Big boost planned for military spending in Hawaii, Honolulu judge expands family members on travel ban immigrant list, Hurricane Fernanda still far away, solider pledging IS support claims mental illness defense, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Pohakuloa Training Area, Hawaii Island © 2017 All Hawaii News

Schatz Announces Big Increase In Military Spending For Hawaii. If a subcommittee’s Thursday vote holds up, the islands would see $266 million in spending in fiscal year 2018, up from $197 million. Civil Beat.

Hawaii is set to receive more than $266 million in federal funding for military construction and upgrade projects across the state after the Senate Appropriations Committee passed the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs appropriations bill for fiscal year 2018. Pacific Business News.

A federal judge in Honolulu has expanded the Trump administration’s list of family relationships needed by people seeking new visas from six mostly Muslim countries to avoid a travel ban. U.S. District Court Judge Derrick Watson ruled Thursday that the travel ban exemptions should include grandparents, grandchildren, uncles, aunts and other relatives. Star-Advertiser.

In another setback for President Donald Trump, a federal judge in Hawaii has further weakened his already diluted travel ban by vastly expanding the list of family relationships with U.S. citizens that visa applicants can use to get into the U.S. Associated Press.

A federal judge in Honolulu on Thursday expanded the list of family relationships needed by people seeking new visas from six mostly Muslim countries to avoid President Donald Trump’s travel ban. Associated Press.

The Hawaii judge who blocked President Donald Trump’s revised executive order on immigration in March placed limits Thursday on how the scaled-back version of the travel ban should be enforced. Civil Beat.

Fernanda strengthens into major hurricane far east of islands. It is still too early to tell what kind of effects, if any, this storm will have on Hawaii, but early computer models show a track that moves in a direction toward the islands. Hawaii News Now.

Hurricane Fernanda in the Eastern Pacific continued strengthening today, reaching major hurricane status. Star-Advertiser.

Fernanda reached hurricane strength Thursday and the storm’s expected to continue rapidly strengthening as it marches west toward the Hawaiian Islands. West Hawaii Today.

The lawyer for an Army soldier accused of pledging his support and allegiance to the Islamic State says the government knew or should have known that Sgt. 1st Class Ikaika Erik Kang was suffering from mental illness but, instead of helping him, continued to exploit Kang’s condition until he committed a crime. Star-Advertiser.

A U.S. soldier accused of wanting to commit a mass shooting after pledging loyalty to the Islamic State group believed the moon landing was faked, questioned the assassination of President John F. Kennedy and thought the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks were an inside job coordinated by the U.S. government, according to a former Army bunkmate. Associated Press.

Hawaii’s public school system, which employs more than 13,000 teachers, has struggled for years with a chronic teacher shortage. A licensed first-year teacher in Hawaii makes $47,443. A new contract signed in April provides for a cumulative salary increase of 13.6 percent over four years. Civil Beat.

No Relief In Sight For High Cost Of Prison Phone Calls. After a federal court overturned a national limit on the price of the calls, activists turn to state and local governments. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Plans to modernize Blaisdell Center could cost upwards of $500M. Hawaii News Now.

Big, expensive changes are proposed for the Neal S. Blaisdell Center. On Thursday, nearly 150 people attended the city's second workshop to weigh-in on the city's "Master Plan" for the center. KITV.

Public weighs in on the future of Neal S. Blaisdell Center. KHON2.

A proposed charter school to serve Ewa Beach families got the green light Thursday from the state Public Charter School Commission, but two other Oahu schools were rejected. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu residents saw a dime shaved off their electricity bills in July primarily due to lower fees collected for energy efficiency programs. Star-Advertiser.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has reached an agreement with Matheson Tri-Gas to close three cesspools at its Kapolei facility on Oahu. Pacific Business News.

A fallen chunk of concrete is raising safety concerns under the H-1 viaduct. State Department of Transportation officials say they checked out the site and believe it is structurally safe. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Audits of county hiring and cash-handling practices should be completed in the next few months, legislative Auditor Bonnie Nims said Thursday. West Hawaii Today.

East Hawaii residents had the chance to discuss the impacts of upcoming changes to the region’s flood insurance rate maps during an open house session Wednesday evening. Tribune-Herald.

After a malfunction at the recently repaired Keahuolu Deepwell put North Kona on the edge of water service disruptions, Hawaii County Department of Water Supply has pulled the system back from the brink. West Hawaii Today.

The former Uncle Billy’s hotel is attracting its last customers — for a liquidation sale. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

The Maui Planning Commission was split Tuesday on a proposed construction materials recycling facility in South Maui, which some say would help handle future projects on island but that others think should be located elsewhere. Maui News.

One by one, the island’s eucalyptus trees are dying. Maui News.

The Maui Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual Luncheon with the Mayor from noon to 2 p.m. July 28 at the Maui Beach Hotel. Maui News.

Lloyd Loope, who became Haleakala National Park’s first research scientist in 1980 and went on to become one of the state’s leading advisers in the war against invasive species, has died at the age of 74. Star-Advertiser.

The cane is long gone but the sugar museum continues to grow. Maui News.

Kauai

The Land Use Commission will vote this month on changing the land designation at Kauai Community College from ag to urban, and officials say the recently approved university district will help streamline that process. Garden Island.

Nawiliwili Yacht Club is fighting for its lease of the Nawiliwili Small Boat Harbor, set to expire in September and go up on the block for public auction. Garden Island.

There is no date set for the next community meeting regarding the proposed change of address for the Lihue post office, according to Duke Gonzales, USPS spokesman. Garden Island.

Mosquito birth control could save endangered birds; Hawaii No. 1 in state tax withholding; DLNR officer found guilty in rape of 16-year-old; lawmakers mull election recount, tax hikes, commercial fishing; no opposition to HECO rate hike, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Kaua‘i Amakihi, courtesy Lucas Behnke USGS

State wildlife officials will investigate a “birth control method” they hope can be unleashed on the mosquito population that threatens Hawaii’s endangered forest birds. Star-Advertiser.

Scientists are testing what they’re calling “mosquito birth control” to stop a major threat to Hawaii’s most rare endangered birds. Garden Island.

Two Hawaii beaches ranked in Trip Advisor’s 2017 Travelers' Choice Awards for U.S. beaches, including Kaanapali Beach on Maui and Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve in Honolulu. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii is ranked No. 1 when it comes to states that take the most in taxes out of your paycheck, based on a $50,000 salary, according to a new study by GOBankingRates. Pacific Business News.

