Senate panel trims state budget, anti-GMO rally set on Maui, Morita keeps PUC post, Catholic schools ban gay teachers, Kauai drops well plan, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Sen. David Ige describes budget (c) 2014 All Hawaii News

The state Senate Ways and Means Committee on Thursday released a new draft of the state budget, scaling back the growth in spending to reflect the dramatic decline in revenue that was projected earlier this month. Star-Advertiser.

Lawmakers in a key state Senate committee advanced their version of the state’s $12.1 billion budget Thursday, making tough choices for 2015 spending after the state’s revenue projections were less than expected. The Senate Ways and Means Committee reduced expenses for this year and next year’s budgets by about $192 million, said Sen. David Ige, the committee chairman. Associated Press.

Senators snipped millions of dollars off the state budget Thursday in light of a lower revenue forecast, but not before restoring funding for preschool, environment and public safety initiatives that the House had cut in the draft it passed earlier this month. The savings would help Hawaii retain a positive ending balance for the next few years, but financial projections show the state would still enter deficit-spending mode by 2017. Civil Beat.

State Budget Heads to Joint Senate-House Conference Committee. Hawaii Public Radio.

On the very day when the Senate Ways and Means committee approved a draft of Hawaii's budget, the state's leading finance officials led a panel discussion on how it was all done. The budget dealing with both this fiscal year and next is about $200 million less than Gov. Neil Abercrombie requested. Civil Beat.

Hawaii lawmakers are expected to advance a bill that will end the state's unusual provision allowing police to have sex with prostitutes. The measure (HB 1926) under consideration Friday originally included a line that would have banned police from having sex with prostitutes. Hawaii News Now.

A Hawaii Senate panel approved Richard Ha’s nomination to the Board of Agriculture on Thursday despite resistance from opponents of genetically modified farming. The farmer from the Big Island has already served on the state board for four years, but his re-appointment made headlines earlier this month when a freshman senator from the same island launched an online campaign urging people to call on other senators to oppose Ha. Civil Beat.

State Sen. Russell Ruderman hasn’t changed his opposition to genetically modified agriculture but he has changed his view of Richard Ha. Ruderman earlier this month sent an email urging recipients who share his “revulsion” over Ha’s renomination to the state Board of Agriculture to tell lawmakers to vote against it. Tribune-Herald.

Hermina Morita, the chairwoman of the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission, whose term ends on June 30, will be kept on a “holdover” basis beyond when her term ends, Gov. Neil Abercrombie said Thursday. Pacific Business News.

The state Board of Land and Natural Resources will decide today how to handle allegations that Hermina Morita and her husband ran an illegal bed and breakfast in Hanalei for more than a decade. But the controversy didn’t prevent Gov. Neil Abercrombie from voicing support for the chair of the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission and former state representative. Garden Island.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie issued a statement today regarding the tenure of Public Utilities Commission Chairwoman Hermina Morita: We are at a very critical juncture in developing our clean energy future and the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) needs stability to continue to address many of the important regulatory issues before it. Therefore, I intend to keep Mina Morita as Chair of the PUC, on a holdover basis beyond June 30, 2014 when her term ends. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii Catholic schools office, which supervises three dozen Roman Catholic private schools in the state, has just approved a new contract that says teachers can be fired if they engage in homosexual activity or marry someone of the same sex. The contract goes on to list a wide array of actions and behaviors that would justify termination. Civil Beat.

The one person who could have changed safety protocols at the Hawaii State Hospital to better protect workers from assaults by patients says she was not fully aware of how often the attacks occurred. Lynn Fallin is a top administrator at the Hawaii Department of Health, and she’s supposed to be notified when a State Hospital worker is the victim of a serious assault by a patient. Civil Beat.

State tourism officials expected a downturn in visitors this year just not to this extent. Hawaii tourism continued moderating in February with total year-over-year arrivals dropping 4.3 percent and total visitor spending coming in flat against 2013. The 646,759 visitors who came to the islands in February spent $1.2 billion, a 0.6 percent drop from February 2013, according to statistics released Thursday by the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Star-Advertiser.

Simeon Acoba Jr. is the latest victim of a Hawaii law that forces judges to retire at age 70, but he's actually OK with that. "That is what the law is, and that's something I basically accept," said Acoba, who until Feb. 28 had been an associate justice on the Hawaii Supreme Court. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Hawaii officials are launching a pilot project in this year’s election to give some polling-place workers shorter shifts instead of the 14-hour days they’ve worked in the past. The state will allow split shifts at 108 of Oahu’s largest polling places. The split shift will not be done at the 34 smaller precincts on Oahu or at any of the 90 polling sites on neighbor islands.Associated Press.

The recovery in Hawaii's construction industry will pick up speed this year thanks to a flurry of residential and commercial activity focused mostly on Oahu, according to a report released Friday by a group of University of Hawaii economists. Star-Advertiser.

