Special prosecutor in public corruption cases appears before grand jury, Land Board Tuesday to hear Thirty Meter Telescope dispute, 11-year old stabbed at Oahu elementary school, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Appearance of special prosecutor spurs talk of expanding corruption probe.  The special prosecutor assigned to weed out public corruption in Honolulu eight years ago is back before a federal grand jury, spurring talk about more charges.Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Wheat has been before the panel several times recently. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Advances Plans To Distribute $149 Million For Broadband Access. The public is invited to weigh in on which areas lack high-speed service. Those areas will be the top priority for funding. Civil Beat.

Maui Democrats Select 3 Possible Candidates For Senate Vacancy.  On Monday members of the Maui County Committee’s Senate District 5 selection body sent three names to Gov. Josh Green:  Troy N. Hashimoto, Jason Alexander Economou and  Justin V.E. Hughey. Civil Beat.

Oahu

1 Student Hospitalized, Another Detained After Apparent School Stabbing. A Makaha Elementary student was taken into policy custody on Monday afternoon after allegedly stabbing an 11-year-old boy who was taken to the hospital in serious condition.  Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser. KHON2. KITV4.

Rally, hearing set over Ala Wai harbor parking. A public rally will be held today to protest what many believe is a state-level action to do away with free recreational parking at the popular, state-controlled Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor. Star-Advertiser.

Waipahu residents struggle with landlord issues amid retaliation concerns. A fear of retaliation from landlords is just one of the problems causing tensions among low-income renters in Waipahu. Hawaii News Now.

More than 200 EBT accounts compromised by thieves. Hawaii families counting on food stamps, also known as SNAP benefits, have been victimized by hackers who emptied their accounts. The state said more than 200 accounts have been compromised. All of them on Oahu. KHON2. KITV4.  Hawaii News Now.

Home prices end declines as slowdown in sales eases on Oahu. The velocity of a roughly two-year slowdown for Oahu home sales eased in October, and the median price paid for single-family houses ticked up to break a 10-month string of year-over- year declines. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

BLNR to reevaluate contested case about Maunakea TMT permit conditions.  The permit allowing the construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope on Maunakea is under review by the Board of Land and Natural Resources. At issue is whether the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo met a condition that required TMT construction to begin within two years of the permit being granted.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Puna retail center sold to Hawai‘i-based private investor. CBRE has arranged the sale of Pāhoa Marketplace, a multi-tenant retail center in Puna, to a Hawaii-based private investor for $8.3 million. Big Island Now.

‘Running smoothly’: 92-unit senior housing complex on schedule to open next summer. Work on the Hale Na Koa ‘O Hanakahi housing project began last November on a 5.6-acre lot on Kawili Street across from the University of Hawaii at Hilo campus, and will offer 92 single-bedroom units of affordable housing for Big Island seniors, with a preference toward veterans and their spouses. Tribune-Herald.

New search underway for ordnance in West Hawaii. Currently, the Corps is conducting preliminary scans of three parcels in Kohala extending from Kawaihae Harbor to Waimea, and south along the shoreline around Hapuna Beach and Puako. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Gov. Green extends Emergency Proclamation on Wildfires. Gov. Josh Green on Monday signed the Eighth Emergency Proclamation on Wildfires to continue state support for the recovery of the people of Maui. Maui Now.

Insurance claims from Maui wildfires soar above $1 billion. A breakdown of the first insurance data for the Maui wildfires shows more than 6,079 residential property and personal motor vehicle claims totaling more than $1.35 billion have been filed for losses in West Maui and Upcountry Maui. Star-Advertiser. Maui Now.

It Will Be Years Before Clean Water Is Restored In Lahaina. Rebuilding the water system is likely to cost tens of millions of dollars and could be a limiting factor in rebuilding the town. Civil Beat.

Native Hawaiian Company Gets $53.7M Contract For Temporary Lahaina School. The campus will be used by students and staff from King Kamehameha III Elementary, which was destroyed in the fire. Civil Beat.

Kauai

Kaua‘i County issues violation notice to HPM Building Supply site for operating illegally.  The notice of violation was issued on Oct. 23 after the Planning Department concluded the HPM “truss manufacturing facility is not a generally permitted use within the Agriculture Zoning District (and) operation of a truss manufacturing facility within the Agriculture Zoning District without the proper zoning permit(s) constitutes a violation.” Kauai Now.

Forensic nurses honored by County of Kaua‘i. Chelise Ka‘aihue and Ceisha Judd represent two of Kaua‘i’s five forensic nurses who operate with the Kaua‘i Police Department. Garden Island.

Two-month truce on Mauna Kea, tour helicopter missing off Kauai, new Oahu vacation rental form spurs more complaints, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Mauna Kea scene showing road-blocking tent in July, 2019. ©2019 All Hawaii News

Officials reach a truce with Mauna Kea protesters. Hawaii County Mayor Harry Kim has struck a deal with the protesters on Mauna Kea, with Kim pledging there will be no construction activity by the Thirty Meter Telescope on Mauna Kea and no police action to clear out the protesters during January and February provided the protesters move off Mauna Kea Access Road. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii County, TMT Protesters Agree To Clear The Road To Mauna Kea. Activists will move their encampment off the mountain’s access road in exchange for a county promise not to start more work on the telescope until February. Civil Beat.

Protesters, Kim reach agreement to reopen Maunakea Access Road. For the first time since July, demonstrators opposing the construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope will vacate the Maunakea Access Road, thanks to an agreement with Mayor Harry Kim. Tribune-Herald.

Mauna Kea Summit Road Closed Ahead Of Clearing It To Open Access. Hawaii County is temporarily closing the Mauna Kea Access Road on Hawaii Island until Saturday as the road is cleared and made completely accessible to the public, Mayor Harry Kim announced Thursday. Hawaii Public Radio.

TMT opponents are declaring Thursday's agreement a victory. Thirty Meter Telescope opponents have agreed to move the kupuna tent to the side and allow full public access on the Mauna Kea Access Road, at least for the next two months, as the planned observatory project has no immediate plans to start construction on the mountain. Big Island Video News.