Bill Would Require Recounts In Close Hawaii Elections. The proposal would make recounts automatic if a race’s victory margin is less than 250 votes or less than 1 percent of votes cast. Civil Beat.

Hawaii lawmakers are considering a proposal with the potential to cripple the state’s commercial fishing industry after an Associated Press investigation found foreign fishermen confined to boats and living in subpar conditions.

State lawmakers are considering pouring hundreds of thousands of dollars into research and prevention efforts aimed at combating rat lungworm disease, a condition in which parasitic worm larvae infect people’s brains.  Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

No one spoke in opposition to Hawaiian Electric Co.’s proposed 6.9 percent rate increase Wednesday night at the only scheduled public hearing on the request. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu City Council advances three bills that could make your commute much more costly. The measures raise vehicle and fuel taxes, plus double metered parking rates. KITV.

A new bill is moving through the state Legislature that would increase the general excise tax on Oahu from 4.7 percent to 5.2 percent. KHON2.

Homeless people in Iwilei and Kalihi may need to pack up their tents if the Honolulu City Council passes two new bills aimed at expanding the city’s sit-lie ban. Civil Beat.

There are no requirements to serve on the board charged with civilian oversight of a scandal-ridden police department. Civil Beat.

Council OKs bill on defibrillators in buildings. Star-Advertiser.

A wave of high-rise development plans on or near Kapiolani Boulevard close to one end of the city’s envisioned rail line just got bigger with a local developer’s purchase Wednesday of three two-story commercial buildings in the area. Star-Advertiser.

Farrington High School’s 2,396 students have been asked to wear Governors maroon today when Farrington dedicates its first football stadium — a facility that Principal Al Carganilla hopes will spur new traditions for his students and the Kalihi community at large. Star-Advertiser.

HPD investigating 'sextortion' crime in which UH student wired hundreds of dollars overseas. Hawaii News Now.

The Army’s 25th Infantry Division says the death of a Hawaii soldier’s infant is under investigation. Associated Press.

The Army did not notify state Child Protective Services, as required by law, after learning that an infant was taken to the hospital recently with suspicious injuries, Hawaii News Now has learned.

Hilton Grand Vacations is looking to fill scores of positions at its new Grand Islander hotel. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii

A state conservation officer, who once worked for the Honolulu Police Department, was found guilty Wednesday of raping a 16-year-old girl at a beach park on the Big Island in 2016. Civil Beat.

A Hilo Circuit Court jury of seven men and five women took less than three hours to convict 40-year-old Ethan Ferguson of two counts of second-degree sexual assault and three counts of fourth-degree sexual assault for the Jan. 1, 2016, assault at Lalakea Beach Park in Keaukaha. Tribune-Herald.

A state law enforcement officer was found guilty of rape on Wednesday, following a jury trial in Hilo. Big Island Video News.

Recent tests of the sewer main along Alii Drive are showing highly elevated levels of chloride, indicating seawater is getting into the line. West Hawaii Today.

Meeting for the first time since November, the Banyan Drive Redevelopment Agency took stock of ongoing changes to the local political landscape. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii County’s housing department is proposing a 36 percent rent hike at its Kula‘imano Elderly Housing Project in Pepeekeo. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Demands for Alexander & Baldwin to be more transparent and to disclose the impacts of its proposed 30-year lease for water from East Maui streams were heard Wednesday evening at a crowded Maui Electric Co. community meeting room. Maui News.

The Department of Management has announced the formation of a Cost Reduction Unit aimed at reducing costs for all county operations. Maui Watch.

The House Committee on Health has amended and recommended passage of a bill to provide a state subsidy that would allow Hale Makua Health Services to admit more wait-listed patients who are no longer in need of acute care but are taking up valuable beds at Maui Memorial Medical Center. Maui News.

An autopsy was performed Tuesday on a Maui man who breached security Saturday at Honolulu International Airport and died after being apprehended. Maui News.

Kauai

Kauai County councilmembers want to be able to order investigations if they believe they are not getting sufficient answers from the county administration. Garden Island.

Kilauea remains active, Haleakala National Park to require paid reservations, state wants to lure physicians assistants, Hawaii Republicans regroup, Congress blasts overpriced Army program, one finalist for Big Island police chief, Native Hawaiians celebrate and protest, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Kilauea explosion, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory

A small explosion occurred at the summit of Kilauea volcano just before noon Monday. Big Island Video News.

State lawmakers and health officials are looking at new ways and incentives to train and hire more physician assistants to help alleviate the “severe shortage” of primary care doctors in the islands. Star-Advertiser.

Hawai’i Republicans lost key races for Honolulu Mayor and the last GOP seat in the State Senate.   GOP leaders are now focusing on local races in 2018 and developing a strategy to win. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii’s soon-to-open medical marijuana dispensaries could have at least one place to send cannabis for testing. The state Department of Health is reviewing an application from PharmLabs Hawaii LLC, an expansion of a San Diego-based marijuana laboratory testing company called PharmLabs LLC. Tribune-Herald.

Maui Rep. Angus McKelvey (D-10, West Maui, Maalaea, North Kihei) announced that he will re-introduce a bus safety bill during the 2017 legislative session to prevent a similar accident from happening in Hawaii. Garden Island.

Oahu

A Fort Shafter program that expanded Army training and interaction with Asia-Pacific nations — at double the cost — has come under scrutiny by Congress, in part because of perceived similarities to the Marine Corps. Star-Advertiser.

Local officials have hatched a plan that they hope will keep visitors happy and traffic headaches at a minimum during events starting later this week that commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack. Star-Advertiser.

Services For The Needy Generate Hope, Complaints In Chinatown. Can the area pull off the balancing act of helping the homeless while still allowing businesses to thrive? Civil Beat.

Gov. David Ige joined University of Hawaii officials and legislators Monday to celebrate the groundbreaking for a long-awaited administration building at UH West Oahu that will also house classrooms and laboratories for health care programs at the Kapolei campus. Star-Advertiser.

It’s been more than a decade since a storm caused the Manoa Stream to overflow, spilling water down the valley and flooding the surrounding neighborhood, University of Hawaii campus and Noelani Elementary School.  Civil Beat.