The ambitious plan to redevelop the 15-acre Kam Drive-In site in Aiea could also help spawn hundreds of low-income housing units near the Pearlridge Transit Station and other hubs along the city's upcoming $5.26 billion rail line. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Acknowledging that the planning for a Kona Judiciary Complex has been going on for years, the state Senate Ways and Means Committee restored the Judiciary’s funding request to the full $81 million. Between that funding and last year’s $9 million, that would bring the total amount appropriated to $90 million, the amount Judiciary officials say is enough to build the courthouse. West Hawaii Today.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources is proposing a master plan for Kiholo State Park Reserve that would leave it largely in its natural state. The plan allows for new campsites and an improved access area off Queen Kaahumanu Highway at the 4,359-acre reserve in North Kona. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

A march and rally in support of a moratorium on genetically modified organism crops will be held Sunday in Wailuku and Kahului, according to an announcement. Maui News.

Police officers throughout Maui County will be citing drivers using cellphones and other hand-held mobile electronic devices, as part of stepped-up enforcement for Distracted Driver Awareness Month in April. Maui News.

The Maui Police Department will be aggressively enforcing distracted driving violations as part of the national “U drive. U text. U pay.” campaign, which runs from April 10 to 15, 2014, department officials announced. Maui Now.

After more than two years of overall growth, Maui County's February visitor statistics changes suggest that while fewer tourists were coming to the tri-isles, those who did come were trying to get as much value as possible from their dollars. Maui News.

Maui hotels saw the greatest increase in hotel rates, with the average daily rate soaring 8.7 percent to $330.19, the highest in the state. Occupancy at Maui hotels rose 2.3 percentage points to 85.1 percent, according to the weekly report by Hospitality Advisors LLC and STR Inc. Pacific Business News.

Kauai

A larger-than-usual crowd of about 50 people attended the gathering at Duke’s Canoe Club to hear the latest plans for the $17.5 million Hawaii Dairy Farms project. Concerns were many, including risks to the environment and economy, the location of the farm, and an onslaught of flies, smell and pollution on the South Shore. Garden Island.

The Kauai Board of Water Supply voted Thursday to suspend the Department of Water’s controversial Kahili Horizontal Directional Drilled Well Project. Garden Island.

Kauai is the fastest-growing county in Hawaii, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.bThe island's population rose 1.6 percent to 69,512 from 68,395 residents between July 1, 2012, and July 2013, according to the agency. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii economy growing beyond tourism, Obama to help Hawaii's ailing Health Connector, Alaska wants humpbacks delisted, minimum wage bill closer to agreement, Lanai plane crash aftermath, Clayton Hee building war chest, nurses get raises, Mufi Hannemann disliked, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Maui whale count courtesy Pacific Whale Foundation

The state of Alaska has filed a petition to remove some North Pacific humpback whales from protections granted under the federal Endangered Species Act, saying the whales are thriving and no longer need them. The petition filed Wednesday with the National Marine Fisheries Service aims to delist humpbacks that feed in Alaska in the summer and breed in Hawaii in winter, the Anchorage Daily News reported. Associated Press.

University of Hawaii economists are predicting the state's economy will grow slightly faster as the recovery expands beyond the tourism industry. The university's Economic Research Organization said in a report Friday Hawaii's gross domestic product is likely to grow 2.9 percent this year, up from 2.6 percent last year. Hawaii News Now.

Following two years of record-breaking growth, tourism officials say Hawaii’s tourism economy is starting to plateau. According to the Hawaii Tourism Authority, while visitor arrivals in January are on pace with last year’s numbers which contributed to a record of 8.2 million annual visitors, expenditures were down 4.7 percent compared to the same period last year. KHON2.

States such as Hawaii that have experienced technical problems running their own health care enrollment websites are getting some help from the Obama administration. Associated Press.

In a potential framework for an agreement, the state House Finance Committee on Thursday approved a bill that would increase the minimum wage to $10 an hour by January 2018 and expand the tip credit to $1 while shielding low-income workers. The $7.25-an-hour minimum wage would gradually rise to $10 an hour over four years, giving businesses time to absorb the increase. The 25-cent tip credit — the amount businesses can deduct from the minimum wage for workers who earn tips — would rise to $1 over three years. Star-Advertiser.

Facing a key internal deadline Friday, state senators and representatives are trying to reach agreement on a minimum wage increase and tip credit. A Senate committee on Thursday deferred decision making on its version of a wage hike until Friday morning — the second delay on a vote this week. Civil Beat.

Debate will continue today over how much Hawaii businesses should compensate their minimum-wage employees. The state’s benchmark has remained at $7.25 an hour — the same as the current federal minimum — since 2007. Tribune-Herald.

State Sen. Clayton Hee has more than $460,000 in cash on hand, meaning he has the money to help stave off challengers or run for higher office. Hee told Civil Beat the money gives him the “flexibility” to consider a run for governor or lieutenant governor, but that he hasn’t made a decision yet.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie Thursday declined to say whether he plans to reappoint Hawaii Public Utilities Chairwoman Hermina Morita when her term ends June 30. Morita's future as head of the regulatory agency was thrown into doubt recently after an Abercrombie staff member reportedly said the governor did not intend to reappoint her. Star-Advertiser.