In major deal, TMT protesters agree to temporarily clear Mauna Kea Access Road. Thirty Meter Telescope protesters say they’ve agreed to move their “kupuna tent” from Mauna Kea Access Road until February under a deal with Hawaii County. But they stressed they’re not leaving their encampment ― or the mountain. Hawaii News Now.

Under agreement with protectors, Mayor Kim announces temporary closure of Maunakea Access Road. Mayor Harry Kim announced on Thursday that the Maunakea Access Road is temporarily closed to the public as the road is being cleared to make it completely accessible to the public. KHON2.

Kia‘i to Move off Road, Remain on Maunakea. Kia‘i, or the self-dubbed protectors of Maunakea, on Thursday responded to an offer from Hawai‘i County Mayor Harry Kim proposing both sides of the Thirty Meter Telescope dispute stand down through the end of February. Big Island Now.

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Hawaii Doctor Shortage Persists But More Training Programs Could Help. Hawaii is gaining doctors, but not enough to keep up with the patient demand, according to a University of Hawaii report on the state’s continuing physician shortage. Hawaii Public Radio.

New Bill Aims to Require Invasive Species Screenings For All Hawaiʻi-Bound Cargo, Baggage. Congressman Ed Case (HI-01) recently introduced a bill to require that all baggage and cargo transporting into Hawai’i by air or sea be inspected for invasive species and high-risk agricultural materials. Maui Now.

Hawaii is almost certain to pass the 10M visitors mark by the end of 2019. The number of visitors to Hawaii grew 4% in November compared to the year before. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

City Gets 40 Complaints On Possible Illegal Rentals As Online Tip Form Launches. Honolulu officials have received 40 complaints of suspected illegal short-term rentals this week, most of them in Kailua. Hawaii Public Radio.

City Launches Online Short-Term Rental Complaint Form. It was mandated by a new law that Honolulu officials expect will increase violation notices. Civil Beat.

With over 17K firecracker permits sold on Oahu, HFD reminds public of laws and safety on New Year’s Eve. Sales of firecrackers on Oahu began Thursday and so far 17,804 firecracker permits have been issued, according to the Honolulu Fire Department. Star-Advertiser.

The Future Of Koko Crater Stables Remains In Limbo. It’s still not clear who will run the island’s last remaining public equestrian center long-term — or whether they’ll even stay in existence. Civil Beat.

Some Kipapa Gulch residents blame development next door for heavy flooding. Some people KITV4 spoke with say they've lived there for more than 30 years and it was the worst flooding they've ever seen. KITV.

Hawaii Island

County considering Naalehu Theater gift. It’s a gift Hawaii County isn’t sure quite what to do with. The Naalehu Theater, a colorful Art Deco landmark built in 1940 along Mamalahoa Highway in Naalehu, needs a lot of TLC. West Hawaii Today.

State deploys new tactic in bid to get suit over Peter Boy Kema’s death tossed. The state appears to be relying on a technicality in a bid to avoid a civil lawsuit over the death of Peter Kema, Jr., known as Peter Boy. Hawaii News Now.

Fissure 8 names to be mulled next month. The question of what to call the most prominent remaining feature from the 2018 Kilauea volcano eruption will not be answered for several more months. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

New Partnership Aims to Increase Understanding of Marine Ecosystems. Maui Nui Marine Resource Council has launched a new partnership with the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, located in Kihei. Maui Now.

Two visitor reports show strong November for Maui County. County led the state in revenue per room, average daily rate. Maui News.

Kauai

Coast Guard searching off Kauai for overdue tour helicopter with 7 people aboard. Coast Guard crews are searching by air and in the water for an overdue helicopter with seven people aboard that failed to return from a tour off Kauai’s Na Pali coast. Hawaii News Now.

Coast Guard searching for overdue helicopter off Kauai. The Coast Guard is searching tonight for a tour helicopter overdue on Kauai with seven people aboard. Star-Advertiser.

Coast Guard searching for overdue tour helicopter on Kauai, 7 on board. The Coast Guard is searching for seven people overdue aboard a tour helicopter on Kauai, Thursday. KITV.

Coast Guard searching for tour helicopter off Kauai’s Na Pali Coast. The Coast Guard is searching for seven people overdue aboard a tour helicopter on Kauai, Thursday. Maui Now.

Kauai visitors spend $1.7B. The tourism industry held steady statewide and on Kauai in November, according to the latest report from the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Garden Island.

Mauna Kea access fight moves to the courts, Honolulu police sent home, Lt. Gov. visits camp, Thirty Meter Telescope backers speak out, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Mauna Kea roadblock/checkpoint ©2019 All Hawaii News

Judges challenge both sides in dispute over Mauna Kea emergency declaration. The Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation and state attorney general faced off Monday over whether the governor’s emergency declaration for Mauna Kea was an overreaction that is illegally blocking those who want to practice traditional worship on the mountain. Hawaii News Now.

Judges Ponder Whether To Halt Ige’s Mauna Kea Emergency Proclamation. A ruling is expected Tuesday after a hearing into whether the order violates the rights of a Native Hawaiian cultural practitione. Civil Beat.

Court hears challenge to emergency proclamation. A state judge says he hopes to have, by the end of today, a decision on a Big Island kumu hula’s challenge to Gov. David Ige’s emergency proclamation restricting public access to Mauna Kea. Star-Advertiser.

Court weighs suspending Mauna Kea emergency proclamation; Honolulu police recalled to Oahu. Dozens of Honolulu police officers are heading back to Oahu after a week among the law enforcement ranks keeping an eye on demonstrators at Mauna Kea. The department faces questions about how they got deployed and who is paying the bills. KHON2.

Judges hear arguments on lawsuit against Ige's emergency proclamation. The Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation is suing Governor David Ige. KITV.

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Lt. Gov. Josh Green Visits Mauna Kea Kupuna. Three days after Governor David Ige was on Hawaii Island but opted not to visit the Mauna Kea encampment, Lt. Gov. Green makes the trip. Big Island Video News.