A Kauai company that helps manage cattle for other owners has bought Oahu’s only slaughterhouse as part of a plan to expand the supply of locally produced beef. Star-Advertiser.

Commentary: Some Diamond Head residents are urging the foundation operating the former Doris Duke home, now the Shangri La Center for Islamic Arts and Culture, to back away from its $2.5 million plan to dismantle a breakwater fronting the opulent property of the late tobacco heiress. Civil Beat.

Hawaii

Only one candidate will be considered by the Hawaii County Police Commission to succeed Police Chief Harry Kubojiri, who is retiring at the end of the year. Deputy Police Chief Paul Ferreira was the only individual from among 13 who applied by the Nov. 22 deadline who met the minimum qualifications. Tribune-Herald.

Native Hawaiian communities in Keaukaha and Panaewa are gearing up to fight a planned composting facility adjacent to the Hilo landfill, a move that could jeopardize a key component of the county’s plan to close the landfill and recycle more of its waste. West Hawaii Today.

The former warden of the Big Island’s minimum-security prison has filed a lawsuit alleging that she was wrongfully fired from her job. Civil Beat.

Two grinning fathers passed each other between the outdoor playground and the multipurpose football and soccer field Monday at the grand opening of Waimea District Park. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Sunrise at Haleakala National Park, one of the biggest visitor draws on Maui, will require paid reservations starting in February, as part of efforts to cut down on early-morning crowds that regularly exceed 1,000, park officials announced Monday. Maui News.

Beginning on Feb. 1, 2017, visitors in personal or rental vehicles wishing to view sunrise at Haleakalā National Park will need to make sunrise viewing reservations ahead of time at recreation.gov. Maui Now.

Celebrating Haleakala’s past while planting for the future. Maui News.

Dispute threatens Manele Golf Course with possible closure. Land Use Commission meeting debate centers around the claim that drinking water used to irrigate a golf course. Maui News.

Kauai

The deadline for the re-certification of Additional Dwelling Units outside the residential zoning district has been extended. Garden Island.

Keohokui Kauihana said the first step to recognize Hawaii as a sovereign nation from the United States was realized on Monday. Kauihana was among dozens of people who gathered for Hawaiian Independence Day at Anahola Beach Park on Monday. Garden Island.

The building that once housed the Kapaa police substation has been removed from Kapaa Beach Park. Garden Island.

Hawaii's national parks bring in tourist dollars, Ige gives Legislature a 'B,' National Transportation Safety Board reports on Molokai crash that killed state health director Fuddy, rail lawsuit ends in apology, Kondo begins job as state auditor, senior housing coming to Chinatown, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park © 2016 All Hawaii News

Visitors who travel to the Aloha State to experience its national parks are spending more, according to a new analysis by the National Park Service. Last year, park visitors spent approximately $364.5 million during trips to NPS lands in Hawaii, supporting 4,500 jobs, $170.5 million in labor income, $289.4 million in value added, and $448.3 million in economic output for the Islands’ economy. Pacific Business News.

Gov. David Ige praised the Legislature on Wednesday for moving to solve problems that have long plagued the state but become mired in governmental inertia, including cooling sweltering classrooms, renovating the state psychiatric hospital and pouring millions into homeless and affordable housing programs. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. David Ige on Wednesday said he gives state lawmakers a “resounding B” as a grade for their work this legislative session, which started in January and ends Thursday. Civil Beat.

Ige gives lawmakers a 'B' grade for session. KITV4.

The Hawaii State Ethics Commission is seeking applicants to fill Les Kondo’s shoes as executive director. He started his new job as state auditor this week. Civil Beat.

Transgender advocates are calling on the Hawai‘i State Department of Education to move more quickly on creating specific guidelines for transgender students. An online petition supporting those plans has already received more than 5,600 signatures over the past two weeks. Hawaii Public Radio.

Two decades after Hawaii passed its first charter school law, many charter school leaders say finding, maintaining — and paying for — basic school facilities remains a frequent, pressing problem. Civil Beat.

The parent of Hawaiian Electric Co., which is being acquired by NextEra Energy Inc. in a $4.3 billion deal awaiting state approval, spent $1.6 million in the first quarter on costs associated with the pending sale, about a third of what the Honolulu-based company spent in the same quarter of last year, according to Hawaiian Electric Industries' first-quarter earnings report. Pacific Business News.

Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc. (HE) on Wednesday reported first-quarter profit of $32.8 million. Associated Press.

The Army will stay at about 80,000 active-duty soldiers in the Pacific, and 106,000 total personnel with reserve soldiers and civilian employees, as part of the rebalance to the region, the new four-star head of U.S. Army Pacific said Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Democrats tout closed primaries in Oregon election. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Standing in front of dozens of supporters outside Honolulu Hale, many of them City and County employees, Kirk Caldwell made it official Wednesday: He’s running for another four years as mayor. Civil Beat.

The developer of a senior affordable rental tower in Chinatown won a major victory today when the Honolulu City Council voted unanimously to support a development agreement for its River Street project. Star-Advertiser.

Rail Contractor Gets ‘Public Apology’ After Bitter Lawsuit Ends. Contractor who accused Nan of defrauding federal government now says it was a mistake and a misunderstanding. Civil Beat.

The spending scandal surrounding the Bishop Museum's ousted CEO is widening. Hawaii News Now.

Kapiolani Community College Chancellor Leon Richards will step down after commencement exercises May 15, a decision that followed calls by faculty, staff and student groups to remove him from the post. Star-Advertiser.

Radio’s power pair will part ways, as Larry Price will step away from co-hosting the long-running, top-rated “Perry and Price” morning radio show on KSSK-FM 92.3/AM 590 at the middle of this month. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Hawaii County is poised to become the first county in the state to have a full-scale composting facility capable of taking green waste, food-contaminated paper and restaurant waste and turning it into salable compost for the public. The County Council paved the way Wednesday for the new organics processing facility by unanimously approving a $10.6 million bond to pay for it. West Hawaii Today.

Much to the delight of some Hawaii Island drivers — and to the chagrin of law enforcement — the speed limit on Saddle Road might be raised from 55 mph to 60 mph starting next year. Tribune-Herald.