Elwin Ahu, a former state judge who serves as senior pastor at New Hope Metro, announced Thursday that he would run in the Republican primary for lieutenant governor. Star-Advertiser.

A bill aimed at establishing a community food forest program within the state Department of Agriculture is headed to the House floor. Garden Island.

A bill currently going through the state Legislature would require mediation be sought before arbitration in determining the sale price or lease rental of state lands. Tribune-Herald.

A state program aiming to help low- and moderate-income families send their children to a licensed preschool is opening its doors to new applicants. Hawaii News Now.

The Hawaii Government Employees Association unit representing registered professional nurses has ratified a new two-year contract with pay raises. The unit, which covers about 1,700 public-sector nurses, agreed to a 4 percent pay raise retroactive to January and a 4.3 percent raise effective in July. The government will also cover 60 percent of health insurance premiums. Star-Advertiser.

DBEDT has released two new applications showing demographic information for Hawaii's legislative districts. Hawaii Reporter.

On Tap at the Hawaii Legislature: Feb. 28. Civil Beat.

Oahu

A new Civil Beat Poll shows nearly 60 percent of Oahu voters have a negative impression of former Honolulu mayor Mufi Hannemann. Just 32 percent view him in a positive light. Asked whether they would vote for Hannemann were he to run for political office this year, 28 percent said "very unlikely" and 20 percent said "somewhat unlikely."

A Honolulu City Council committee is putting off decision-making on a request to raise the height limit for a second hotel-condominium tower on Kuhio Avenue to be operated and managed by the Ritz-Carlton chain, following objections raised by the project's neighbors. Star-Advertiser.

State senators Thursday agreed to revive a bill that could enable the state to acquire undeveloped North Shore land owned by Turtle Bay Hotel and Resort through eminent domain. Star-Advertiser.

The state Supreme Court has agreed to consider a lawsuit protesting a plan to build a 3,500 homes on farmland in Koa Ridge in central Oahu. The development by Castle and Cooke Hawaii would turn 576 acres of prime agricultural land into master-planned suburban community more than two miles away from the nearest planned rail station. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Community Development Authority (HCDA) executive director Anthony Ching said in a public meeting that there would be an announcement about a new, projected preschool-kindergarten building as part of the Kakaako redevelopment plan. Hawaii Independent.

Hawaii

A former Puna councilman is ready to throw his hat in the ring again — it’s just a matter of which ring. Fred Blas has filed to run for two offices, Council District 4, which covers eastern Puna and is currently represented by Greggor Ilagan, and House District 4, also in Puna, currently represented by Faye Hanohano. West Hawaii Today.

Mayor Billy Kenoi provided some insight Thursday into why he signed a controversial measure banning new genetically modified organisms from growing in Hawaii County. West Hawaii Today.

The UH Board of Regents recently approved a sublease for the planned Thirty Meter Telescope atop Mauna Kea on Hawai’i island. Hawaii Public Radio.

Maui
The logistics of travel and communication and how Maui County serves its four-island community will likely be on the public agenda in the wake of Wednesday night's fatal plane crash on Lanai. Star-Advertiser.

A small plane crashed and burst into flames shortly after takeoff from Lanai, killing three people and leaving three others injured, authorities said Thursday. Associated Press.

“This is a tragedy that has stunned our community, but we are also thankful for those whose lives were spared,” said Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa who hosted a press conference to share information on Wednesday’s deadly plane crash on the island of Lānaʻi. Maui Now.

Grief and relief rose as the dominant emotions Thursday in the aftermath of a charter plane crash that left three people dead and three others injured in charred grassland in central Lanai. Two of the dead and three of the injured were Maui County employees on Lanai to attend a planning commission meeting Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

The surviving passenger who is credited with pulling two others from the burning wreckage of Wednesday’s plane crash on Lāna‘i has released a statement to reassure family and friends of his condition. Maui Now.

After a small chartered aircraft carrying Maui County officials crashed near the Lanai Airport on Wednesday night, a deputy attorney for Maui County called 911 to alert emergency officials to the crash and then pulled two other victims from the wreckage, friends and coworkers tell Hawaii News Now.

The Maalaea small boat harbor on Maui could receive up to $4 million in improvements under legislation being considered by the Hawaii Legislature. Pacific Business News.

The Maui Planning Commission unanimously approved a new, family-focused, 200-room hotel in Wailea. Maui News.

Kauai

Representatives of Hawaii Dairy Farms spent Thursday evening laying out their plans for the $17.5 million, 582-acre dairy in Mahaulepu. Garden Island.

The Honolulu firm of McCorriston Miller Mukai MacKinnon has been selected to represent Kauai County in a lawsuit filed by seed four seed companies that want to block the implementation of a new ordinance regulating pesticide use and genetically modified crops. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu firm of McCorriston Miller Mukai MacKinnon LLP has been selected to represent the County of Kauai in a lawsuit filed by four biotech seed companies relating to Ordinance 960, regulating GMO and pesticides. Garden Island.