Lieutenant Governor Visits Mauna Kea Protesters. State officials estimated the crowd on Monday stood at 1,500 people at the site of the protest against the planned Thirty Meter Telescope. There were no arrests. Hawaii Public Radio.

Lt. Gov. Josh Green visited Mauna Kea Monday morning. He explains, that he is not on Hawaii Island to make a political stance but to make sure the health and safety of the kiai are okay. KHON2.

Green says issue has become more than just TMT, will speak with Ige to de-escalate confrontation. After meeting with protesters Monday at the Maunakea Access Road, Lt. Gov. Josh Green said he would advise Gov. David Ige to de-escalate the confrontation on the mountain. Tribune-Herald.

After visiting protest at Mauna Kea, LG says TMT should ‘move on’ if brokered deal can’t be found. After a lengthy visit Monday with TMT protesters blocking access to Mauna Kea’s summit, Lt. Gov. Josh Green said the controversial telescope project might have to “move on” if an agreement with its opponents can’t be reached. Hawaii News Now.

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Can The Thirty Meter Telescope Survive Growing Opposition? Gov. David Ige’s cabinet members spent most of Monday in meetings to discuss the future of the project planned for Mauna Kea. Civil Beat.

Day 8: State Stands By Assertions of Drug, Alcohol Use on Mauna Kea. Big Island Now.

Support for protesters stretches across the islands. Protesters who want to halt construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope continue to gain momentum for their cause, with statements Monday from public officials, shows of support from around the country and a nod from Hawaii businesses shutting their doors in solidarity. Star-Advertiser.

Pressure grows on backers of TMT. As the protest over the Thirty Meter Telescope rages on, an increasing number of activists are targeting the largest funder of the next- generation telescope, the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation of Palo Alto, California. Star-Advertiser.

TMT says telescope will not be built near historical burial on Mauna Kea. As tensions continue over the construction of TMT, the International Observatory affirms it will not be on or near historical features. KITV.

TMT spokesperson says Mauna Kea remains as 'preferred site' for telescope. A TMT spokesperson says they remain hopeful both sides can move forward 'with mutual respect.' KITV.

Native Hawaiian TMT supporter feels the time is now to speak up. As protests statewide continue, supporters of TMT are speaking up for the project, while officials say they’re trying to get a handle on misinformation. Those who favor the project have long said they are in the “silent majority”. Hawaii News Now.

Amid mass protests, TMT supporter says telescope is being done ‘the right way’. As hundreds of opponents gather at Mauna Kea, supporters of the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) are waiting for it to be built. Hawaii News Now.

DHHL not receiving compensation for housing TMT equipment. Bulldozers were loaded on lowboy trailers in order for TMT construction to continue. KITV.

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Hawaii students’ data may have been exposed through college planning website. Data on Hawaii public school students, including names, birth dates and addresses, that was maintained by a private vendor on a career planning portal may have been exposed to unauthorized users, officials announced Monday. Star-Advertiser.

Personal information for 70,000 Hawaii students potentially compromised. Personal information for as many as 70,000 public school students may have been compromised after a University of Hawaii vendor charged with overseeing a college and career planning website detected “suspicious” unauthorized access to one of its servers. Hawaii News Now.

Up to 70,000 student records potentially exposed. Graduation Alliance, a vendor contracted by the University of Hawaii for Hawaii P-20 Partnerships of Education, reported the potential exposure, UH announced Monday. Tribune-Herald.

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Unsafe water was found last year at 41% of Hawaii beaches. A new water pollution report, “Safe for Swimming? Water Quality at Our Beaches,” scheduled for release today by the national nonprofit Environment America Research & Policy Center, says an estimated 57 million people get sick from recreational waterborne illnesses each year. According to the Environment America report, 90 of 218 beach sites sampled in Hawaii, or 41%, were potentially unsafe for swimming for at least one day in 2018. Star-Advertiser.

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Hawaii Office of Consumer Protection announces settlement with Equifax regarding 2017 data breach. KHON2.

Hawaii to receive $1 million from Equifax over massive data breach. The state of Hawaii will receive one million dollars as the result of a large, multi-state settlement with Equifax Inc., one of the largest consumer reporting agencies in the world, regarding a major data breach in 2017. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Gets $1 Million In Equifax Data Breach Settlement. The credit reporting agency will also pay other states as it pledges to strengthen its security program. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Caldwell signs a bill to lease dedicated city parking spaces to car-share firms. Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell on Monday signed a bill dedicating up to 80 on-street and 80 off-street parking stalls for lease to car-share companies. Star-Advertiser.

Mayor signs bill reserving public parking stalls for car-sharing vehicles. Mayor Kirk Caldwell signed a bill that would reserve some public parking stalls for car-sharing vehicles only. KHON2.

Honolulu Officials Are Trying to Fix Problems With Bulky Item Pickup Program. The city Department of Environmental Services is fine-tuning its bulky item pickup pilot program following complaints islandwide that mounds of trash have been collecting on the streets. Hawaii Public Radio.

City To Spend $1 Million On Koko Crater Stairs. The money will be used mostly for planning long-term repairs, but at least $100,000 will pay for immediate work. Civil Beat.

HART Has A New Board Member: Ford Fuchigami. Fuchigami previously served on the local board overseeing rail when he was the state’s DOT director. Civil Beat.

Community meeting seeks public input on Lake Wilson. The public is invited to a community meeting to discuss future plans for the Wahiawa Freshwater State Recreation Area, including Lake Wilson. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

TMT construction moratorium on Wednesday council agenda. The County Council on Wednesday is scheduled to decide whether to hear a last-minute resolution supporting a 60-day moratorium on Thirty Meter Telescope construction on Maunakea. West Hawaii Today.

Tourism businesses take stand. A West Hawaii business canceled its luau show Monday after organizers of the demonstration on Maunakea called on the visitor industry to suspend operations to show support for the protectors. West Hawaii Today.

Land Board To Vote On Puueo Cemetery Damage Fine. The BLNR will consider a settlement of enforcement action against the Edwin C. Olson Trust No.2 for damage that occurred during land altering activities without a permit in 2016. Big Island Video News.

