Public Utilities Commission grills Sandwich Isles' exec over service cutoff, $11M state IT project in jeopardy, ransomware suspected at Honolulu TheBus, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Sandwich Isles Communications Broke The Law When It Cut Services To Hawaiian Homelands. Sandwich Isles Communications violated state laws and its obligations to its customers when it cut telephone and broadband services earlier this month without ample warning and is likely to face penalties for abandoning its services, according to testimony Monday before the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission. Sandwich Isles’ President Al Hee was in the hot seat for much of Monday’s six-hour hearing. Civil Beat.

Independent Monitor Warns $11 Million State IT Project Is In Jeopardy And Could Fail. The state has spent nearly $3.5 million on its second attempt to develop a financial management system that meets the requirements of Federal Highways Administration. Civil Beat.

Lee Loy candidacy confirmed. Hawaii Chief Election Officer Scott Nago ruled Monday that County Councilwoman Sue Lee Loy is eligible to run for the state House District 2 seat vacated when Rep. Richard Onishi decided not to run for a seventh term. Tribune-Herald.

As RIMPAC nears, concerns raise from community activists. The 29th biennial Exercise Rim of the Pacific, or RIMPAC, is slated to run in and around the Hawaiian Islands starting June 27, but community activists gathered on Monday to call for the military to cancel the multinational exercise. KHON2. KITV4.

Law Enforcement Department Resuming Evictions. The execution of court-ordered writs and evictions will resume, following a "stand-down" in late-April following a critical incident in Waiʻanae. Big Island Video News. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

Oahu

FBI, Police Investigate Possible Ransomware Attack At TheBus, Handi-Van. The Honolulu Department of Transportation Services was still trying Monday to determine the cause as well as the cure to restore its online, real-time schedules for TheBus and TheHandi-Van fleets. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. KHON2. Hawaii News Now.

Next phase of Skyline to be energized; hours also extended for West Fest. In another major milestone, Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation officials are preparing to energize another section of the Skyline route. Hawaii News Now.

Late-night stabbing is latest high-profile violent crime in Keeaumoku Street area. Over the weekend since Friday, around the Ala Moana Center area, there were six reported cases of assault logged on HPD’s website; four of these were classified as simple assaults, and two as aggravated assaults. Star-Advertiser.

Target Of Mitsunaga Theft Case Files Civil Rights Lawsuit. After a criminal jury declined to convict Honolulu’s former prosecutor and employees of Mitsunaga & Associates for conspiring to violate an ex-employee’s civil rights, the former employee is taking the case to civil court.  Civil Beat.

The Miske Trial: Interesting Moments From The Organized Crime Trial. Gifts to planning department officials, forged signatures and other improprieties came out in testimony from a prosecution witness in the sweeping criminal trial. Civil Beat.

Trial to begin for ex-OCCC officer in 2016 murder, kidnapping case. A former Oahu Community Correctional Center training officer, indicted eight years ago on murder and kidnapping charges in the 2016 fatal shooting of his 66-year-old mother and kidnapping of a 48-year-old woman, made a last-minute request Monday for a jury- waived trial in Oahu Circuit Court. Star-Advertiser.

More Homeowners Are Needed To Join The Push To Restore Honolulu’s Urban Watersheds. A three-year project in East Oahu funded by NOAA is off to a "remarkable" start, administrator says. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Keaukaha fight over land deed goes to state Supreme Court. A legal battle over a Keaukaha property, a century-old land deed, and the separation between church and state will go before the Hawaii Supreme Court next week. Tribune-Herald.

Maunakea telescopes detect light from merging quasars. Astronomers have used a pair of Maunakea telescopes to shed light on one of the universe’s earliest stages of development. Tribune-Herald.

Aircraft come to Big Island as part of Hawai‘i Air National Guard fighter training exercise. The Hawai‘i Air National Guard’s 154th Wing came to Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keāhole on June 12 as part of its fighter exercise, Sentry Aloha 24-2, at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam on O‘ahu. Big Island Now.

