Police misconduct reports may include names, feds indict police accused of making man lick urinal, Big Island may have special election, water rights bill resurfaces, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii police on parade ©2019 All Hawaii News

Public disclosure of the names of officers discharged or suspended from a county police department could come as early as 2021. A bill, if enacted into law, would require Hawaii’s four county police chiefs to disclose in annual reports to the state Legislature the identity of an officer upon an officer’s suspension or discharge from a county police department. West Hawaii Today.

Water Rights Bill May Have New Life. There is talk that the Hawaii state Senate will vote on the controversial legislation as early as Tuesday. Civil Beat.

A legislative panel has passed a bill that would reduce penalties for possessing small amounts of marijuana. The measure adopted by the Senate Ways and Means Committee on Friday says possession of 3 grams or less of marijuana would be a petty misdemeanor punishable by a $30 fine. Hawaii Public Radio.

Lawmakers tout ‘Hawaii Saves’ program despite pushback from some. State legislators are expected to vote this week on “Hawaii Saves," a measure which would create a state retirement savings program for local businesses. Hawaii News Now.

Bill expands authority to eradicate invasive species on private property. The Hawaii Legislature is close to passing a measure that will provide invasive species committees another weapon in the fight against biological intruders. West Hawaii Today.

Following Lawsuit, DOE Revives Its Gender Equity Committee. After a long absence, Hawaii’s education department is bringing back a committee to advise top leaders on how schools can comply with Title IX. Civil Beat.

Ige Appoints Kamehameha Schools Official To Board of Education. Damien Barcarse of the Big Island would bring Hawaiian language fluency and cultural knowledge to the position. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Attorney General Defends SNAP Benefits. Attorney General Clare E. Connors joined a coalition of 21 states and territories in opposing the Trump administration’s effort to end Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits. Maui Now.

Oahu

Feds Indict Two Honolulu Cops For Making Man Lick Urinal. They are accused of violating the victim’s civil rights. Four officers were initially disciplined after the January incident. Civil Beat.

Officers who allegedly forced man to lick urinal indicted on civil rights offenses. Two Honolulu officers who allegedly forced a homeless man to lick a urinal in a public restroom were charged Friday with civil rights offenses, federal authorities said. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu Police Officers Allegedly Forced Man To Lick Urinal. Two Honolulu police officers arrested Friday are innocent of allegations they forced a man to lick a urinal, a defense attorney said. Hawaii Public Radio.

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Impeachment proceedings for Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney hit a snag over signatures. Organizers switch websites to help the state verify signatures. Hawaii News Now.

Judge OKs recorded testimony from 99-year old key witness in Kealoha case. A key witness in the case against the Kealohas will be deposed ahead of the May trial because the 99-year-old is in failing health. Hawaii News Now.

Proposed ‘food hub’ would foster small-scale diversified farming. Star-Advertiser.

Vacation rentals in Waikiki rival largest hotels. New research from AllTheRooms, a New York-based search engine, shows there are about 3,300 vacation rental units in Waikiki. Star-Advertiser.

Kahana Valley living park concept ‘broken’. About a half a century ago the state paid $5 million to acquire a prized 5,000-acre Windward Oahu parcel, stretching from the mountains to the sea, and subsequently adopted a unique approach to protect the rural area from development. Star-Advertiser.

One of Hawaii’s first state-licensed pot growers shows off its operation. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

The Charter Commission will consider holding a special election later this year, rather than adding charter amendments to a 2020 general election ballot already crowded with candidates for president, Congress, county mayor, prosecutor and County Council. West Hawaii Today.

Charter Commission wraps up six-town roadshow. A sparse audience Thursday evening capped off six public hearings as the county Charter Commission wrapped up its roadshow giving residents all over the island a chance to weigh in on proposed changes to the county’s fundamental governing document. Star-Advertiser.

Lawsuit filed in toddler death: Family of child who died in foster care seeks justice, awareness and change. West Hawaii Today.

The state Land Board will consider Friday renaming Mauna Kea Recreation area after the late-Sen. Gil Kahele. Tribune-Herald.

Revitalizing Banyan: Bill to create agency on its way to final vote. The peninsula consists of mostly state land and is home to Hilo’s large hotels, including the Hilo Hawaiian and Grand Naniloa Hotel, and the shuttered Uncle Billy’s Hilo Bay Hotel, along Banyan Drive. Tribune-Herald.

The National Astronomical Observatory of Japan is looking for additional partners to help fund the Subaru Telescope. Michitoshi Yoshida, Subaru director, said Japan would remain the owner and main source of funding for the 8.2-meter telescope, located on Maunakea. Tribune-Herald.

The former vice chairman of the state Real Estate Commission was sentenced Friday to 10 years of court supervision, including six months in jail, for embezzling more than $200,000 from Hilo clients. Tribune-Herald.

A county employee says abrupt transfer station closures like those experienced last week could pop up again in the future unless the Hawaii County Department of Environmental Management adds to its solid waste division workforce. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Preliminary injunction issued over handling of Hawaiian burials. Meeting planned for next week to mull specifics for Maui Lani project. Maui News.

Report on isle coral resiliency a mixed bag of good, bad news. Some reefs surviving better but all areas at risk with climate change, land-based sediment, toxic runoff. Maui News.

