Hawaii telescope under scrutiny, Honolulu EMS calendar flirts with trouble, bus rides costly, feds consider options for tiny Kalaupapa post office, teachers union hearing continues, profits up for telcom, health insurers, multimodal for Kauai, Main Street for Maui, more Hawaii news

Mauna Kea telescope courtesy image

Opponents of the Thirty Meter Telescope heaved pointed questions at telescope principals for three hours Monday, with the fate of the $1.3 billion project hanging in the balance. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii school transportation costs have doubled in the last six years, thanks in part to an uncompetitive market and the largest company's decision to rebid its contracts instead of extending them. Civil Beat.

The chairman of the Hawaii Labor Relations Board, citing "serious concerns" about the Hawaii State Teachers Association's challenge to its impartiality, has set a Thursday hearing to listen to the union's claims. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Labor Relations Board abruptly ended Monday's hearing in the dispute between the teachers union and state, citing "serious concerns" that an ethics complaint against the governor also calls into question the board's ability to rule with impartiality. Civil Beat.

Hawaii's two dominant health insurers — Kaiser and HMSA — were profitable in the second quarter thanks in part to double-digit rate hikes over the past two years and strong returns from investments. Star-Advertiser.

Senate Ways and Means Chair David Ige said the Hawaii State Legislature " recognizes the importance of resolving the unfunded actuarial accrued liability of the Employees’ Retirement System of the State of Hawaii." Hawaii Reporter.

Rising sales of high-speed Internet service helped Hawaiian Telcom earn a $6.7 million profit in the second quarter, building on the company's financial strength since emerging from bankruptcy in October. Star-Advertiser.

What started as an idea to help fight breast cancer got some Honolulu EMS personnel in hot water. KITV4.

Makaha Beach Park will get a facelift starting on Aug. 22. Pacific Business News.

As Hawaii’s congressional delegation fights for the future of the East-West Center, located on the University of Hawaii at Manoa campus, the Pacific cultural and political hub has received a million-dollar grant to support an international journalism exchange. Hawaii Independent.

The state Department of Transportation broke ground Monday for an inter-island cargo terminal and an additional pier at Hilo Harbor. Tribune-Herald.

The Kalaupapa post office, one of four in Hawaii being considered for closure by the U.S. Postal Service, may remain unchanged until February 2012 – but its future after that remains cloudy. Molokai Dispatch.

Bills to remove a developer's option to pay in-lieu fees rather than provide affordable housing and infrastructure for Big Islanders will go before the Hawaii County Council this week in Kailua-Kona. West Hawaii Today.

The Friends of Moku'ula Inc. hopes to present to Maui County planners next month the first phase of its archaeological restoration and information center along Front Street, Maui News.

While the traditional transportation plan concentrates mainly on accommodating automobiles, the multi-modal land transportation plan being developed by the County of Kaua‘i focuses on all modes of transportation. Garden Island.

A historic residence hall at the University of Hawaii at Manoa is reopening after a $6.7-million renovation. Associated Press.

Molokai residents east of Kaunakakai who want to reap the benefits of installing small, renewable energy systems for their homes or businesses may be out of luck. Molokai Dispatch.

A new postage stamp has a Hilo artist saying, "bonsai!" Hawaii News Now.

Residents in rural Big Island communities now have access to clean, drinkable water. KHON2.

Future of Mauna Kea telescope in the offing, Inouye now longest-serving member of Congress, publicly funded elections to be tested, fireworks laws in the works, more news from around the state

The University of Hawaii Board of Regents is deciding whether to build the world's largest telescope at Mauna Kea's summit. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Sen. Daniel Akaka becomes longest-serving member of Congress with death of Sen. Robert Byrd. AP

Maui County is moving forward with a contract to study the impacts of pollution on Maalaea's reefs, but some ocean advocates complain the project has been watered down. Maui News.

Numbers Don't Add Up at New Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.

 SPJ awards are a reminder that the media world is changing. Ian Lind.

After feeding Hawaii for centuries, the future of many of the state’s ancient fishponds rest in the governor’s hands. Molokai Dispatch.

Health care leaders from across the state are meeting this week to discuss the worsening shortage of physicians in Hawaii. Star-Advertiser. AP

Nearly 19 months after he took office, Mayor Billy Kenoi has yet to fulfill his "commitment to implement a transparent tracking system" for building permit applications. Hawaii Tribune-Herald.

A Kilauea community facility seemed like a forward-thinking idea of providing entertainment, accessibility and sustainability to the whole island. Garden Island.

Lingle must now decide. The state and consumer advocates believe the system provides transparency, many licensed professionals contend it can unfairly harm reputations and have persuaded the state Legislature to limit disclosure to complaints that have been resolved and validated. Star-Bulletin

Hawaii's students won awards in an inter- national robotics com- petition this weekend. KHON2.

Hawaii is moving forward with its test run of publicly funded political campaigns this election year, despite a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling against a similar setup in Arizona. AP

A new poll shows, a majority of Hawaii residents are against a ban on fireworks. The poll won't officially be released until later Monday, but Hawaii News Now got an early look at the results. Hawaii News Now.

It's the 68th anniversary of this trail-blazing group of veterans. They were the first Japanese-Americans to fight in World War II. Hawaii News Now.

Each time they meet, the group is smaller. KITV.

Every lap walked, skipped or jogged Saturday night during Kailua-Kona's annual Relay for Life event helped to fund cancer research and local American Cancer Society programs all the while honoring survivors and those who've died from the disease West Hawaii Today.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will take a year to review the status of seven species of Hawaiian yellow-faced bees to determine whether they should be listed as endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act, the federal agency has announced. Maui News.

Patrons and friends of the 55-year-old Lahaina Public Library — which badly needs refurbishing — will get a chance to show their support next month, when the Royal Lahaina Resort and Rotary Club of Lahaina host a first-of-its-kind fund-raiser. Lahaina News.

World's largest telescope coming to Big Island, union negotiations drag on and other top Hawaii news

Mauna Kea was chosen yesterday as the site for what will become the world's largest telescope — a mega-feat of engineering that will cost $1.2 billion, create as many as 440 construction and other jobs and seal the Big Island summit's standing as the premier spot on the planet to study the mysteries of space.

The University of Hawaii's Manoa and Hilo campuses are celebrating Mauna Kea's selection over Cerro Armazones, Chile, for the world's most powerful telescope.

After careful evaluation and comparison between two outstanding candidate sites--Mauna Kea in Hawai'i and Cerro Armazones in Chile--the board of directors of the TMT Observatory Corporation has selected Mauna Kea as the preferred site for the Thirty Meter Telescope.

The Lingle administration made an offer to public-sector labor unions yesterday that includes a combination of pay cuts and furloughs to help with the state's budget deficit, but the state's chief labor negotiator would not disclose the details.

The dozen or more state workers on Kaua‘i who received layoff notifications received support from places expected and unexpected during a lunchtime, highway-side protest here Tuesday.

At least 69 sailors and Marines on a Navy assault helicopter carrier tested positive for H1N1 swine flu and were confined to the ship at Pearl Harbor.

Maui County's unemployment rate edged into double digits for the first time in nearly two decades, according to figures released this week by the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations.

Less than a third of the offerings on Hawaii hotel menus are grown locally. If papaya and pineapple are subtracted from the equation, the figure falls to about 18 percent.

Six months after pitching its $240 million "recreational renaissance" project, the state can no longer afford to pay its conservation officers to work overtime.