down Monday night off the northwest coast of Molokai.  Star-Advertiser.

Still no sign of 2 on board downed chopper near Molokai. Rescue crews continued their search Tuesday for a downed chopper near Molokai by air and sea, but the whereabouts of the two on board remain unknown. Hawaii News Now.

The National Transportation Safety Board released their final accident report of a Cessna that went down near Molokai in December 2016 with three friends on board. Hawaii News Now.


Lanai
 The Lanai Landfill will close early, at 1 p.m., today through Saturday because of insufficient staffing, the county Department of Environmental Management’s Solid Waste Division announced. Maui News.