Wilson nominated to Hawaii Supreme Court, big wins for Honolulu rail, PUC's Morita in trouble, Department of Education focuses on Hawaiian immersion, more accuse Rep. Hanohano of racism, lawmakers mull drones, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Supreme Court justice nominee Michael Wilson poses with Gov. Neil Abercrombie

Gov. Neil Abercrombie on Tuesday announced the nomination of Circuit Judge Michael Wilson to fill an upcoming vacancy on the state Supreme Court. Wilson would replace Associate Justice Simeon Acoba, who will reach the mandatory retirement age of 70 in March. Wilson's nomination for a 10-year term on the court is subject to confirmation by the state Senate. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie today appointed a man of many hats to the state Supreme Court. Michael Wilson, a judge with Oahu’s First Circuit Court since 2000, will replace Associate Justice Simeon Acoba, who will reach the mandatory retirement age of 70 next month. Big Island Now.

The Board of Education adopted sweeping changes on Tuesday to two policies governing Hawaiian education and immersion schools, a move that garnered the support of hundreds of advocates who hope the revisions will address many of the issues that have plagued the programs for decades. Civil Beat.

In what Hawaiian language advocates called a bold and monumental step, the Board of Education on Tuesday made substantial policy changes to its Hawaiian language immersion program, including a mandate to create an Office of Hawaiian Education under the schools superintendent. Star-Advertiser.

Hanohano

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources on Tuesday complained about the behavior of state Rep. Faye Hano­hano, portraying the representative as "abusive in authority, racially discriminatory and inappropriate" to the department's staff. House leaders have said they intend to assign a special committee to look into Hano­hano's conduct after receiving several complaints. Star-Advertiser.

State lawmakers are considering a bill that would make it illegal for police to monitor people with unmanned aircraft without due process. Police, hobbyists, filmmakers and regulators told lawmakers Tuesday that the state should protect people's privacy. But they urged lawmakers not to curtail the many uses for unmanned aircraft beyond police surveillance, including commercial photography, search and rescue operations, resource management and recreational use. Associated Press.

Opponents fighting a proposed state ban on unmanned aerial vehicles packed a capitol hearing room today. Hawaii Public Radio.

A measure now before Hawaii lawmakers would restrict the use of these unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, to law enforcement, and only if the search warrant calls for the technology. KHON2.

Hawaii has the lowest number in the nation of enrollments through its Obamacare exchange, Hawaii Health Connector, according to a Feb. 12 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services report. Hawaii Reporter.

Morita

 

Hermina Morita, who was tapped by Gov. Neil Abercrombie three years ago to lead the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission, won’t be nominated for a second term, according to the senator who chairs the committee that oversees the commission. Sen. Roz Baker, who heads the Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee, told Civil Beat Tuesday that she asked to meet with the governor after hearing reports that Morita wouldn't be reappointed, but he refused. Star-Advertiser.

House Bill 1499, which has a hearing today, proposes a constitutional amendment to ask whether freedom of speech should include spending money to influence elections. Civil Beat.

Equality Hawaii, channeling resources from several gay rights and civil liberties organizations, directed more than $509,900 worth of lobbying to help pass a gay marriage law in a special session of the state Legislature last fall. State lobbying disclosure reports filed with the state Ethics Commission show that Equality Hawaii spent more than $101,600 of the money on media advertising. Star-Advertiser.

Thanks to a new law in Hawaii, the public can examine the financial interests of state lawmakers before elected officials take action on legislation that might personally benefit them. In the past, the public generally had to wait until the legislative session was over to view lawmakers' financial disclosure statements. That made it hard to spot potential conflicts of interest and raise objections when it matters most. But last year the Legislature finally passed a bill that moved the filing deadline up four months, from May 31 to Jan. 31, barely two weeks after the 2014 session opened. The session will wrap up May 1. Civil Beat.

Hawaii News Now has discovered a potential problem with the state's new vehicle safety sticker program.  A Kalihi mechanic worried that if he can easily wipe numbers off the sticker decals, crooks can as well.

Scientists in Hawaii are seeking the public’s help in documenting locations where the state butterfly can be found, saying they don’t believe the insect’s population is doing as well as it should be. Associated Press.

State roundup for February 19. Associated Press.

Oahu

Two federal court rulings Tuesday all but assured Honolulu’s $5.2 billion rail project will be built between East Kapolei and Ala Moana Center. Not only did judges in the U.S. District Court of Hawaii and 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals find that the project complied with federal law, but the plaintiffs in the cases, who have been fighting against rail for decades, have said they don’t plan to appeal the decisions. Civil Beat.

With two new decisive court wins, Oahu's rail transit project is poised to take shape along the island's southern coast without more roadblocks from its staunchest opponents. A federal appeals court panel unanimously ruled Tuesday that the 20-mile, 21-station elevated rail line complies with environmental law. On a lower court level in the same case, visiting Judge A. Wallace Tashima ruled Tuesday that transit officials followed proper procedures in choosing a rail route to Ala Moana Center instead of a route to the University of Hawaii's Manoa campus. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu’s $5.16 billion rail transit project received a green light Tuesday in separate rulings from the 9th U.S. Court of Appeals and the U.S. District Court. Pacific Business News.

