Lack of training blamed for deadly Marine Corps helicopter crash, celebrity chef Sam Choy testifies in Kenoi trial, Ige's salary lags top CEOs, Hanabusa a sure thing, another $6.9M for Honolulu homeless housing, iconic Coco Palms trying to rebuild, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Sam Choy hands a photograph back to attorney Richard Sing while he testifies during Kenoi's trial Tuesday in Hilo Circuit Court. Pool photo HOLLYN JOHNSON/Tribune-Herald

Celebrity chef Sam Choy didn’t take long to change the mood in Mayor Billy Kenoi’s criminal trial Tuesday morning. Tribune-Herald.

Celebrity chef Sam Choy took the witness stand today during the ongoing criminal trial of Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi. Big Island Video News.

The architect of Hawaii County’s purchasing card — or pCard — program testified in Mayor Billy Kenoi’s corruption trial Tuesday that Kenoi had broad leeway over his spending, including purchasing alcohol, as long as it was in the best interest of the county. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi's former managing director knew as far back as 2011 that the mayor was using his government-issued credit card for personal purchases. Hawaii News Now.

On day four of the trial for Big Island Mayor Billy Kenoi, a total of five witnesses were called to the stand by the defense team. KITV.

Day four of Hawaii Island Mayor Billy Kenoi’s trial saw laughter and tears in the courtroom. KHON2.

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A Marine investigation of a deadly 2016 helicopter collision off Oahu found that pilot error, lack of training and command problems were to blame. The findings are contained in a report obtained by the Investigative Reporting Program at UC Berkeley. Civil Beat.

Twelve Hawaii Marines were killed on Jan. 14 when two CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters collided off Oahu as one chopper raced at night to catch up and the first helicopter turned in its path, according to the Investigative Reporting Program at the University of California, Berkeley. Star-Advertiser.

How Gov. David Ige's salary compares with other governors. Pacific Business News.

The election is still two weeks away, but a Washington, D.C., political news outlet says Colleen Hanabusa will definitely be returned to Congress. Civil Beat.

Two incumbents face challengers in the final two races for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs on the Nov. 8 general election ballot. West Hawaii Today.

Restaurant Brands New Zealand Ltd. said Tuesday it plans to buy Pacific Island Restaurants, the largest fast-food operator in Hawaii, for $105 million. Pacific Business News.

Oahu
Nearly a year after Hale Mauliola’s opening, city leaders who once doubted it would work are calling the transitional housing complex a success — and they aim to expand the model to help address widespread homelessness on Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

The city spent $6.9 million to buy a three-story, 24-unit walk-up apartment building on Beretania Street to be used for low-income and homeless housing. Star-Advertiser.

Are Oahu’s Bridges Better Off Than They Were 4 Years Ago? Kirk Caldwell promised to improve them. But while work has continued, there haven’t been any new repair initiatives. Civil Beat.

This Clear Water Has Been Flowing Under Kakaako Since The 1920s. An auwai has been discovered underground, and Howard Hughes wants to find a way to bring it to the surface. Civil Beat.

Heavy day at polls as early voting starts. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu voters are being asked to establish an agency dedicated to managing thousands of acres of city land and another charged with handling climate change and sustainability. Civil Beat.

The chief executive of the Queen’s Medical Center says the hospital is trying to help fix the state’s critical primary care shortage in private practice even as it offers lucrative contracts to persuade doctors to join its staff. Star-Advertiser.

A 14 year old Hawaiian monk seal is back in the water after a lifesaving surgery to remove a fishing hook he swallowed. Scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released RE-74, also known as Benny, after a two-week recovery period. Hawaii Public Radio.

Copper thieves target street lights along Farrington Highway. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii

The contested case hearing over a key permit for the Thirty Meter Telescope inched forward today as opponents of the project wrapped up their questions for the first witness called by the University of Hawaii, and moved on to the second. Star-Advertiser.

Fence on Mauna Loa meant to protect ‘ua‘u from feral cats. Tribune-Herald.

Humpback whale season typically starts in December and stretches through March, but a few of the mammoth mammals recently made early appearances off the coast of West Hawaii. Two separate reports of sightings came into the West Hawaii Today Tuesday, the first such reports since last season.

Maui
Commentary: Why Maui County Mayor Alan Arakawa’s decision to suspend community plans may be a bad idea. MauiTime.

Maui County’s largest products show, the 3rd Annual Made in Maui County Festival, is fast approaching and the island is gearing up for what is anticipated to be a “big draw” for both residents and visitors alike. MauiWatch.

Kauai

The developers of the iconic Coco Palms Resort on Kauai are hoping to clear another hurdle. Pacific Business News.

‘No vote, no grumble’ Some visit polls before the general election. Garden Island.

Schools in the state of Hawaii are getting a much needed boost from the U.S. Department of Education. HIDOE will receive $1.5 million in School Improvement Grants, or SIG, to improve facilities, classrooms and the overall student experience. Garden Island.

Blocking the locks. DLNR removes 94 ‘love locks’ from Waimea Canyon lookout. Garden Island.

FBI releases files on Sen. Daniel Inouye, Matson to pay for molasses cleanup, Honolulu rail restarts, Omidyar only Hawaii resident on Forbes wealthy list, Kauai investigates auditor, Sam Choy returning to Maui, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Sen. Daniel Inouye (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

Newly released FBI files on Dan Inouye show that the Hawaii senator was subject to several anonymous death threats during his long service in Washington. He was also accused of accepting bribes to help Matson Navigation control shipping to Honolulu, and to secure a military research center at the University of Hawaii. Civil Beat.