Kauai

An emphasis on renewable energy. The world is getting closer to matching Kauai’s renewable energy profile, according to recent statistics, but Kauai is still strides ahead in renewable energy generation. Garden Island.

Kahoolawe

Making it right with Kahoolawe. Restoration of Kahoolawe is a multigenerational endeavor after all. Kahoolawe Island Reserve Commission’s ocean resources manager said the restoration work they are doing won’t be completed in his generation but “might be done in my children’s generation.” Maui News.

Thirty Meter Telescope goes back to Land Board, Hawaii County Council candidate indicted on voter fraud charge, $13M settlement for Tripler Army Medical Center, homeless emergency extended, Kauai mulls raises for officials, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Tour of Subaru Telescope atop Mauna Kea © 2016 All Hawaii News

The proposed Thirty Meter Telescope project on Wednesday landed back in the jurisdiction of the state Board of Land and Natural Resources, which now must hold a new contested case hearing. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. David Ige and acting Gov. Shan Tsutsui have signed eight emergency proclamations since taking office in 2014, including four that waive procurement and other normal procedures to more quickly address the highest per capita homeless rate in the nation. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Department of Health has made some major improvements in its ability to test for the Zika virus, following the confirmation of a child born in the state with possible Zika-related birth defects last month. Civil Beat.

Key lawmakers in the state House and Senate are making some major changes to Gov. David Ige’s plan to spend $100 million in energy efficiency funds to cool 1,000 public school classrooms. Star-Advertiser.

Senate Committee Passes Bill to Authorize Psychologists to Prescribe Medication . Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii lawmakers are pushing a bill to make it easier to get medication that counteract the effects of overdoses, and provide immunity for people who administer them. Associated Press.

Why Do Business, Labor Groups Support The NextEra Merger? Many organizations have spoken out against the purchase of Hawaiian Electric, but not much has been heard from certain supporters. Civil Beat.

A proposed bill would make Hawaii’s current 100 percent renewable energy goal more clear and make sure that all resources being fed to the grid are by renewable resources, the head of the state’s Energy Office told Pacific Business News.

Democrat Lorraine Inouye was not alone when she held a campaign fundraiser Tuesday night at Mandalay in downtown Honolulu. It turns out that Sens. Donovan Dela Cruz and Michelle Kidani were on hand as well, and also asking for donations of $150. Civil Beat.

It’s high time to take expanding mongoose and rodent populations in hand before they destroy more of a fragile native landscape. That’s the gist of a new joint state and federal proposal to launch a comprehensive control or eradication of the invasive animals from native ecosystems. West Hawaii Today.

Oahu

Following a successful first year of getting homeless people into so-called “Housing First” apartments and homes, the city is now seeking bids to expand the program across Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

Beretania Street should soon offer drivers a smoother ride now that road crews are finally repaving the major thoroughfare, resuming work more than a year after abruptly stopping when they encountered shallow utility lines. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii lawmakers are pushing for more details on Honolulu's backlog of untested rape kits, which supporters say can be crucial for catching repeat offenders. Associated Press.

The federal government has reached a $13 million settlement with the parents of a 7-year-old girl who as an infant suffered severe, permanent brain damage while being treated at Tripler Army Medical Center. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Tiffany Edwards Hunt, a blogger and former County Council candidate, has been charged with voter fraud, the Hawaii County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office said Wednesday. Tribune-Herald.

State Sen. Lorraine Inouye is pushing a bill that would raise the speed limit on the Daniel K. Inouye Highway, commonly called Saddle Road, from 55 mph to 65 mph — 5 mph faster than the state’s highest-speed roads currently allow. Tribune-Herald.

Hu Honua Bioenergy is firing back at the Hawaii Electric Light Company in a document filed with the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission, addressing what it calls incomplete and misleading information in HELCO’s status report to the PUC. Big Island Video News.

One of Hawaii’s last remaining dairy farms is asking the state for help building its own milk processing facility. Big Island Dairy, located in Ookala, says the $10 million in special purpose revenue bonds it is requesting would help it secure low-cost loans for the plant, which it sees as helping stabilize the industry. Tribune-Herald.

The Hawaii Health Systems Corp. West Hawaii Region board of directors has selected Frank Sayre to serve as its new chair. Pacific Business News.

On Saturday, faculty, students and residents will celebrate the grand opening and open house of the Hawaii Community College-Palamanui. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The percentage of unused wind power by Maui Electric Co. in 2015 grew 3 percentage points to 10 percent compared to 2014, but the utility accepted its highest amount of power from wind farms in the year, according to a filing with the state Public Utilities Commission late last month. Maui News.

Victory Development's proposed 39-unit Nani Loa condominium hotel project in Kihei's "Kamaole Superblock" became a procedural hairball for the Maui Planning Commission on Tuesday. Maui News.

Kauai

The county is considering more than $800,000 in raises for elected and appointed officials. Garden Island.

A 3 percent assessment cap for homestead and long-term affordable rental properties was approved unanimously by the five members of the county council present at Wednesday’s meeting. Garden Island.

In their Tuesday meeting, the planning commission approved the zoning, use, and special permits for a middle and high school along the mauka side of Kuhio Highway in Kilauea. Garden Island.