The University of Hawaii has canceled permits for geothermal exploration on Hualalai, and a lead researcher on Wednesday said the university has no plans for future scoping of the dormant volcano’s potential for producing geothermal energy. But that doesn’t mean plaintiffs plan to back down on a lawsuit originally launched to block the exploration. West Hawaii Today.

A financially troubled Puna charter school is under investigation by the state Ethics Commission, according to a letter obtained by the Tribune-Herald.

The state Department of Transportation is wrapping up final restriping of the bike lanes on Queen Kaahumanu Highway between Makala Boulevard and Henry Street, a project which has moved segments of the bike lane back to the right side of traffic over the past few months. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Demolition of the Old Kahului Store, some 100 years old, has begun near Kahului Harbor to make room for future cargo and shipping containers, county officials said. Maui News.

A much debated bill allowing Alexander & Baldwin to continue to divert water from East Maui for at least three years under current lease terms passed the full Senate on Tuesday and is currently undergoing legal and policy reviews before heading to Gov. David Ige's desk. Maui News.

Kauai

A Honolulu attorney suing DuPont Pioneer wants to stop representing three plaintiffs who refused to sign a waiver that would prevent them from suing the seed company for medical issues associated with dust from the company’s fields on Kauai. Civil Beat.

Opinions were mixed Wednesday as Kauai residents spoke during a public hearing that concerned a proposed bill that will allow property owners to build additional rental units, or ARU’s. Garden Island.

Affordable housing, health and the environment, food and energy self-sufficiency, traffic congestion, and “keeping a lid on local taxes”: these are Gary Hooser’s top priorities. Garden Island.

An Eleele man accused of beating a monk seal at Salt Pond Beach, an incident that sparked massive public outcry statewide, will have his preliminary hearing next week. Garden Island.

The trial for a former Department of Land and Natural Resources officer charged with 30 counts of sexual assault has been continued to late October. Garden Island.

Molokai

A National Transportation Safety Board report says the pilot of the small plane that crashed off Molokai in December of 2013 did not give a federally mandated safety briefing to his eight passengers on board, including former state Health Director Loretta Fuddy, who later died from a heart condition after exiting the Cessna 208B that crashed in the water. Hawaii News Now.

The National Transportation Safety Board has released its findings for a deadly crash off Molokai that killed then-state health director Loretta Fuddy. KHON2.

Democrats flock to the polls for Sanders, Army reorganization could affect Hawaii, initial rail route cut by 10 miles, airline seats, DUIs on Legislature's agenda, Maui battles for new school, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Democrats crowd Pahoa polling place Saturday as Sanders takes Hawaii, photo by K.T. Cannon-Eger

Democratic voters who were both buoyed — and discouraged — by this year’s presidential hopefuls from both parties packed polling sites Saturday, hoping to influence the outcome of the November general elections. Star-Advertiser.

Vermont U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders scored a stunning victory over Hillary Clinton in Hawaii Democrats’ presidential preference poll Saturday, mobilizing a grass-roots campaign that signed up thousands of new Democrats and defied the wishes of almost the entire “old guard” of the party. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s Democrats have spoken, and they much, much prefer Bernie Sanders to Hillary Clinton in the presidential election. Sanders, the Vermont senator, defeated Clinton, the former secretary of state, 70 percent to 30 percent in the state’s presidential preference poll Saturday, with 100 percent of all precincts reporting. Civil Beat.

Hawaii lawmakers will return from long holiday weekend and tackle a slew of resolutions and bills in committee hearings. They'll take up a resolution about driving under the influence of marijuana. And another resolution asks the federal government to set limits on how small airline seats can get. Associated Press.

NextEra Deal: What Happens If The PUC Loses A Member? PUC commissioner Mike Champley could be off the board on June 30. That puts a new card in Gov. David Ige’s hand. Civil Beat.

As laid out by the Army, the Army Reserve’s 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry Regiment, headquartered in Hawaii, could lose some autonomy — and possibly its famed liberty torch shoulder patch — in its alignment with the 3rd Brigade Combat Team at Schofield Barracks. Star-Advertiser.

Both the Hawaii House and Senate have passed their own version of bills that would ban the sale of certain wildlife parts, including elephant ivory, rhinoceros horn and shark. The bills include some exemptions, including for the age of the ivory and cultural uses. Associated Press.

A top Hawaii lawmaker is delaying a public-records request because of a dispute that could hold up similar requests for years. The outcome will likely determine whether legislators may withhold emails, calendars and other information from the public, which watchdog groups see as crucial to government accountability.  Associated Press.

Oahu

Local rail officials have decided that for the opening of the transit system, they won’t extend the route to Middle Street after all. Star-Advertiser.

City Council Chairman Ernie Martin and at least two other Council members want to mimic Seattle-style public showers and tent cities across Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

Both the city administration and the nonprofit Honolulu Zoo Society need to do more to ensure the longevity of the zoo, particularly providing more stable funding, current and former elected officials insist. Star-Advertiser.

Health officials are reminding Hawaii residents to get rid of mosquito-breeding grounds as the state Department of Health investigates whether four reports of travel-related mosquito-borne illness on Oahu could be the Zika virus, dengue fever or chikungunya. Associated Press.

Hawaii

The projects are being built and soon the bill will come due. A big bond sale last month by term-limited Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi and the County Council will leave the next administration with a heck of a tab to pay. West Hawaii Today.

Three bills signed by the late state Sen. Gil Kahele hours before his death this past January, are moving full steam ahead through the House. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii County is moving forward with modified plans to improve Kukuihaele Park. A final environmental assessment was released Wednesday for the North Hawaii project. West Hawaii Today.

The Hawaii Community College in Hilo announced its final four candidates for chancellor this week. The four candidates are Larry Buckey, Micheal Glisson, Anthony Munroe and Rachel Solemsass. Pacific Business News.

The public will get a chance next week to hear from four newly selected finalists vying to be Hawaii Community College’s next chancellor. Tribune-Herald.

About 2,412 more people resided in Hawaii County in 2015 than the year prior, newly released data from the U.S. Census Bureau show. The bureau reports Hawaii Island’s population at 196,428 as of July 1, 2015, up from 194,016 the same day in 2014. That’s roughly a 1.2 percent yearly growth rate, or about a seven-person increase each day. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

The County Council budget committee chairman Thursday announced a slate of countywide meetings on Mayor Alan Arakawa's proposed $711.5 million budget while expressing concerns about its 14.6 percent spending increase over the current fiscal year and the assumptions on the county's take of the hotel room tax. Maui News.