Maui

Lahaina homes face 20% turnover in 3 years. A new report released Monday by the Hawai‘i Land Trust indicates that without intervention Lahaina could see an estimated 6.5% of residential properties totaling $122 million change hands over a year, and within three years a 20% turnover of ownership equating to at least $360 million. Star-Advertiser.

Lahaina Fire Victims Could Build Temporary Homes In The Burn Zone If This Bill Passes. The Maui County Council is moving forward with legislation to give displaced residents some "breathing space" for five years. Civil Beat.

New Taxpayer-Funded Housing Going Up In Lahaina May No Longer Be Needed. FEMA and the state are building 619 homes for fire survivors, but there are now fewer than 215 households still living in the emergency hotel program. Civil Beat.

Maui Mayor Appoints New Directors For Housing, Oiwi Resources Departments. County voters passed ballot measures in November 2022 for the new departments to help with the housing crisis and ensure proper management of native resources. Civil Beat. Maui News.

What’s in store for Queen Kaʻahumanu Center’s future? Mall owners seek new lease on life. Without resuscitation, the future is bleak for Queen Kaʻahumanu Center, with the aging, once premier Central Maui shopping destination caught in a downward spiral — store closings lead to less foot traffic, which begets more loss of business, and so on. Maui Now.

Kauai

Federal aid to help with recovery efforts from severe Kauai storm. On Monday, President Joe Biden declared the severe storms, flooding, and landslides in mid-April a major disaster. KHON2.

FestPAC attracts 500k, Sandwich Isles cuts services, Navy land transfer falls through, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

FestPAC attracts about 500,000 people and is praised for celebrating 28 Pacific islands and territories. The 13th Festival of Pacific Arts &Culture — the world’s largest celebration of Indigenous Pacific Islanders — concluded Sunday evening with a sold-out closing ceremony at the University of Hawaii’s SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center, distributing all 6,500 free tickets. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii Public Radio. Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.

Sandwich Isles Cut Services To Hawaiian Homelands Despite Orders Not To. The telecommunications company providing telephone and broadband services to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and its beneficiaries has laid off its employees and terminated its services despite orders from state regulators and the governor to stay in business through June. Civil Beat.

Lee Loy responds to election challenge. A term-limited Hawaii County Council member facing a legal challenge to her campaign for the state House District 2 seat being vacated by Rep. Richard Onishi has filed her response. Tribune-Herald. Hawaii Public Radio.

Inflation takes bigger bite into Hawaii household budgets, but the data isn’t all bad. The numbers released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics compared May prices to the same time last year. Overall, prices are up 5%. Rent increased by 12%, and the costs to eat out also rose by nearly 7%. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii State Hospital searches for new leadership as current head steps down. The search is on for a new leader at the Hawaii State Hospital. The Department of Health confirms that Doctor Kenneth Luke, who has led the mental health hospital since October last year, will step down. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Transfer of former Navy land in Kalaeloa falls through. The Hawaii Community Development Authority recently decided not to accept 213 acres largely due to cost concerns for conservation and environmental cleanup of the property, which includes a pond contaminated by ordnance disposal and two mostly remediated trap and skeet shooting ranges. Star-Advertiser.

City racetrack project gains momentum with 400-acre Navy land transfer. Mayor Rick Blangiardi signed a nearly 400-acre land transfer from the U.S. Navy near Kalaeloa on Wednesday afternoon. Hawaii Public Radio.

Plans For A BWS Desalination Plant In Kalaeloa Get A $19 Million Boost. Hawaii is getting nearly $19 million in federal funding to help design and build a desalination facility in Kalaeloa that would convert seawater into drinking water, Sen. Mazie Hirono announced in a press release Friday. Civil Beat.

Final phase emerging for Ward Village’s master-planned community in Kakaako. Final phase emerging for Ward Village’s master-planned community in Kakaako Star-Advertiser.