The FBI on Monday publicly posted its documents on the late Hawaii senator in The Vault, the bureau's online reading room, which also contains once-private files on other prominent politicians, celebrities, gangsters and fugitives. The trove provides a fascinating window into the FBI's intelligence operations and reveals the kinds of threats Ino­uye experienced during his remarkable political career. Star-Advertiser.

Newly released FBI files reveal numerous death threats against Senator Daniel Inouye dating all the way back to the 1950s. Hawaii News Now.

FBI Files: Honolulu Agents Kept On Short Leash During 1989 Investigation Into Senator Daniel Inouye’s Alleged ‘Payoff’ From Matson. Mauitime News.

Download and read the 22 documents on Daniel Inouye at the FBI Vault.

Articles following Inouye's death in December at All Hawaii News.

Congress has just a few voting days left to pass a budget plan that will avert a government shutdown before it faces another major hurdle — the looming debt ceiling — in mid-October. This double-whammy could have major implications for Hawaii, including for local schools and universities that are highly dependent on federal funding.  Civil Beat.

Forbes on Monday released its annual list of the top 400 richest Americans, which included one Hawaii resident: eBay founder Pierre Omidyar. While most of the top names and rankings didn't change from a year ago, the majority of the elite club's members saw their fortunes grow over the past year, helped by strong stock and real estate markets. Star-Advertiser.

State roundup for September 17. Associated Press.

Oahu

After a nearly 13-month delay caused by a lawsuit, construction restarted on the state's largest public works project following a blessing in the Ewa fields. The columns are the most visible sign that the rail line is advancing. Sixteen of 422 columns planned for the East Kapo­lei-Aloha Stadium segment had been erected when work was halted. There will be about 50 between East Kapolei and Fort Weaver Road. Star-Advertiser.

Matson Inc. will pay for the cleanup of a 1,400-ton spill of molasses into Honolulu Harbor that killed thousands of fish and other marine life, CEO Matt Cox said Monday. Pacific Business News.

Matson will not pass on cleanup and damage costs for last week's spill of 233,000 gallons of molasses into Honolulu Harbor to its customers or to taxpayers, according to the shipping company's president. Star-Advertiser.

The same day Hawaii lawmakers opened up their investigation into the massive molasses spill that has killed more than 25,000 fish, the head of the company responsible for the environmental disaster said Matson Inc. is footing the bill. Civil Beat.

Matson Inc., the shipping company that spilled 233,000 gallons of molasses into Honolulu Harbor earlier this month, has pledged to pay all the costs stemming from the disaster that has devastated marine life there. Hawaii Public Radio.

One week after 233,000 gallons of molasses leaked into Honolulu Harbor, the sticky intruder is sticking around, still visible and killing fish. Hawaii News Now.

Two Oahu Community Correctional Center guards face a criminal trial next month over the beating of an inmate. Adult Corrections Officer Kevin Ignacio is accused of repeated punching prisoner Jeffrey Diaz in the head and face while fellow prison guard Ismael Castro is accused of kicking Diaz. Hawaii News Now.

Businesses sink in aftermath of molasses spill. KHON2.

There are 168 hours in a week. But in Honolulu, a minimum wage worker would need an extra nine to afford housing. Hawaii Independent.

Hawaii

One employee is under investigation and another has apparently quit his moonlighting real estate practice after a summer of turmoil in the county Real Property Tax Division. Finance Director Nancy Crawford, who oversees the division, said Monday that procedures have always been in place to ensure there is no conflict of interest between the public duties of the 43 staff members and their professional and personal lives. But a formal conflict of interest policy was not put into writing until June. West Hawaii Today.

Last week, the National Park Service took a step toward getting permanent protections for the Keauhou aquifer by requesting the state’s Commission on Water Resource Management to give the area a water management designation. The aquifer runs from just north of Kona International Airport to south of Keauhou, and from the coastline to Hualalai’s summit. West Hawaii Today.

Naniloa Volcanoes Resort intends to seek support in federal bankruptcy court to continue business operations with the intent of eventually finding a buyer for the Hilo property. David Farmer, bankruptcy trustee for Hawaii Outdoor Tours Inc., which holds the state lease and operates the resort, said that he has received two letters of intent to purchase the 65-acre property for $12 million and $14 million, respectively. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

Maui shopping center Lahaina Gateway has been repossessed by a lender for a second time in two years, giving the property its fourth owner since opening five years ago. Lahaina Gateway is the largest retail complex in West Maui and is anchored by Foodland Farms, Barnes & Noble Booksellers and Office Max. Star-Advertiser.

Celebrity local chef Sam Choy has not had a restaurant on Maui in more than a decade, but he is planning his return. Maui News.

More than $3 million for runway drainage improvements at Molokai Airport and more than $1 million for runway lighting at Lanai Airport are part of a package of grants for Hawaii from the Federal Aviation Administration and the Federal Transit Administration, Hawaii U.S. Sens. Mazie Hirono and Brian Schatz said last week. Maui News.

A Final Environmental Assessment was filed with a finding of no significant impact for the proposed Kahoma Village Project in West Maui. According to the FEA, the 203-unit project was proposed by Stanford Carr Development, on behalf of The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation. Maui Now.

Kauai
The Kauai County Council met with county and private attorneys behind closed doors Monday  to discuss an investigation of personnel matters and to consider disciplinary measures involving County Auditor Ernesto Pasion. The executive session was one more in a string of sealed meetings held by the council on the matter. While official details have been shrouded under personnel issues and attorney/client privileges, Pasion has received much support lately from some community members. Garden Island.

The Pacific Missile Range Facility was under heightened security after Monday’s shooting rampage at the Washington Navy Yard in D.C. that left 13 people dead. Garden Island.