Citing a Legislative Reference Bureau report showing declining enrollment at Maui High School beginning in the 2018-19 academic year, state Rep. Bob McDermott of Oahu says a new Kihei high school is not needed and that state funding should go toward building a new high school in West Oahu, which is "exploding in growth." Maui News.

Permit application requests Baldwin estate to become grand vacation rental. The former Baldwin estate in Haiku has a long history as well as a botanical garden with a collection of rare species of tropical trees collected from around the world. Maui News.

Kauai

Mix seasonal changes with chronic erosion, dash in some global warming, coral death and rise in sea level, and top all of that with one mean El Nino year — and you’ve got a cocktail of challenges for Kauai’s coastline. Garden Island.

On Sunday, the debris clogging the Morgan’s Ponds swimming pond and adjacent keiki pond kept people on land. Garden Island.

Lanai

A roughly 20-year dispute over whether a luxury resort golf course on Lanai is improperly tapping the island’s stressed drinking water supply appears headed back to the state Land Use Commission after a court ruling last week. Star-Advertiser.

Army cuts to be announced for Hawaii, finance director cleared in Kenoi pCard use, Ellison's Island Air $35M in the red, Honolulu mulls 500 Kakaako homeless, Native Hawaiians sue over Mauna Kea access, legal fees upped to $2.25M in Maui wastewater case, tax refunds still lagging, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Soldiers at Pohakuloa Training Area © 2015 All Hawaii News

Army personnel cuts are being announced for Hawaii, Alaska and Georgia — among other locations — according to Alaska’s congressional delegation. How many soldiers will be cut in Hawaii has not been announced. Star-Advertiser.

The possibility of the U.S. Army eliminating nearly 20,000 soldier and civilian jobs from Hawaii's Schofield Barracks and Fort Shafter is extremely unlikely to be fully realized, U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz said Thursday. Pacific Business News.

The U.S. Army is transferring its western medical headquarters to Hawaii from Washington state, bringing 61 jobs and a command position for a general officer. Pacific Business News.

Island Air, downsizing in the wake of mounting losses, is now nearly $35 million in the red through its first two years under the ownership of billionaire Larry Ellison. Star-Advertiser.

State still needs to process nearly 8,000 tax refund requests. Hawaii News Now.

Friend or Foe? Kathryn Xian Has Become a Problem for Anti-Trafficking Advocates Hawaii human-trafficking activists say Kathryn Xian’s in-your-face style is hindering progress and hurting the victims they are trying to help. Now, she’s in danger of losing her seat on a statewide task force working to find solutions to the issue she’s so closely identified with. Civil Beat.

Oahu

State and city officials are promising to work together to ease a growing homeless population in Kakaako, where an estimated 500 people are living in tents and makeshift structures. Star-Advertiser.

For the first time in its history, the Hawaii Community Development Authority waded into the issue of homelessness Wednesday as it held an open discussion on the burgeoning encampment in Kakaako. Civil Beat.

The Hawai’i Community Development Authority heard from major stakeholders in Kaka’ako today on the homeless encampments there. Hawaii Public Radio

Gov. David Ige has given the nod to plans to purchase upscale 25-story downtown office building Alii Place to provide more office space for state workers, but the $90 million purchase is not a done deal quite yet. Star-Advertiser.

Two Hawaii Health Systems Corp. hospitals on Oahu will have to lay off 64 workers and temporarily freeze admissions, officials said Wednesday. Pacific Business News.

The Hawaii Supreme Court has overturned a former circuit judge’s order disqualifying two city deputy prosecutors from a high-profile gambling case involving sweepstakes machines.Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu businessman Albert Hee says the two-hour, twice weekly massages he has been getting for the past 20 years have a legitimate business purpose because they “allowed me to function as CEO” of Waimana Enterprises Inc. Star-Advertiser.

If you feel your neighborhood has gone to the birds, then you’re likely to support a bill introduced by Councilmember Carol Fukunaga that would create a permitting system for homeowners with 10 or more birds. KITV4.

Hawaii
Hawaii County Finance Director Deanna Sako was cleared Wednesday of any wrongdoing in Mayor Billy Kenoi’s misuse of his county-issued credit card, while the county Board of Ethics reopened a case against Kenoi that it had deferred pending an investigation by the state attorney general. The Ethics Board is now in disagreement over whether it should continue its investigation into Kenoi’s pCard use or wait for Attorney General Doug Chin to complete his criminal investigation. West Hawaii Today.

The Board of Ethics on Wednesday dismissed a complaint against Mayor Billy Kenoi and his former campaign manager Kimo Alameda, after receiving assurances from the county Human Resources Department that Kenoi wasn’t involved in Alameda’s appointment as executive of the Office of Aging, and that Alameda had the requisite two years supervisory experience. West Hawaii Today.

A lawsuit has been filed in Federal District Court alleging that the Office of Mauna Kea Management and other state agencies are restricting cultural and religious practices on the mountain. Big Island Now.

Photographers who share a passion for capturing imagery on Mauna Kea are uniting in opposition to proposed rules that will restrict access to the scenic mountain. Big Island Video News.

Kona Community Hospital began a construction project Wednesday to renovate and expand its emergency department. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The Maui County Council approved raising compensation to $2.25 million on Tuesday for private legal counsel to defend against a lawsuit in which the county faces millions of dollars in fines over its use of four injection wells at its Lahaina Wastewater Reclamation Facility. Maui News.

Kauai

An audit of Kauai County’s Department of Human Resources found hiring practices lacking, potentially creating a situation in which personnel decisions regarding unskilled laborers can be made on something other than merit. Garden Island.

More than 100 Native Hawaiians gathered at the Anahola Clubhouse Tuesday to hear Colleen Hanabusa trace the history of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, putting in context the significance of a pair of newly proposed federal rules that aim to govern its enforcement. Garden Island.

A plan to allow the county to recover fuel expenses incurred during search-and-rescue operations is on the fast-track for final approval after it was unanimously passed by the Public Safety Committee on Wednesday. Garden Island.

Gov. David Ige has yet to sign rules intended to create Hawaii’s first Community-Based Subsistence Fishing Area for Haena on the north shore of Kauai. The seven-month delay has irked those who fought for the past several years to convince the state Board of Land and Natural Resources to take action to ensure the sustainability of the near-shore ocean resources there by implementing a program based on culturally rooted practices. Civil Beat.