Councilwoman to introduce resolution urging cooperation on Puna boat ramp. Puna Councilwoman Ashley Kierkiewicz said Monday she plans to introduce this week a resolution urging the state Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation to form a working group with the county, community members and fishing community to plan and develop a boat ramp for Puna. Tribune-Herald.

County Council To Weigh In On New Puna Boat Ramp. The County Council will consider Resolution 218-19 during its full meeting at the West Hawaii Civic Center on Wednesday, July 24. Big Island Video News.

Maui

Standing for Mauna Kea on Maui. Maui residents line Hana Highway in protest of the Thirty Meter Telescope on Sunday morning. The demonstration stretched for about a mile from the intersection of Haleakala and Hana highways to just before Hookele Street. Maui News.

Tourism Related Businesses Taking “Peaceful Stand” for Maunakea. The Old Lahaina Luaau in West Maui will suspend its luaau experience today as a “peaceful stand” in support of employees who support the protection of Maunakea. Maui Now.

Early designs unveiled for Kahului transit hub. Project in process of getting its permit. Maui News.

Lawsuit Challenges Hawaii’s Termination Of Youth Mental Health Services At 18. The suit filed in federal court alleges a young woman received minimal care when her case was turned over to Hawaii’s adult mental health division, leading to the deterioration of her condition. Civil Beat.

Parents of a Maui woman with a mental illness file suit against the state. A lawsuit by the parents of a severely mentally ill Maui girl alleges that the state improperly terminated her mental health services two years ago. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

Councilmembers call for Ige to reverse Mauna Kea proclamation. Two members of the Kauai County Council have joined a growing list of elected officials from across the state, urging Gov. David Ige to rescind an emergency declaration he issued last week giving law enforcement more power to remove Native Hawaiian rights activists protesting the construction of a giant telescope on Mauna Kea. Garden Island.

Cable blamed for outage. Islandwide power outages that started Sunday afternoon were caused by a frayed cable in the main generator at a Kauai Island Utility Cooperative facility. Garden Island.

The Kauai Island Utility Cooperative said a cable failure at the largest unit in KIUC’s generation fleet caused Sunday’s islandwide power outage. Hawaii News Now.

Lights out? No big deal. Sunday’s islandwide power outage had little impact on most businesses. Garden Island.

Biotech, GMO spotlighted at national agriculture conference in Kona, Navy trims sonar use in whale lawsuit settlement, Honolulu allows extra units in residential neighborhoods, Hawaii County settles panhandler, urinalysis lawsuits, Schatz weighs in on NextEra plan, Kaui parents protests oust principal, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

University of Hawaii GMO researcher, courtesy photo

As lawyers defending Hawaii County’s ordinance regulating genetically modified crops work toward an Oct. 1 deadline to file their final brief, a key attorney challenging the new law is scheduled to speak about the issue at a national gathering today in Kailua-Kona. West Hawaii Today.

Biotech companies have spent at least $160,000 to sponsor a four-day national convention of state agricultural officials hosted by the Hawaii Department of Agriculture in Kailua-Kona this week. Civil Beat.

The U.S. Navy agreed to limit its use of sonar and other training that inadvertently harms whales, dolphins and other marine mammals off Hawaii and California in a settlement with environmental groups approved Monday. Associated Press.

Whales, dolphins and other marine mammals swimming off the coasts of Hawaii and Southern California will be more protected from the Navy’s use of sonar thanks to a settlement Monday. Two cases brought by environmental groups were resolved in federal court after a years-long battle to limit the military’s sonar training and testing as well as its use of explosives. Civil Beat.

The Navy agreed to limit its use of sonar and other training that inadvertently harms whales, dolphins and other marine mammals off Hawaii and California in a settlement with environmental groups approved Monday. Garden Island.

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz said he wants the state Public Utilities Commission to focus on NextEra Energy Inc.’s renewable energy and cost-cutting capabilities when deciding whether the Florida-company is fit to purchase Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc. Star-Advertiser.

There’s been plenty of press about Hawaii’s first-in-the-nation policy of “100 percent renewable energy by 2045″ but a lot less talk about what the law really means, especially its loopholes. Civil Beat.

Hawaii’s highest earners are working in the medical field, according to a recent report by American City Business Journals, but there's a catch. When you consider the high cost of living in Hawaii, it can actually be challenging to attract professionals to work in the health care sector, experts say. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii’s insurance premiums are on the rise, and it’s due to a combination of circumstance and new federal regulations, according to a new report by the Hawaii Health Information Corp. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

Under a bill signed Monday by Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell, homeowners with residential and agricultural lots are able to put up accessory dwelling units if they meet certain criteria. An ADU is a second smaller housing unit, either attached or detached, that can be rented out to either family members or outside parties. Star-Advertiser.

Lawmakers say it could be the change that opens up to 20,000 places to live on Oahu. Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell signed what's called the "Accessory Dwelling Unit Bill" into law on Monday. Some are calling it a game changer in the battle against homelessness. KITV4.

A measure to address affordable rental housing on O’ahu was signed into law today at a bill signing ceremony. Hawaii Public Radio.

The brother of a Waipahu man fatally shot by police is suing the Honolulu officer who he says is responsible for the death, alleging that the officer didn’t follow proper procedure for handling people with mental illness. Civil Beat.

The Makapuu Lighthouse Trail and parking lot will close Tuesday through Friday and again Monday through Sept. 23 for repaving in an ongoing $2.7 million improvement project. Star-Advertiser.

State crews, including 70 inmates, began a cleanup of the homeless encampment beneath the H-1 freeway viaduct Monday. Star-Advertiser.

Officials are planning to clear a second section of the large homeless encampment in Kakaako. Mayor Kirk Caldwell announced Monday that the next phase of the camp clearing will happen Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

If you hike the popular Koko Head Crater Trail, it’s common to see a few bees, but lately hikers say there are a lot more. KHON2.