If there’s one thing that the Hawaii Community Development Authority can’t be faulted for, it’s a lack of transparency. Hawaii Independent.

A decades-long debate over the best way make more homes available to the neediest families continues at the Hono­lulu City Council on Wednesday. Three resolutions aimed at creating more affordable housing units for those most in need are on the Council's agenda. Star-Advertiser.

City Councilman Ron Menor wants to make it easier for those at the lowest income levels to benefit from rules that require developers to set aside affordable housing units. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

A compromise by the developer of the luxury Kohala Kai subdivision was enough to get a thumbs-up Tuesday from the County Council Finance Committee. West Hawaii Today.

A proposed North Kona development hit a new roadblock Tuesday afternoon, when the county’s Planning Director announced he couldn’t find any authority to expand an urban area into an agricultural area. West Hawaii Today.

Coffee growers are hoping for a venti-sized check from lawmakers this year as the coffee berry borer spreads to all corners of the Big Island. On Thursday, the state’s House Finance Committee will consider a bill to provide $3 million to help farmers fight the beetle, triple the amount allocated or approved last year. Tribune-Herald.

Driving down Queen Kaahumanu Highway at 45 mph, residents and visitors may not realize how much water flows beneath the barren-looking lava fields, Fred Cachola told County Council members Tuesday morning. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

A series of community meetings to discuss proposed permitting and scheduling improvements at Park facilities in Maui County is scheduled to take place in February and March. Maui Now.

Maui County high school students are invited to take part in the inaugural Congressional Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Academic Competition, U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard announced. Maui News.

Kauai
A member of the Kauai Police Commission is a target of a federal investigation into illegal gambling. FBI agents searched 37-year-old Bradley Chiba's home in Lihue on Super Bowl Sunday on the suspicion he was booking illegal bets on football games. Hawaii News Now.

The smell of rotten eggs, county officials admit, has been a longstanding and uncomfortable problem that has plagued businesses and residents in the Wailua Houselots area for several decades. Garden Island.

Molokai

Island Air, which has been focusing its resources on Lanai, said Tuesday it will discontinue service to Molokai. The last flights will be on April 1. Star-Advertiser.

Island Air, the Hawaii interisland airline owned by Oracle Corp. CEO Larry Ellison, will discontinue service to Molokai effective April 2, the airline said Tuesday. Pacific Business News.

The Molokai Planning Commission, a board of volunteer residents tasked with reviewing land use ordinances and amendments, is seeking to revise and update its 25-year-old administrative rules. Maui News.

Niihau
It appears the island of Niihau will remain part of the County of Kauai, at least until the end of the decade. Instead of moving forward with establishing a new, independent county, a trio of committees in the Senate voted Tuesday to create a five-member working group to study the proposal. Garden Island.

Obama's boring vacation, new landing zones for Mauna Kea, Enright named ag chief, PUC rejects Ka'u biofuel plant, Kauai wants to license cats, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Black Hawk helicopter over Mauna Kea (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

The 25th Army Combat Aviation Brigade and Hawaii Army National Guard want to construct four aviation landing zones on Mauna Loa’s northern slope, a location deemed ideal for military helicopter pilots to train on varied terrain, under diverse conditions and at multiple altitudes. West Hawaii Today.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is starting to register volunteers on Kauai, Oahu and the Big Island for an annual humpback whale count. Associated Press.

How President Barack Obama spent the sixth day of his holiday vacation in Hawaii on Thursday. Associated Press.

Dear Barry, There's no two ways about it — you give boring vacation. Your sixth presidential Christmas vacation in Hawaii has so far been as routine as the previous five. Civil Beat.

When it comes to Hawaii politics, here are some of the most distinctive and effective politicians on social media today. Civil Beat.

POLITICO says the Hawaii U.S. Senate primary is one of the ones to watch next year, along with races in Kentucky, Wyoming and other states. Civil Beat.

Enright

The governor is appointing a new chairman of the Hawaii Board of Agriculture. Scott Edward Enright has been named to replace Russell Kokubun, who is retiring at the end of the year. Gov. Neil Abercrombie announced Enright's appointment Thursday. The appointment is subject to state Senate confirmation. Associated Press.

The governor appointed a new chairman of the Hawaii Board of Agriculture. Scott Edward Enright has been named to replace Russell Kokubun, who is retiring at the end of the year. Associated Press.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie has appointed Scott Enright as the new chair of the Board of Agriculture, effective Jan. 1. Civil Beat.

Criminal cases against several charter school leaders prompted oversight improvements for Hawaii's 33 charter schools, the executive director of the state's charter school commission said. Hawaii News Now.

Larry Ellison, who purchased the majority of Hawaii’s island of Lanai in 2012, dominated PBN’s top 10 online stories, ranked by page views, but a $1.3 billion telescope planned for the top of a Big Island volcano beat the Oracle Corp. CEO for the top spot on the list. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

Taller buildings aren’t just coming to Kakaako, and that's mostly thanks to rail. New city plans call for increasing building height limits around future rail stations as a means to spur development. It’s part of Honolulu’s push for transit-oriented development, a planning principle that seeks to gentrify neighborhoods, increase density and make communities more pedestrian-friendly. Civil Beat.