Hawaii gets an A in education; new tests begin today; Legislature mulls rail tax, medical marijuana dispensaries, hospitals; OHA mum on geothermal money trail; Maui sugar cane burning continues; more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii classroom, courtesy state Department of Education

The U.S. Department of Education is giving Hawaii a flawless progress report on reforms that replaced provisions of the federal No Child Left Behind law. The report, obtained by The Associated Press, shows that Hawaii received the highest mark of “meeting expectations” for all categories of monitoring. Only a handful of states achieved such high scores, the department said.

Starting tomorrow, schools across the state will begin a new wave of standardized tests. They're called the Smarter Balanced Assessments and they're part of the national Common Core standards approach. Hawaii Public Radio.

Crucial decisions on medical marijuana dispensaries, the future of Hawaii's public hospitals and a tax to fund Honolulu's financially struggling rail project hang in the balance as the Hawaii Legislature approaches a major deadline. All bills must pass out of their chamber of origin this week, and those that don't make the deadline will die. Associated Press.

Former Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie says that he never expected to be an elected official, and that if he hadn't run for the state's top public office, he was going to retire after his decades-long run as a U.S. congressman, he told Pacific Business News this week in an exclusive interview.

The state’s chief elections officer would have to undergo a performance evaluation after each general election under a plan approved by the state Senate. Associated Press.

Last month, in what has become an annual discussion point, state senators introduced a bill that would make it illegal, starting Jan. 1, for GMO food to be sold in the state unless it bears a label that reads, “This product contains a genetically engineered material, or was produced with a genetically engineered material.” Garden Island.

The Hawaii House voted Friday to keep its longest-serving member after a first-of-its-kind panel was convened to examine his residency and recommended that he stay. The chamber’s voice-vote decision regarding Rep. Calvin Say stemmed from a challenge over whether the Democrat lives in the district he represents. Associated Press.

Opinion: The “Lobbyist on Lanai” left a community torn apart by Big Wind. Carleton Ching's involvement with the proposed "Big Wind" project on Lanai flies in the face of the governor's empty statement that Ching "brings communities together." Hawaii Independent.

Opinion: Buffer Zones: Protecting Paradise From Restricted Use Pesticides. This is not an agricultural issue, it is a health issue. Hawaii needs to put in place pesticide buffer zones and other protective measures. Civil Beat.

NOAA aims to prevent capture of whale sharks. New regulations prohibit catching the gentle giants in specialized fishing nets. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

The biggest Army exercise in Hawaii in over a decade just wrapped up, with about 5,000 soldiers playing both friend and foe as the fictional nation of Ari battled another government and Islamic extremists across a made-up Asia-Pacific archipelago. Star-Advertiser.

Saving Waikiki Beach — At Least for Now. The city hopes to raise $600,000 annually from local businesses to combat chronic erosion, but some are balking at the proposal. Would the efforts merely stave off the inevitable? Civil Beat.

The Institute for Human Services, with support from the state’s visitor industry, has started running a shuttle between Waikiki and its Iwilei shelter to help the tourist district’s unsheltered homeless residents get on the fast track to housing. Star-Advertiser.

Five companies submitted bids this week to build the three rail stations in the Farrington Highway Station Group, which consists of the West Loch Station, the Waipahu Transit Center Station and the station at Leeward Community College. Hawaii Independent.

The union that represents HandiVan drivers believes disgruntled customers should be able to call the mayor, city manager or Transportation Service Department with their complaints.The management believes otherwise. Hawaii News Now.

A former school accounting clerk arrested last month for theft and money laundering allegedly used a Halau Lokahi Charter School bank card to rack up more than $5,200 worth of Amazon.com purchases — including several dozen rolls of design-printed duct tape — that were shipped to her Aiea home, according to court records obtained by the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Less than two weeks after Hawaii Electric Light Co. selected Ormat Technologies to build the Big Island’s next geothermal power plant, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs is declining to answer questions regarding its investment in a company that submitted a competing bid, claiming that information is confidential. Tribune-Herald.

Thanks to Hilo resident Dan Marks, the United States may be on its way to a Constitutional Convention. The states have been asking to convene one for years. And as Marks found out, all he had to do was ask the right person to start counting. Big Island Video News.

Two federal assistance programs are holding up money for Native Hawaiian housing on parts of Hawaii Island because of unexploded World War II bombs and other munitions that have not been cleaned up. Associated Press.

A winter weather advisory remains in effect until 6 p.m. Monday for the Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea summits, the National Weather Service reports. Up to 1 inch of new snow is expected to fall above 12,500 feet in elevation, forecasters said. The temperature will be in the lower 20s and visibility could be reduced to less than one-half mile at times. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

A dispute over the height of a Maalaea landfill has led to a warning letter from Maui County, the shutdown of the facility and a request for a ruling Tuesday from the Maui Planning Commission. Maui News.

Maui County Council members will take up Monday morning a bill that aims to provide "uniformity and parity" in agricultural real property tax assessments, according to an announcement from Budget and Finance Committee Chairman Riki Hokama. Maui News.

Sugar cane smoke will soon rise again over Maui as the state Department of Health continues its annual practice of approving a permit to burn fields without holding a public hearing, despite persistent requests of opponents who worry the widespread smoke endangers the health of island residents. Civil Beat.

A community meeting to address planned improvements to the Hāna Bay septic system is scheduled to take place on Thursday, March 12, 2015. Maui Now.

A Maui County Council committee will review a proposed resolution urging the state Board on Geographic Names to change the name of Iao Stream to Wailuku River. Maui News.

Kauai

A group of four Kauai County officials charged with trimming costs say they have identified close to $400,000 in salary and benefit savings for next year’s budget. Garden Island.

As the draft conservation plan and environmental assessment nears the end of its public comment period, officials at Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge are already talking about changes they want to see. Garden Island.

Hawaiian Electric, NextEra to submit sale plans today, more Japan flights coming, Honolulu hiring practices blasted, prison site eyed, shearwater protections working, army hears downsizing concerns, chief justice gives state of the judiciary, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Supreme Court building © 2015 All Hawaii News

The Chief Justice of the Hawai’i Supreme Court addressed lawmakers during a joint Senate and House session today. Hawaii Public Radio.