Hawaii
Hawaii County has agreed to pay $80,000 and rewrite its panhandling laws to settle a civil rights lawsuit filed by a Kailua-Kona man. West Hawaii Today.

Little did Justin Guy know that holding a sign that read “Homeless Please Help” on a Kailua-Kona street corner would spark a free speech case resulting in changes to the law that protects everyone’s First Amendment rights on Hawaii island. Star-Advertiser.

The ACLU-assisted settlement in a houseless Hawaii County man's free speech case has lead to revisions of several ordinances now found to be unconstitutional. Hawaii Independent.

Hawaii County will pay $115,000 and cease the requirement of urinalyses and other medical screenings as a condition of employment for most positions under a federal lawsuit settlement announced Monday. West Hawaii Today.

An 'ahu or altar that was built along the Mauna Kea summit road has been bulldozed by a Mauna Kea Support Services (MKSS) employee. Hawaii News Now.

Maui

A public briefing on health care initiatives by Gov. David Ige that include a waiver from the federal Affordable Care Act and improved services for behavioral health and long-term care will be held from 10 a.m. to noon Friday at the Cameron Center Auditorium in Wailuku. Maui News.

RAM Reports Good News for Real Estate Buyers. Maui Now.

Flash floods stranded 20 hikers last month on the Commando and Bamboo trails in East Maui, including one man who was caught on camera being swept 30 feet down the side of a waterfall. Maui News.

Kauai

Step one, done. That’s what the Save Hanalei School group said about Superintendent Bill Arakaki’s decision to remove Hanalei Elementary principal Lisa McDonald effective Monday. Garden Island.

The U.S. Air Force said it is still working to address a lighting issue at its Kokee station that has led to more than 120 fallen endangered seabirds. Garden Island.

Kauai’s chicken die-off has scientists trying to rule out avian influenza. Necropsy to test for bird flu and botulism. KITV4.

The next phase of the Hauaala Road project in Kapaa near the Kuhio Highway intersection will begin this week. One lane of the roadway will be closed Wednesday and Thursday to allow reconstruction work to take place. Another is planned for next week. Traffic will be contra-flowed during the lane closures. Garden Island.

Molokai

The Molokai Ferry has adopted a new sailing schedule. The owner says this month’s changes will help stop the financial “hemorrhaging” the ferry has seen in the last two years.  But not everyone is happy about the new plan. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii blocks access to Mauna Kea visitor's center and summit as protests continue, state Supreme Court rules against marijuana initiative, Hawaii worst state to do business, Honolulu pushes for general excise tax hike for rail, Maui residents fight sugarcane burning, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Mauna Kea TMT blockade, courtesy Big Island Video News

Construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope remained on hold for a second straight day Thursday after two rock altars were discovered on the access road leading to the Mauna Kea summit. Star-Advertiser.

Police named the 12 individuals arrested and charged Wednesday with obstructing Mauna Kea Access Road while protesting the construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope. Tribune-Herald.

The boulders and rock walls were cleared Thursday, but the road to the top of Hawaii’s tallest mountain remained inaccessible to the public following a dramatic protest against the Thirty Meter Telescope the day before. Tribune-Herald.

Despite a handful of arrests, officers and protesters treat each other well. But this week’s attempt to resume construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope gets off to a rocky start with boulders strewn across the mountain road, forcing its closure. Civil Beat.

Mauna Kea's summit access road, visitor's center remain closed indefinitely. Hawaii News Now.

Boulders cleared, Mauna Kea road remains closed. Hawaii Independent.

Protesters arrested while preventing construction from resuming on a giant telescope have returned to the Hawaii mountain they say they’re protecting from desecration. Associated Press.

The gravel road leading to the summit of Mauna Kea has been cleared of boulders, however the road has been temporarily closed until further notice. Big Island Video News.

VIDEO: Mauna Kea TMT Showdown – Part 1 of 3. Big Island Video News.

VIDEO: Mauna Kea TMT Showdown – Part 2 of 3. Big Island Video News.

VIDEO: Mauna Kea TMT Showdown – Part 3 of 3. Big Island Video News.

The Office of Mauna Kea Management is working on a set of rules that will for the first time give the office legal tools to govern public and commercial access on the mountain. Associated Press.

What happened on the mountain top Thursday took some state officials by surprise, but according to the state's top lawyer, the decision about access sits squarely at the University of Hawaii. KITV4.

Hawaii has ranked as the worst state to do business for the second time in three years, according to CNBC’s annual America’s Top States for Business ranking. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii: Sun, Surf and Suicides. The islands seem to be part of a phenomenon one expert dubbed “suicide tourism,” in which some people seek out final-destination spots in well-known places. Civil Beat.

U.S. Census Bureau released the 2014 state and county population information Thursday, including estimates broken down by age, sex, the five major race groups and Hispanic origin between April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014. Civil Beat.

Oahu

The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation estimated that the city would have to raise the median property tax bill by 5.6 percent to cover the existing project’s massive shortfall. How to finance that $900 million shortfall and whether to extend the half-percent surcharge were major issues at the Legislature this year, and Gov. David Ige is now considering whether to sign a bill to extend the excise tax surcharge for Oahu residents for five years to cover the rail project’s cost overruns. Star-Advertiser.

The state has a constitutional obligation to protect productive farmland, Hawaii Supreme Court justices were told Thursday during oral arguments in a lawsuit challenging a land reclassification for D.R. Horton’s 11,750-home Hoopili development. Civil Beat.

The Hawai’i Supreme Court heard oral arguments today in the case challenging the 12-thousand home Ho’opili development project in Ewa. Hawaii Public Radio.

The Howard Hughes Corp. has changed its plans for a Kakaako residential project back to a mostly affordable for-sale condominium tower after requesting a Hawaii agency approve the project as a rental development. Pacific Business News.

The Bikeshare Hawaii program got a big boost when the state and city pledged $1 million each to help put an estimated 1,700 bicycles on Oahu roads next year. Star-Advertiser.