For the second time in two months, vandals have knocked out dozens of traffic cameras across Oahu by ripping out the fiber-optic cables that support them under the H-1 freeway. Star-Advertiser.

Hikers and New Year's revelers will greet 2014 along the scenic Maka­puu lighthouse trail edging Oahu's easternmost tip. The state is inviting the public to participate in a "First Day" sunrise hike at Maka­puu for the third year. Star-Advertiser.

More than 1,000 box jellyfish wash ashore. KHON2.

Hawaii

The Public Utilities Commission has again rejected a contract between Hawaii Electric Light Co. and Aina Koa Pono for a biodiesel refinery outside Pahala, saying it’s too expensive for ratepayers and there’s no proof it won’t harm the environment. West Hawaii Today.

The developer of a proposed biofuel production facility on Hawaii island said Thursday the company will proceed with its plans despite being told by regulators that Hawaii Electric Light Co. will not be allowed to buy its fuel for power generation. Star-Advertiser.

For the second time, a contract for Aina Koa Pono LLC to supply Hawaii Electric Light Co. with 16 million gallons of biofuel at the Keahole Power Plant on the Big Island has been denied by Hawaii regulators, according to public documents. Pacific Business News.

The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission has once again denied a proposed Aina Koa Pono biodiesel supply contract with the Hawaii Electric Light Company. A proposed surcharge to cover the additional costs to produce the biodiesel was also denied. Big Island Video News.

Hilo Medical Center will receive more than $1.7 million to upgrade dietary equipment that is more than 25 years old after Gov. Neil Abercrombie released funds Thursday for public hospital capital improvement projects. Tribune-Herald.

The Target data breach has reached West Hawaii. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The Portuguese Association of Maui is the recipient of an estimated $3,000 grant from the Hawaiʻi Foundation on Culture and the Arts. The non-profit group plans to use the funds to produce a 26-segment radio series titled, “Stories of Our People,” scheduled to air on Sundays at 8:30 p.m. on KNUI AM 550. Maui Now.

Kauai

State officials say they've seen an increase in illegal vendors hawking crafts and other merchandise on Kauai. The state Department of Land and Natural Resources said Thursday that citations have been given at Opaekaa Falls and Wailua Falls. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai County considers feline fees. The county is considering treating cat owners just like dog owners by requiring them to license their animals every year. Garden Island.

Gay marriage now Hawaii law but faces court challenge today, newborn monk seal closes park, Kauai council mulls GMO veto override today, state stumbles into Obamacare, residents search for loved ones, offer aid in wake of Philippine disaster, no GMO conflict of interest for Big Island councilwoman, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Gov. Abercrombie signs same-sex marriage bill, courtesy photo

Gov. Neil Abercrombie, weaving marriage equality into Hawaii's definition of aloha and religious liberty into the nation's rich tradition of freedom, signed a bill into law on Wednesday granting gay and lesbian couples in the islands the right to marry. In an emotional celebration at the Hawai‘i Convention Center's Liliu Theater, the Democratic governor made Hawaii the 15th state plus the District of Columbia to approve gay marriage. Star-Advertiser.

Starting Dec. 2, gay couples will be able to wed in the Aloha State. Gov. Neil Abercrombie signed the Hawaii Marriage Equality Act into law Wednesday during an invitation-only ceremony at the Honolulu Convention Center. Civil Beat.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie signed a bill Wednesday legalizing gay marriage in Hawaii, the state that kicked off a national discussion of the issue more than two decades ago. Now, the island chain is positioning itself for a boost in tourism as people take advantage of the new law and the state provides another example of the nation’s changing views on marriage. Associated Press.

At 10:51 a.m. HST, on Wednesday, Nov. 13, Hawaiʻi became the 15th state to legally recognize same-sex marriage, as Governor Neil Abercrombie signed the bill into law before an invited crowd at the Hawaiʻi Convention Center. Maui Now.

Full video of same-sex marriage bill signing. KHON2.

With same-sex marriage legal in Hawaii as of Wednesday, the local wedding industry is gearing up for hundreds of same-sex ceremonies on the islands during the next several years. It's also looking forward to hundreds of millions more tourism dollars that likely will accompany those weddings, as a local economic study shows. Star-Advertiser.

As Gov. Neil Abercrombie signed Senate Bill 1  Wednesday, less than 24 hours after the bill passed its final reading in the state Senate, opponents were promising a legal challenge to the new statute. Hawaii Reporter.

Same-sex marriages could start in less than three weeks, but a hearing at Circuit Court on Thursday could put that on hold. Opponents have filed a lawsuit that could order the state to not issue wedding licenses to same-sex couples. KHON2.

Supporters of same-sex marriage celebrated the signing of the Marriage Equality Law, even as opponents continued to express disappointment, and prepared to challenge the new law in court. Hawaii News Now.