Executives from Hawaiian Electric Co. and NextEra Energy fielded questions for an hour and a half Wednesday from more than a dozen Hawaii lawmakers about what their proposed $4.3 billion merger would mean for Hawaii. Civil Beat.

Hawaiian Electric Co. and NextEra Energy Inc. plan to jointly submit their acquisition application, which will lay out the plans and commitments of the $4.3 billion deal, with the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission on Thursday. Pacific Business News.

An official at NextEra Energy told Hawaii lawmakers that his company does not plan to lay off staff if it acquires Hawaiian Electric. Associated Press.

Most of isles' coral recover from mass bleaching. Associated Press.

Editorial: Prison Guard Absenteeism: Get Set for More No-Shows on Super Bowl Sunday. In a "culture of corruption," dozens of Hawaii prison guards regularly abuse their sick leave, making their workplaces more expensive — and more dangerous. Civil Beat.

Oahu

City of Honolulu Hiring Practices: Not Everyone Gets a Fair Shot. Dozens of city jobs, some with six-figure salaries, aren't advertised before they're filled, which raises questions about fairness and whether the city is attracting top talent. Civil Beat.

A new proposal being floated at the State Legislature would have Dole Food Company trade thousands of acres of former pineapple land for the Oahu Community Correctional Center site in Kalihi, in a deal that could provide the state money to build a badly needed new prison. Hawaii News Now.

A standing-room-only crowd of mostly Army supporters but also some detractors turned out Wednesday in Wahiawa for the second of two "listening" sessions as the service weighs big troop cuts around the country, including in Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

For a second straight night, U.S. Army officials listened to hours of testimony in a community listening session on proposed base cutbacks. But this time, the community was Wahiawa, which has had a military presence for decades. Hawaii News Now.

The Army wrapped up its last public meeting for Hawaii Wednesday night as residents voiced their concerns both for and against possible military cuts. For the second night in a row, people packed in to pour out their feelings on whether or not the Army should cut down on its troops in Hawaii. KITV4.

Nearly 400 people attended the first Army listening session in Waikīkī. The five and a half hour session was the longest yet and brought out vocal members of the community, who testified largely in favor of the Army reductions. Hawaii Public Radio.

The felony case involving an officer accused of sexual assault, has been dropped and cannot be brought up again in the future. KHON2.

Mayor Kirk Caldwell said he will likely sign a measure that will add four downtown and Chinatown pedestrian malls to the list of places where people cannot sit or lie. Star-Advertiser.

Patience is wearing thin for some Makiki residents after the delay of a construction project that has taken away dozens of parking spaces in their neighborhood. KHON2.

The city's plan to eliminate garbage service for 181 condominiums, apartments and other multifamily properties and nonprofit organizations has been halted temporarily by a state judge. Star-Advertiser.

Air Nippon Airways plans to double its number of flights from Tokyo to Honolulu from seven to 14, starting in July. Pacific Business News.

The U.S. Coast Guard is holding a cyber security exercise at the University of Hawaii's Manoa campus this week. Associated Press.

The Hawaii State Department of Health Hazard Evaluation and Emergency Response Office and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency are responding to a 1,000 barrel (43,000 gallons) release of jet fuel from an above ground storage tank located on Sand Island Access Road at the Airport Service Group International facility. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii

A lucrative side contract held by a county employee will end this year, after Mayor Billy Kenoi’s administration decided the county should buy its own pumping truck and bring the operation in-house. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii Island residents are expressing concern about a number of proposed rule changes planned for the state’s medical marijuana program. About 30 people showed up Wednesday morning at the State Office Building in Hilo to hear from state Department of Health officials and share testimony on the plans for the program after its administration was transferred Jan. 1 from the state Department of Public Safety to the DOH. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii Judiciary officials say they need more state funding to replace outdated and unsecure Hawaii island court facilities as well as to keep a program that aims to help young children whose parents are suspected of abuse and neglect. Star-Advertiser.

Longstanding security and logistical shortcomings at the Kona Courthouse came to glaring light Monday when detainees in a holding block went ballistic, putting operations in at least one courtroom on hold for an hour. West Hawaii Today.

The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands plans to meet privately with the Maku’u Farmers Association about the possibility of evacuation, should lava from the June 27 flow make its way to within 1,400 feet of the Popoki Target Area within Makuu Farm Lots. Big Island Video News.

More development is coming to Mohouli Street near Kaumana, though it’s not all starting as soon as the extensive land clearing suggests. Landowners on both sides of the Hilo street between Kaumana Drive and Kukuau Street have been clearing land for the past several months. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Mayor Alan Arakawa foresees some kind of mass transit system in Maui's future, just not anytime soon, according to his spokesman and Maui County Managing Director Keith Regan, who expanded Tuesday on comments the mayor made to a Honolulu television station the day before. Maui News.

Maui Economic Development Board wants volunteers from the community to share their current and future priorities and values about energy on Maui as part of a project called “MPowerMaui: An Energy Conversation.” Maui Now.

Hawai‘i is seeing a dramatic shift to renewable energy resources driven by electric bills that cost roughly double the national average. Maui Now.

A little fire ant infestation has been discovered in Huelo and at a single property in Haiku - marking the fifth time the invasive species has evaded quarantine and established itself on Maui over the past year. Maui News.

Kauai

County officials are close to wrapping up a multi-million dollar effort to change out lights at park and stadium facilities on Kauai to curtail impacts on endangered seabirds. Garden Island.

Federal funding to combat homelessness will make its way to Kauai via state programs. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is awarding 45 Continuum of Care grants for the state of Hawaii, totaling $11.6 million. Garden Island.

Lanai


Lanai residents are frustrated that for now at least, Pulama Lana'i is not going forward with a proposed desalination plant to extract fresh water from saltwater, a decision that has thrown a monkey wrench into the Lanai Community Plan. Maui News.

Affordable housing lacking, Kaiser strike looming, Maui in trouble over injection wells, medical marijuana hearings begin, Coco Palms permits deferred, tempers flare over military meeting, geothermal drilling at issue, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Apartments in Honolulu © 2015 All Hawaii News

The cost of renting a home in Hawaii has jumped at least 10 percent over the past two years, according to a new study. And given the lack of construction of affordable units, the state’s housing crisis is projected to get worse. Civil Beat.