A 14-year police veteran and a former reserve officer are facing federal charges in connection with assaults in September on two gambling house patrons at the hands of another officer. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

The Hawaii Supreme Court on Thursday snuffed out proponents’ hopes of enforcing a voter-approved ballot initiative making adult personal use of marijuana on private property the lowest law enforcement priority of Hawaii County. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

It was a packed house Thursday night at the Kihei Community Center as residents concerned about cane burning met with the Department of Health and Hawaiian Commercial and Sugar Company. KHON2.

A long-awaited high school stadium on Maui finally has the green-light. It certainly seems to have been on the fast track since there’s resolution. KHON2.

Bus drivers at Maui Economic Opportunity voted to form a union Tuesday night, an official with Hawaii Teamsters Local 996 said Wednesday. Maui News.

Kauai

A public meeting to discuss Kauai’s housing shortage started with a bit of irony: so many people showed up that several were turned away due to lack of space. Garden Island.

Next month, a public hearing is set for a measure that would require hikers in need of rescue — who disregard warnings — to pay the county for recovery missions. Garden Island.

New rules advanced for Mauna Kea access as Thirty Meter Telescope construction to resume, Hawaii gets pass from No Child Left Behind, GMO seed industry falters, Waipahu rail work to close roads, Maui council overrides mayor's budget veto, Kauai mulls county manager government, water rates rise on Big Island, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Sunset on Mauna Kea © 2015 All Hawaii News

The Office of Mauna Kea Management is rolling out a set of rules that will for the first time give the office the legal tools to govern public and commercial access on the mountain. West Hawaii Today.

An ‘ahu or altar has gone up on the summit of Mauna Kea as protesters who say they're standing in protection of Native Hawaiian sacred space prepare for construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope to resume Wednesday morning. Hawaii News Now.

Thirty Meter Telescope construction crews will not only confront protesters in the road to the summit of Mauna Kea on Wednesday, but apparently also at least one rock altar constructed near the work site. Star-Advertiser.

A day before construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope was expected to resume, opponents made their way to the summit of Hawaii’s tallest mountain Tuesday to build a second ahu, or stone altar, within the project boundary. Tribune-Herald.

After being put on hold for more than two months, work to build the Thirty Meter Telescope on Mauna Kea is set to restart. The project has already felt the resistance, and now, it'll have to face it again. KITV4.

Multiple modifications have been made to the University of Hawaii's and the state of Hawaii’s approach to Mauna Kea on the Big Island, the Thirty Meter Telescope International Observatory Board said. Pacific Business News.

In the hours before the Thirty Meter Telescope project will attempt to restart construction on Mauna Kea after months of delay, the office of Governor David Ige issued the following statement. Big Island Video News.

Dozens of people are sleeping on Mauna Kea Tuesday night. Many are calling themselves the protectors of the mountain, and dozens more are expected by Wednesday morning. KHON2.

The U.S. Department of Education on Tuesday renewed Hawaii's waiver from mandates of the federal No Child Left Behind law, allowing the state to continue evaluating public schools on a state-developed accountability system known as Strive HI. Star-Advertiser.

The Obama administration is giving seven more states and the District of Columbia more flexibility from the requirements of the Bush-era No Child Left Behind education law. In addition to Washington, Education Secretary Arne Duncan on Tuesday renewed waivers for Georgia, Hawaii, Kansas, Missouri, Nevada, New York, and West Virginia. Associated Press.

What Is Really Being Sustained by 100 Percent Renewable Energy? Two UH economists raise concerns that subsidizing local alternative energy production might be a fiscal drain that is about paying off special interests. Civil Beat.

The leader of a white supremacist group said to have influenced the Charleston, S.C., church shooting suspect contributed $2,000 to the campaign of Charles Djou, the former Hawaii congressman. Civil Beat.

Oahu
With construction of 3 miles of the rail guideway from East Kapolei completed, crews will now move into areas populated by businesses and residents to begin constructing the guideway in Waipahu. Star-Advertiser.

Retired bank executive Don Horner has been reappointed to the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation’s board of directors by Mayor Kirk Caldwell. Star-Advertiser.

PVT Land Co., which owns the only construction and demolition debris management facility on Oahu, plans to expand its West Oahu facility as it focuses more on recycling and generation of feedstock for renewable energy, according to public documents. Pacific Business News.

Honolulu’s Mayor has been engaged in an ongoing verbal battle with the Chair of the nine-member City Council. Their latest exchange was over the City’s 2-billion dollar budget which passed without the Mayor’s signature.  As Hawaii Public Radio’s Wayne Yoshioka reports, this could be only the beginning of a long political rivalry.

Protesters lined Kamehameha Highway near Kualoa Regional Park several times in the past week to block sheriff’s deputies from enforcing a court-ordered eviction and removing members of an extended Hawaiian family from a disputed parcel of land on Johnson Road. Civil Beat.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the state Department of Health are giving the public more time to comment on a proposal to better prevent and detect leaks from 20 giant fuel storage tanks near Pearl Harbor. Star-Advertiser.

Those with plans to buy Fourth of July firecrackers could be out of luck. Permits to use firecrackers on the holiday are on sale through Wednesday, but having a permit doesn't mean you'll be able to find fireworks in a store. Star-Advertiser.

After investing nearly $1.4 million to open a dune buggy rental shop on Oahu's North Shore, Matt Brown was blindsided earlier this year when he found out Hawaii law won't allow him to rent his gas-powered vehicles. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

The county Water Board, meeting Tuesday in Hilo, unanimously approved a five-year water rate plan that hikes rates 3 percent on July 1, followed by 4 percent next year and then 5 percent annually for the next three years. West Hawaii Today.

Nearly two miles and more than $110,000 worth of ungulate-proof fencing on the Big Island was cut and destroyed by vandals recently. West Hawaii Today.

Kamehameha Schools plans to begin demolition of the shuttered Keauhou Beach Hotel in early 2016 as the trust moves forward with plans for its educational complex known as Kahaluu Ma Kai. West Hawaii Today.

Maui
With the clock ticking down, the Maui County Council on Monday voted to override Mayor Alan Arakawa's line-item veto of a provision in the budget that takes effect July 1 that limits spending in county departments to specific accounts. Maui News.