Plans to try to build Honokea West Surf Village still undecided. The team behind Honokea West's proposed Surf Village is still deciding if it wants to move forward with the plan. That's after a judge on May 29th said the court wouldn't accept its Environmental Assessment and told the group to provide a new one. KITV4.

Backlash surrounding new Royal Mausoleum curator continues. Frustration surrounding the hiring process for the curator of the Royal Mausoleum State Monument at Mauna Ala continues, even after the state announced the creation of a second, “culturally focused” position earlier this month. Star-Advertiser.

Report: Honolulu is one of 5 ‘impossibly unaffordable’ US housing markets. The authors of the annual Demographic International Housing Affordability report said the rise of unaffordable markets was nothing less than an “existential threat” to the middle class.  Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Pana‘ewa zoo to begin charging admission in 2025. The proposed admission fees for kama‘aina are $1 for keiki and $4 for adults. For nonresidents, the proposed fees are $5 for keiki and $12 for adults. Tribune-Herald.

Public safety, infrastructure key concerns in Hawaii Island mayoral race. It’s a crowded race for Hawaii County mayor as candidates seek to prevent incumbent Mitch Roth from serving a second term. Hawaii News Now.

Election season is here: All but two 2024 Hawaiʻi County primary races feature multiple candidates. This year’s primaries should be a raucous affair in Hawaiʻi County. Eight of the 9 County Council seats are up for grabs and all but two races have 2 or more candidates. Big Island Now.

De Luzes selling Big Island Toyota: Servco will take over, retain employees. The De Luz family is selling its dealership to Oahu automotive retailer Servco, ending a more than 60-year-old legacy of selling cars on the Big Island. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now.

Maui

Maui Mayor To Lobby For Continued Federal Disaster Relief During DC Trip. Mayor Richard Bissen plans to provide updates to federal partners and Hawaii's two senators on the county's recovery 10 months after the fires. Civil Beat.

Maui County trying to block AG interview related to 2018 wildfires. Maui county officials are trying to block the state Department of the Attorney General from questioning the head of the Maui Emergency Management Agency about what the county learned from the 2018 West Maui wildfires. Star-Advertiser.

DHHL awards 52 turnkey homes at Puʻuhona in Waikapū, Maui. The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) awarded 52 turnkey homes Saturday as part of phase one of the Puʻuhona Homestead lot awards. Puʻuhona is the department’s first project initiated through the $600 million allocation by state lawmakers in 2022 to support a multifaceted approach to reduce the DHHL Waiting List.  Maui Now. Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.

Maui Is Mapping Its Wetlands To Protect Environmentally Sensitive Areas. Some homeowners are concerned about unintended consequences, red tape and the effect on property values. Civil Beat.

CNHA releases new Maui recovery statistics. New data released by the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement on Thursday illustrates the continued recovery status and community needs of families affected by the Aug. 8 wildfires that killed 101 and displaced thousands.  Star-Advertiser.

Haʻikū Community Association discusses stream restoration in next public meeting, June 19. Haʻikū Community Association (HCA) hosts a public meeting on Wednesday, June 19. The meeting will run from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Haʻikū Community Center, located on Hāna Highway at the bottom of Pa’uwela Road. Maui Now.

Kauai

2024 Primary Election: Only 2 local races, with one decided, the other an open field. One race is already decided while the other is chock full of candidates hoping to either continue serving Kaua‘i County or win a chance to step up by winning a seat at the council table in this year’s primary elections on the Garden Isle. Kauai Now.

Southwest airlines Plane descends quickly off Kauai coast. A Southwest Airlines Co. passenger flight in April came within 400 feet of slamming into the ocean off the coast of Hawaii after weather conditions forced pilots to bypass a landing attempt. Bloomberg. Kauai Now.

Whale carcass washes ashore in Waipouli. Sharks were attracted to the area by a portion of a whale carcass that came ashore on the reef close to the Sheraton Kaua‘i Coconut Beach Resort on Thursday evening. Garden Island. Kauai Now.