President Barack Obama praised Hawaii's state legislature Tuesday for passing a bill allowing same-sex marriage in the Aloha State. "I’ve always been proud to have been born in Hawaii, and today’s vote makes me even prouder," Obama said in a statement released by the White House. HuffPost Hawaii.

Did you hear about the special session drinking game? Every time key words and phrases were repeated during the Hawaii Legislature's marathon hearings and floor sessions on same-sex marriage, it was time to take a sip or a shot. Civil Beat.

Hawaii is one of only three states that did not provide data to the federal government on the number of people who have signed up for private health insurance through the online marketplaces created by President Barack Obama's Affordable Care Act. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Health Connector still has not disclosed the number of Hawaii residents that have enrolled in the state-run online health insurance exchange, making it one of only three states that did not provide enrollment data to the Obama Administration. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii residents with ties to the Philippines and others are joining together to get donations and assistance to the country as soon as possible to aid victims of last week's Typhoon Haiyan, which left a trail of mass destruction. Star-Advertiser.

The AARP Foundation is hoping to raise $500,000 for the Philippines through its 'Typhoon Haiyan Relief Fund'.  The organization will match every dollar up to that amount for a total of a million. Hawaii News Now.

Family members of state Rep. John Mizuno are among the missing in the wake of Typhoon Haiyan. Star-Advertiser.

Verizon Wireless said Wednesday that it is providing free phone calls and text messages to the Philippines for its U.S. customers following Typhoon Haiyan last week. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii's largest public pension fund, which has an unfunded liability of $8.4 billion, began the new fiscal year on a positive note as its return on investments rose 5.3 percent in the July-September quarter. The strong performance boosted the assets of the state Employees' Retirement System portfolio to a record $12.9 billion. Star-Advertiser.

Different types of possible tsunami debris are starting to wash up on the islands' shorelines. KITV.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is looking to establish a control order allowing certain agencies to take without permit nonnative cattle egrets and barn owls in Hawaii, the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and part of the Midway Atoll. West Hawaii Today.

Oahu
The first of up to 3,500 houses for Castle & Cooke Hawaii's Koa Ridge project could be occupied by 2016 with the City Council's 9-0 approval Wednesday of the developer's rezoning plan. The go-ahead came despite lingering concerns about what opponents estimate will result in 7,000 more cars on the H-2 freeway, the loss of valuable agricultural lands and whether homes Castle & Cooke must set aside for lower-income families will be within their financial reach. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu City Council on Wednesday paved the way for one of Oahu's largest development projects with the unanimous approval of Koa Ridge, a 576-acre community off of H-2 freeway near Mililani. The project would add 3,500 homes to the rural area, and promises to provide a thousand construction jobs as well as 1,600 more jobs at a planned hospital and other businesses. Civil Beat.

The Honolulu City Council today unanimously passed an open data bill that aims to make government more transparent. If Mayor Kirk Caldwell signs the bill it will essentially help to open up reams of government statistics and data in a format that can be manipulated to build apps, create visualizations of complex information and help citizens analyze government services. Civil Beat.

The alleged theft of hundreds of thousands of dollars at a Leeward Oahu homeless shelter has triggered an investigation by the state Department of Human Services. Earlier this year, the Waianae Community Outreach program sued its former program director Laura Pitolo, saying she signed checks to herself and family members and made dozens of unauthorized ATM withdrawals. Hawaii News Now.

The $262 million sale of Oahu real estate assets of Kaneohe Ranch Co. and the Harold K.L. Castle Foundation moved forward Wednesday after one beneficiary settled a legal petition that raised concerns that the deal was being rushed and hadn't been properly vetted. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Hawaii County Councilwoman Brenda Ford did not have a conflict of interest when she sponsored a bill banning genetically modified crops, the county Board of Ethics unanimously ruled Wednesday. West Hawaii Today.

Newborn monk seal

North Kohala’s Keokea Beach Park is being closed at 7:30 p.m. nightly to protect an endangered Hawaiian monk seal and its mother. Tribune-Herald.

The land ranges from sea level up to 2,500 feet, covering coffee farms and ranch land on 5,880 acres in Ka‘u. And it’s all for sale. Lehman Brothers acquired the properties earlier this year through a foreclosure auction, and recently began looking for a new owner. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

A unit still photographer, who has worked on the sets of movies including "Legally Blonde," "Meet the Fockers" and "Remember the Titans" and is a former National Football League kicker, has been named the new Maui County Film Commissioner, the county announced Tuesday. Maui News.

Recent heavy rains and forecasts calling for more wet weather, prompted a cancellation today of the 20% voluntary water restriction that was in place for Upcountry water customers. Maui Now.

The proposed $220 million consolidated car rental facility for Kahului Airport moved one step closer to construction with the Maui Planning Commission approving a special management area use permit for the facility Tuesday. Maui News.

A&B Properties has amended a Wailea commercial-residential development to include a new hotel. Maui News.

Nēnē breeding and nesting season has started at Haleakalā National Park, prompting an advisory to visitors to obey posted speed limits and exercise caution while driving in the park. Maui Now.