Maui County deals with beach erosion. KITV4.

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services and the County of Maui’s Immigrant Services Division will be hosting three “Information Sessions” later this week for immigrants. The workshops will cover “employment eligibility, green cards, naturalization, petition for relatives and other issues,” according to a June 22 news release from the county. MauiTime.

The Friends of Joe Blackburn will be selling kalua pig for $8 a pound, as he plans another run for the Maui County Council's Wailuku-Waihee-Waikapu residency seat. Maui News.

Honolulu media outlets are looking to Maui as the implementation date of their plastic bag ban nears the July 1, 2015 start date. Maui Now.

Kauai

Idled trucks and tractors are spread out in a field behind DuPont Pioneer’s parent seed facility in Kekaha, a small town on the west side of Kauai. The noise of a generator is the only hint of activity at the site where researchers have worked for years growing genetically modified seeds used to create hybrid crops. Civil Beat.

The Kauai County Council will form a subcommittee to study the possibility of switching to a county manager system of government. Garden Island.

Mayor Bernhard Carvalho, Jr. signed the B&B bill on Friday, making it more difficult for Kauai residents to earn income by renting out rooms in their home on a short-term basis. Garden Island.

A $3.5 million project aimed at removing 2,500 albizia trees along Kuhio Highway between Kalihiwai and Kahiliholo roads was pushed back to next year. The project, originally scheduled for April, was suspended as tree removal coincided with the birthing season of the Hawaiian hoary bat and the breeding season of the Hawaiian shearwater. Garden Island.

Nearly 20 picketers outside the entrance to the Kauai Humane Society Tuesday protested the firing of two employees and called for the removal of KHS Executive Director Penny Cistaro. Garden Island.

Thirty Meter Telescope construction to resume Wednesday, Maui to study police body cameras, Kauai Council approves their purchase, new museum for Kona, new group home on Molokai, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Artist's concept of Thirty Meter Telescope, Courtesy TMT International Observatory

With construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope scheduled to resume Wednesday and the Mauna Kea "protectors" refusing to back down, the possibility looms of a replay of the drama that saw the arrest of 31 protesters in April. Star-Advertiser.

Construction is set to resume Wednesday on a controversial telescope on Hawaii’s Mauna Kea. Civil Beat.

Ho‘omakaukau, the Hawaiian word for prepare or make ready. That was the message sent out by opponents of the controversial Thirty Meter Telescope following an announcement that the observatory plans to resume construction Wednesday morning of the $1.4 billion project near Mauna Kea’s summit. Tribune-Herald.

Both sides are gearing up for the next skirmish in the Thirty Meter Telescope conflict. On Saturday, TMT partners agreed to restart construction of the $1.4 billion observatory planned for the summit area of Mauna Kea. Big Island Video News.

Construction is about to resume on Mauna Kea. TMT partners announced they plan to resume building the controversial Thirty Meter Telescope starting Wednesday. Hawaii Public Radio.

Construction on the controversial Thirty Meter Telescope project will resume on Wednesday, according to a statement released by the TMT International Observatory Board on Saturday. Hawaii News Now.

Construction is now set to restart on the Thirty Meter Telescope atop Mauna Kea amidst continued protest. KITV4.

The non-profit company that oversees the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) project gave the go-ahead to restart construction atop Mauna Kea on Wednesday, June 24. KHON2.

A bill to extend a program that awards high school diplomas to veterans whose educations were interrupted because they were drafted during World War II, the Korean War or the Vietnam War was signed into law by Gov. David Ige on Friday. Star-Advertiser.

As the Hawaii Health Connector winds down operations to move to the federal government's online platform, four of nine voting members of its board are leaving and a vendor has suspended its operations and continues to await payment. Pacific Business News.

Oahu
Honolulu is about to become the last county in Hawaii to ban the plastic checkout bag. Starting July 1, businesses will be prohibited from giving out plastic bags and nonrecyclable paper bags to their customers at the point of sale for carrying groceries or other merchandise. Star-Advertiser.

The Death of Aaron Torres: ‘What’s the Big Secret?’ Three Honolulu police officers were exonerated by their supervisors but then the city paid $1.4 million to settle the family’s lawsuit. So what really happened? Heavily redacted police reports obtained by Civil Beat are raising suspicions in a city that still lacks an independent oversight board. Civil Beat.

A bill awaiting Hawaii Gov. David Ige’s signature would exempt thousands of homeowners from a controversial law that subjects homes built more than 50 years ago to a historic preservation review whenever a homeowner applies for a building permit. Pacific Business News.

As the sun rises over Honolulu, commercial fishermen have already unloaded their catches and docked their boats for the day. The fish are lined up on pallets, packed in ice and displayed for buyers to inspect. Associated Press.

Hawaii

Did voters know what they were doing when they passed a charter amendment requiring the chief of the Department of Environmental Management to have an engineering degree or a degree in a related field? That question is at the heart of a motion filed by the attorney for former South Kona/Ka‘u Councilwoman Brenda Ford, who is asking 3rd Circuit Court Judge Ronald Ibarra to reconsider his May 26 ruling that Mayor Billy Kenoi and the County Council had discretion to put Bobby Jean Leithead Todd in that position without the engineering or similar degree seemingly required by the county charter. West Hawaii Today.


For years now, people who wanted to delve into the history of Kona likely paid a visit to a small archive housed in the basement of the H.N. Greenwell Store Museum in Kealakekua. All of that could change with a new plan by the society to build a museum that will offer better access and provide an area where rotations of current works of art can mix with historical displays. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Maui police hope to do more testing and investigation into body-worn cameras before any move to implement a program to have officers wear the devices in the field, Police Chief Tivoli Faaumu said. Maui News.

Kauai

The Kauai Police Department has received approval by the County Council to purchase 105 body cameras for police officers. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s first space launch — aimed at testing a low-cost launch system for small satellites — will blast off from Kauai’s military base on Oct. 29. Garden Island.