Restaurants haven't recovered from COVID-19 downturn, governor signs condo, energy bills, Boy Scouts settle wrongful death lawsuit, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii’s Restaurant Industry Still Hasn’t Recovered From The Pandemic. Even well-established eateries are struggling with high food costs, a shortage of workers and fewer Japanese tourists. Civil Beat.

Visitors arrivals, spending down in April as summer cooldown looms for Hawaii tourism. Visitors to Hawaii and their daily spending fell more sharply in April than they had in any month since the Aug. 8 Maui wildfires — an indication that even the peak summer season could prove soft. Star-Advertiser.

Governor signs bills benefiting condominium residents, owners. Gov. Josh Green on Thursday signed into law a package of bills benefiting condominium owners, associations and residents — another component of Green’s commitment to addressing statewide housing challenges. Star-Advertiser.  Big Island Video News.  Maui Now.

Bills providing improved access to clean energy approved by Gov. Josh Green. Addressing housing challenges in Hawai‘i, Governor Josh Green signed several bills Thursday aimed at benefiting condominium owners, associations, and residents statewide.  KITV4.

Military backs new work to locate, safely detonate wartime munitions dumped off Hawaii. An estimated 100,000 military bombs were sunk off Hawaii in the 1940s alone, according to a University of Hawaii researcher. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

City Ocean Safety facility on Windward coast begins work.  Honolulu Ocean Safety made history Thursday with a blessing ceremony for a groundbreaking $2.5 million project: the first facility tailored for lifeguard services in its 107-year history. Star-Advertiser.

‘Outside the box’: In a first, indoor Oahu mall to host volleyball championship. Volleyball fans across the state will see a historic first this weekend: The Hawaii Club Volleyball Championship is set for this Saturday and it will be played not at an arena or gym but at Windward Mall. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Hilo Councilwoman Sue Lee Loy Is Hoping To Move Up To The Legislature. State House Rep. Richard Onishi is retiring this fall, and longtime Hawaii County Councilwoman Sue Lee Loy moved to a rented home in Onishi’s Hilo district in April just weeks before filing to run for office there. Civil Beat.

Schatz visits HVNP, discusses funding.  Long-deferred maintenance projects are finally underway at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park after an infusion of millions of dollars in federal funds. Tribune-Herald.

Plaintiffs, Boy Scouts settle wrongful death case. A civil lawsuit filed by the family of an 11-year-old Boy Scout killed in 2023 by a rifle bullet at Camp Honokaia near Honokaa has been settled. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui Council Budgets $300,000 To Study Impacts Of Eliminating 7,000 Vacation Rentals. The council wants more precise information before taking action that could cost thousands of jobs and millions in lost tax revenue. Civil Beat.

No Water, No Problem? Council Is Steering $33 Million Toward West Maui Housing Project. Paul Cheng, a Texas developer with a criminal past, says he'll use the money to construct phase one of Pulelehua, the island's largest affordable housing project in decades. Civil Beat. Maui Now.

Maui County donates Kahului lots for affordable housing development. Maui County has donated seven lots in Kahului to the nonprofit Nā Hale O Maui for affordable housing.  Hawaii Public Radio. Maui Now.

Maui firefighter charged with sex assault has history of domestic violence. A battalion chief with the Maui Department of Fire and Public Safety charged with continuous sexual assault of a girl under age 14 has a history of domestic violence, according to state court records. Star-Advertiser. KITV4.

‘We can’t afford to wait’: Effort to build new West Maui fire station gains momentum. A Hurricane Lane After Action Report included recommendations for more resources, but it went largely ignored by county officials. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

Fourth annual Kaua‘i Poke Fest approaches. Final preparations are underway for the fourth annual Kaua‘i Poke Fest with Sam Choy and friends as more than 20 competitors prepare to compete for the title of Hawai‘i’s Best Poke on June 8 at Kōloa Landing Resort. Kauai Now. KITV4.