Kauai

State Department of Agriculture officials Wednesday released details about a plan to put in place voluntary pesticide-use guidelines on Kauai starting Dec. 1. The announcement came a day before the Kauai County Council is slated to meet to consider overriding Mayor Bernard Carvalho's veto of Bill 2491, which calls for mandatory disclosures pertaining to large-scale pesticide use and farming of genetically modified crops. Star-Advertiser.

Less than two weeks after receiving approval from the Public Utilities Commission to begin charging new fees for old electric meters, the Kauai Island Utility Cooperative validated a member petition submitted with the intent to reverse the commission’s decision. The additional charges include a one-time set-up fee — ranging from $50.64 for residential meters to $138.80 for commercial ones — as well as a monthly fee of $10.27 for customers who opt not to use a standard, wireless smart meter. Garden Island.

Even before Tyler Greene and Chad Waters decided to purchase the long-vacant Coco Palms Hotel in Wailua, the investment partners said they heard stories from many residents and visitors about their personal connection to the hotel. Garden Island.

Smoking ban coming to Oahu beaches and parks, federal report blasts JPAC, Hawaii Army National Guard on furlough, federal agent's murder trial starts today, Kauai addresses beach bathrooms, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Waikiki beach scene (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

Lawmakers could get one step closer to making it harder to light up in Oahu. This week two smoking bills face final readings. Smoking at all city and county public parks could become illegal. KITV4.

A new state law allowing proof of ancestry to be taken from several sources is expected to make it easier to expand the roll of Native Hawaiians - a move that could help them form their own government. Associated Press.

Monday will not be a work day for some 1,100 full-time members of the Hawaii Army National Guard. It will be a furlough day, thanks to federal sequestration budget cuts. Hawaii News Now.

The Pentagon's Hawaii-based effort to account for tens of thousands of Americans missing in action from foreign wars is so inept, mismanaged and wasteful that it risks descending from "dysfunction to total failure," according to an internal study suppressed by military officials. The report paints a picture of a Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command, a military-run group known as JPAC and headed by a two-star general in Hawaii, as woefully inept and even corrupt. Associated Press.

Mere hours before the world was introduced to Edward Snowden, more than 400 people, many of them from Hawaii’s intelligence community, gathered for a gala inside the hangar of the Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor at Ford Island. Civil Beat.

A Civil Beat review found at least eight high-level Public Utilities Commission employees who have left in the past several years for jobs at HECO, other utilities the commission regulates or law firms representing those companies.  The turnover is troubling in and of itself, but it’s of particular concern when PUC employees head down the street to Hawaiian Electric Co.

An arbitration panel has awarded a six-year contract with increases staggered in the fourth through sixth years of its term for members of the State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers. Maui News.

The state’s first performance contract with public charter schools will give the schools’ governing commission the authority to do more than threaten to revoke a school’s charter, the commission’s executive director said this week. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii teachers often struggle to incorporate art into their classes because of severely limited public funding and the demands of federal and state education requirements that place an emphasis on testing in core subjects such as math and reading. Civil Beat.

The number of initial unemployment claims filed in Hawaii dropped by 15.4 percent last week compared to the same week of 2012, according to the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. Pacific Business News.

State roundup for July 8. Associated Press.

Oahu

The trial for a federal agent charged with murder in the shooting death of a man at the Waikiki McDonald's begins Monday morning. Hawaii News Now will be live streaming the proceedings starting Monday at 10 a.m.

A mega church is changing the landscape of West Oahu. They are moving forward with purchasing more than 200 acres of Kunia farmland and building an entire church community. KHON2 sat down with the pastor of New Hope Leeward in an exclusive interview to find out what this $30 million expansion plan entails.

Hawaii

Hawaii Island is poised to become a major player in the U.S. oyster industry, as growers on the mainland wrestle with the effects of climate change. Tribune-Herald.

Now that each County Council member gets a $98,877 contingency fund, Hilo Councilman Dennis Onishi wants to be sure the money goes for district necessities rather than donated to nonprofits. West Hawaii Today.

The Hawaii County Council Planning Committee will hear two bills proposing reforms to the Planned Unit Development process at a 9:15 a.m. Tuesday hearing in Hilo. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The Maui County Council voted Friday to move forward with a formal investigation into the potential misuse of county funds appropriated for rehabilitation of the Old Wailuku Post Office.Maui News.

Agreeing that Maui County residents are "increasingly frustrated" with Maui Electric Co., Mayor Alan Arakawa has written to Public Utility Commission Chairwoman Hermina Morita to thank the commission for its recent decision to lower power rates. Maui News.

The Maui County Council gave initial approval on Friday to a bill that seeks to rename the Waiheʻe Ball Park on Halewaiu Road to the Richard “Pablo” Caldito Sr. Park. Maui Now.

Kauai

In response to the growing concern over the bathrooms at county parks, Mayor Bernard Carvalho has assembled a multi-agency team to address repairs and upgrades to county parks. Garden Island.

State officials are proposing nighttime construction to mitigate traffic impacts and fast track a project to improve flow for more than 27,000 vehicles that cross the old Lihue Mill Bridge daily. Garden Island.