An erosion control project geared at preventing landfill waste from dropping into the ocean behind Lihue Airport is nearing completion following a 17-month stall due to the discovery of a shearwater bird nesting colony on the worksite. Garden Island.

After several days of testing, it has been determined that the pump and motor at the Kapaa swimming pool have to be replaced. Garden Island.

Molokai

Hale Maunaloa, a state-of-the-art residence on Molokai for individuals with developmental disabilities, is accepting applications for three available bedrooms. Maui News.

Teachers union fights ethics law, PUC and Honolulu rail members love to travel, Maui mayor seeks 16% budget hike, Kauai to hike vehicle fees, Hawaii to hike water rates, $60k parking spaces at Waikiki affordable apartments, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii State Teachers Association at 2014 NEA convention, courtesy photo

The Hawaii State Teachers Association launched two legal actions this week to block enforcement of a new policy prohibiting teachers who are candidates for union offices from distributing their individual campaign materials in school mailboxes. Civil Beat.

The Senate Judiciary Committee approved a bill on Tuesday that could make voting by mail the norm in Hawaii. The panel passed HB 124, which aims to boost Hawaii's low voter turnout and increase participation in elections. It would start with smaller counties and gradually build so all voters get ballots in the mail. Associated Press.

Despite a huge backlog of cases, members of the Public Utilities Commission combined spent more than 100 works days last year attending industry conferences on the Mainland and in Korea and Puerto Rico. Hawaii News Now.

Lawmakers Consider Funding Private Projects with State Revenue Bonds. Hawaiian Electric, renewable energy companies, a Catholic school and a racetrack owner are seeking more than $1 billion in special purpose revenue bonds. Civil Beat.

A state House committee signed off Tuesday on a series of resolutions related to the pending $4.3 billion sale of Hawaiian Electric Company to Florida-based NextEra Energy. Tribune-Herald.

Mistaken identity by eyewitnesses contributed to more than 70 percent of all wrongful convictions nationwide. Hawai’i lawmakers want to implement uniform procedures to improve the accuracy of these accounts. Hawaii Public Radio.

A resolution in the Hawaii state Legislature would task a state agency with creating an 18-person, volunteer working group to create a master plan to bring broadband to Hawaii’s resort areas. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii's court system has improved the way it serves people with limited English skills, the U.S. Department of Justice said. The department announced Tuesday it is closing its review of the Hawaii Judiciary's Language Access Program. The department intervened in 2012 and provided assistance after receiving complaints about language assistance services provided by Hawaii's state courts. Associated Press.

Research done by scientists at the University of Hawaii School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology paints a grim picture for the state's coastlines. Results of their data find that by mid-century, at least 9 out of every 10 shorelines in the state will be in retreat. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii firefighters fight for workers compensation benefits due to cancer. KHON2.

Oahu

As state lawmakers continue to weigh a rail tax extension, the House Transportation Committee is considering whether to request a state audit of the project — but rail officials might not be able to provide all the details committee members want to see. Star-Advertiser.

Between July 2007 and November 2014 at least $479,000 was spent on travel-related expenses for about 90 people, paid for from the rail transit fund, according to city budget data. Civil Beat.

While the Commodore Waikiki apartment complex is offering up a lot of affordable housing units, the same can't be said about its parking stalls. They're going for a whopping $60,000 a piece. KITV4.

An aged state building on prime real estate just a block away from the State Capitol that's been vacant for 12 years is finally getting renovated. The Princess Victoria Kamamalu Building, at the corner of King and Richards streets, was built in 1957 and needed renovations in 2003 when 300 state employees moved out. Hawaii News Now.

The developer of a planned resort in Ewa Beach is advancing its plan to shift around and expand hotel sites at the growing Hoakalei Resort. Star-Advertiser.

A decision on the fate of the shuttered archery range at Kapiolani Park should be made in the coming months, city Parks Director Michele Nekota said Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

It's legal. But some say it's not right. A homeowners group in Kailua wants to keep people off their private street at night. But beach-goers worry about losing yet another path to a public shoreline. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii

Water rates would rise 3 percent next year, followed by 4 percent the following year and then 5 percent annually for the next three years, under a proposal floated Tuesday by the county Water Board. West Hawaii Today.

A Senate bill seeking funding to control albizia trees on Hawaii Island has stalled after failing to cross over to the state House of Representatives. Proponents of the bill say they were surprised by the failure of the measure, in light of the devastation wrought by the invasive trees following Tropical Storm Iselle. Tribune-Herald.

Five tractor-trailers carrying heavy equipment slowly ascended Mauna Kea early Tuesday morning as construction of Hawaii’s Thirty Meter Telescope prepared to get underway. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui County residents could see hikes in their water and sewer bills, trash collection fees and in the county's fuel and vehicle weight tax under Mayor Alan Arakawa's nearly $700 million county budget for fiscal 2016, a whopping 16 percent increase. Maui News.

Kaiser Permanente Hawaii for the first time will be providing round-the-clock pediatric care at the state-owned Maui Memorial Medical Center. Star-Advertiser.

Kaiser Permanente today announced its plans to provide 24/7 inpatient pediatric care to patients at Maui Memorial Medical Center. Maui Now.

Kaiser Permanente Hawaii has concluded a new contract with Maui Memorial Medical Center to provide 24/7 inpatient pediatric care, according to an announcement Tuesday. Maui News.

Maui County is the healthiest county in Hawaii, followed by Honolulu and Kauai, according to a new report released Wednesday by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute. Pacific Business News.

Ocean Safety crews were assigned to patrol waters offshore of Kaʻa Point near Kahului Airport in Kahanā after sharks were seen feeding on a decomposing baby whale carcass. Maui Now.

Goodwill Industries of Hawaii has opened a new donation center on the mauka side of Kahului Shopping Center. MauiTime.

Kauai

To help offset the estimated $100 million needed to pay for road repairs and funding other initiatives such as The Kauai Bus, Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. and his administration are asking the Kauai County Council to approve gradual increases to the county’s motor vehicle weight tax. Garden Island.