Hawai’i’s need for more affordable rental housing was the subject  of a briefing today before a Joint Legislative Housing Committee. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii housing officials are reminding lawmakers that low-income families need more affordable housing. Associated Press.

Workers at Kaiser Permanente’s hospital and clinics in Hawaii plan to strike for six days beginning Feb. 2, the union representing them said Friday. Associated Press.

Kaiser Permanente Hawaii will temporarily close down 10 of its smaller clinics on Oahu and the neighbor islands during a planned six-day strike by nearly 1,900 union workers, or about 43 percent of its workforce. The state's largest health maintenance organization announced Tuesday that it will reschedule elective procedures and nonurgent appointments and close the smaller clinics while consolidating resources to its larger medical facilities. Star-Advertiser.

Kaiser Permanente Hawaii said Tuesday it plans to close 10 clinics on Oahu, Maui and Big Island and consolidate operations to its larger facilities next week, when unionized workers plan to walk off the job in what would be Unite Here! Local 5's first statewide strike in nearly 30 years. Pacific Business News.

Senate Committee Defers Public Records Bill. The Office of Information Practices objected to legislation requiring government agencies to maintain public records better. Civil Beat.

The Office of Information Practices, the agency responsible for making sure state officials and agencies are complying with open meeting and public records requirements of state law, is looking for a new home. Top on the wish list seems to be an administrative base where OIP can enjoy independence from undue political interference, and also minimize the inevitable conflicts that come from being part of state government while at the same time trying to hold state agencies and departments accountable. Civil Beat.

The state attorney general is asking the Legislature to pay more than $1 million to a former prison inmate who claims he became infertile because state prison doctors failed to properly treat him for an infection, and more than $450,000 to a woman whom a state jury found was sexually assaulted by a guard at the Hawaii Youth Correctional Facility. Star-Advertiser.

Randy Iwase, the man who may be in charge of helping to shape Hawaii's energy scene came out of retirement because he believes he and other stakeholders have a duty to set a foundation for a sustainable renewable energy future for the state. Pacific Business News.

Opinion: Hawaii Needs An Effective Opposition Party. Republicans need a new strategy — and soon — if they're going to be the balancing political voice this state sorely needs. Civil Beat.

Volunteers are surveying the number of homeless people in Hawaii, counting those living in shelters or on the streets. The annual Point-in-Time count started Monday and will be conducted through Friday. Associated Press.

Living Hawaii: Who Can Afford to Retire in the Islands? Civil Beat.

Oahu

Tempers flared at a military meeting in Waikiki Tuesday night as Army leaders from the Pentagon invite the public to express how much of an impact a possible troop reduction in Hawaii could have. Hawaii News Now.

As the Army considers downsizing on Oahu, a theory making the rounds is that if Schofield Barracks and Wheeler Army Airfield close, the state would inherit lots of family housing and barracks for the public that could offset a housing crunch. Star-Advertiser.

U.S. Army Garrison-Hawaii is holding two meetings, known as listening sessions, this week to get public feedback on possible troop reductions or restructuring here in Hawaii. Military spending is the second largest industry in Hawaii behind tourism. KHON2.

Under the $1.55 billion full funding grant agreement signed between the city, the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation and the Federal Transit Administration on Dec. 19, 2012, Honolulu must build an elevated rail line that’s 20 miles long, features 21 stations and has 80 rail cars. In addition, the rail line must open to the public by the revenue service date of Jan. 31, 2020. KITV4.

Hawaiian Electric Co. can safely connect almost 10 times the amount of solar generation the electric utility currently allows, according to a recent test sponsored in part by HECO. Star-Advertiser.

Opinion:  Stop broadcast license renewals for the Raycom Media cartel. The danger of the Hawaii News Now media monopoly. Hawaii Independent.

Hawaii

Big Island residents will be able to weigh in today on a number of administrative rule changes related to Hawaii’s medical marijuana program. Among the proposed changes are a new process for the Department of Health to consider approval of additional medical conditions to be covered by the state’s medical marijuana program; a new system of application processing, registrations, monitoring and disciplinary actions; physician requirements to participate in the program; registration of qualifying patients and primary caregivers; monitoring and corrective action; and procedures for maintaining confidentiality for patients and caregivers. Tribune-Herald.

Does Hawaii County’s nighttime drilling ban apply to Puna Geothermal Venture? That’s a question the County Council will grapple with again next week as the geothermal power plant in Pohoiki starts another around-the-clock drilling project to build a new well. Tribune-Herald.

Celebration hosted for Kona’s newest “lifeline” road. West Hawaii Today.

Residents of the Kona Ocean View subdivision finally have their water. But they will have to wait a little longer before the roads are put back together. The county Water Board on Tuesday agreed to add $183,150 and extend to Feb. 28 its contract with Koga Engineering and Construction Inc. so the contractor can repave subdivision roads that were in worse shape than first thought. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

For the second time in less than a year, a federal judge has ruled that the use of injection wells at Maui County's sewage treatment plant in Lahaina violates the federal Clean Water Act, a finding that could lead to a large penalty. Star-Advertiser.

A federal judge effectively ruled Friday that all four injection wells at the Lahaina wastewater facility are "illegal" and in violation of the Clean Water Act, leaving the county open to tens of thousands of dollars a day in civil penalties, a lawyer for a group suing the county over the wells said. Maui News.

Maui legislators and county officials said Hawaii Gov. David Ige gave a "very positive" and "pleasant" speech Monday morning at the state Capitol, though it was what he didn't say in his first State of the State address that caught some attention. Maui News.

Kauai

In what marked their first bid to rebuild the Coco Palms Resort, developers from Coco Palms Hui LLC were greeted on Tuesday with a mixture of praise and skepticism before the county board charged with approving the building permits for their $135 million restoration project. The County Planning Commission unanimously deferred any decisions on the project until their 9 a.m. meeting on Feb. 10, but not before residents and visitors alike shared their two cents on renewed efforts to restore and reconstruct the Wailua resort, which has been closed since Hurricane Iniki struck Kauai in 1992. Garden Island.

Hawaii Dairy Farms has submitted an environmental impact statement preparation notice to the state Department of Health for its proposed $17.5 million dairy in Mahaulepu Valley. It is the first step in moving forward with the study, which HDF has agreed to conduct voluntarily in light of public concern surrounding the project. Garden Island.