Hawaii retirement home balks at assisted suicide, Hawaii legislative leadership to stay the same, more teachers flee the state, Honolulu bus fares and Hawaii Island sewer fees, to rise, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hanauma Bay ©2018 All Hawaii News

Are people loving Hanauma Bay to death? A new study is trying to answer that question. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Legislature: Leadership Will Stay The Same Despite New Faces. The House and Senate plan to install new judiciary chairs but keep the current heads of each chamber and their respective money committees. Civil Beat.

A Hawaii retirement home says residents in its independent living wing may take advantage of the state’s new medically assisted suicide law if they wish. But Kahala Nui told residents this week that those in its assisted living and nursing center may not do so. Associated Press.

Kahala Nui retirement community has sent a clarification to its independent-living residents saying that they can indeed take advantage of a new law allowing the terminally ill to obtain medication to end their life. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s largest public pension fund began its new fiscal year with a solid 2.5 percent first-quarter return that put it on an early pace to exceed its annual investment target. Star-Advertiser.

It’s not just that Hawaii can’t hire enough teachers. Schools also can’t convince them to stay. In 2013, Hawaii schools hired 907 teachers. Five years later, just 467 of them remained in Hawaii public school classrooms. Hawaii News Now.

More immunizations and changes to health exams could be required for school. The list of required immunizations for school-aged children may be getting a little bit longer. The Department of Health said they haven't revised the examination requirements and vaccination list since 2001. KHON2.

Naval Special Warfare plans to triple the amount of small-unit intermediate and advanced training conducted by SEALs and other special operations forces on nonfederal lands in Hawaii, with overall training expanding from Oahu and Hawaii island to Kauai, Maui, Molokai and Lanai. Star-Advertiser.

U.S. Naval Special Warfare Command has proposed tripling the number of training events allowed on non-federal lands in Hawaii for Navy SEALs and other special operations forces. Associated Press.

After focusing on homelessness and affordable housing last year, BIA-Hawaii is tackling building permits, financing and other issues affecting the state’s housing shortage at the organization’s annual housing summit this week. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

Bus Fares Will Likely Increase For The Second Year In A Row. Seniors and other adults would see the largest fare jumps, but Handi-Van fares would rise only slightly. Civil Beat.

Homeless continue to skirt Kakaako sweeps despite agreement intended to end cat-and-mouse game. Despite countless sweeps, park closures and even an agreement to let the city take action on both city and state property, homeless encampments continue to spring up in Kakaako. Hawaii News Now.

The Department of Transportation is updating the Oahu Bike Plan and they are hosting a community meeting at the Blaisdell Wednesday night from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Hawaii Suites. KITV.

Tariffs, Technological Change Led to Hagadone Hawaii Layoffs. The announcement that Hagadone Commercial Printing will layoff 92 workers and close its Hawaii printing operations is still rippling through the community. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kokua Market needs some kokua. The natural foods store and cooperative in Moiliili is seeking help after suffering financial difficulties in recent months largely attributed to disruptions from a new neighboring property owner. Star-Advertiser.

A new analysis prepared by the Maui-based Pacific Disaster Center estimates how much wreckage Lane would have caused if it had hit Oahu’s southern shore as a Category 1 hurricane instead of breaking apart hours before landfall. The impact, it found, would have been devastating to many Honolulu homeowners. Civil Beat.

With the spotlight on Aloha Stadium, improvements considered for aging facility. With several high-profile entertainers heading to Aloha Stadium next month, plans for the future of the aging facility are slowly coming together, according to stadium officials. Hawaii News Now.

Cardax Inc.’s revenue jumped 71 percent in the third quarter as sales of its new anti-inflammatory product remained strong in Hawaii and accelerated in California, Nevada and New York. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

County to stop recycling certain types of plastic rubbish starting Dec. 1. The Hawaii County Department of Environmental Management announced that, because of changes to global recycling markets, the county no longer can accept No. 5 plastics, plastic grocery bags or any type of clamshell-shaped plastic products in the mixed recyclable bins at the county’s transfer stations. Tribune-Herald.

Closure of Hilo landfill to commence next year. Hawaii County recently advertised the bid process for the closure contract, with bids set to open in late January. The project is estimated to cost about $20 million. Tribune-Herald.

Sewer fees will almost double during the next three years if the County Council agrees with a rate plan submitted by the Department of Environmental Management. West Hawaii Today.


Wood Burning Power Plant May Generate Sustainable Energy, But Environmental Concerns Remain. The State Department of Health is holding a public hearing in Hilo on Wednesday regarding the future of a new power plant. Hawaii Public Radio.

Maui

Two Maui schools that were forced to close Tuesday due to a water main break will be back open Wednesday. Hawaii News Now.

Hoapili Hale Closed Due to Wailuku Water Main Break. Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark E. Recktenwald issued an order extending deadlines on the court matters that are affected. Maui Now.

Maui County offices at the One Main Plaza are closed along with the rest of the offices in the building due to a watermain break on Central Avenue today. Maui Now.

Haleakala National Park needs volunteers for invasive plant removal. Haleakala National Park and the Pacific Whale Foundation are recruiting local volunteers for Waele ma Haleakala twice-monthly invasive plant removal project. KHON2.

A home on nearly a half acre of beachfront land in Makena on Maui has gone on the market for just under $30 million, the second-highest listing this year on the Valley Isle. Pacific Business News.

Kauai

How The Island’s ‘Hyde Park’ Became A Magnet For Protests. Demonstrations like the March for Science and the Women’s March sometimes attract more than 500 participants at a grassy spot outside the airport. Civil Beat.

Two of the 10 large capacity cesspools targeted for closure by the Environmental Protection Agency are located in Koloa, and both have been fined and ordered to switch over to a wastewater treatment plant. Garden Island.

Starwood Capital Group’s purchase of the St. Regis Princeville Resort and the Makai Golf Club for $225 million is expected to close this week, leading to a renovation and rebranding of what was Hawaii’s only St. Regis property. Pacific Business News.

Bankrupt Island Air grounded, taxpayers to fund Kealoha defense, Land Board allows Alexander & Baldwin to continue diverting streams, court rules in favor of Syngenta, Navy wraps up bombing meetings, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hilo Veterans Day parade © 2017 All Hawaii News

Complicated U.S. Relations Leave Veterans Without Full Health Benefits. This coming Veterans’ Day, we will likely hear stories of service from those who have been to the frontlines of war. As America honors those who served in the U.S. military, the conversation also centers on how the U.S. can serve its veterans.  HPR Reporter Kuʻuwehi Hiraishi shares the story of an often overlooked group of veterans who are hoping the country they served will return that obligation. Hawaii Public Radio.

100-year-old WWII veteran sparks bill for Pacific War memorial. A 100-year-old Oahu veteran has inspired a bipartisan bill to add a commemorative display honoring U.S. service members who fought in the Pacific theater to the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument, which is home to the USS Arizona Memorial.. Star-Advertiser.

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Island Air, the state’s second-largest airline, said today its last day of service will be Friday after having exhausted all options to remain flying. Star-Advertiser.

Bankrupt Hawaii interisland carrier Island Air will cease all operations as of midnight Friday after having exhausted all its legal options to stay in business. Pacific Business News.

Island Air announces abrupt shutdown; 100s to lose their jobs. Cash-strapped Island Air, Hawaii's second-largest inter-island carrier, has announced it will halt all service Friday. Hawaii News Now.

Island Air to shut down after 37 years. KHON2.

Island Air to cease operations after Friday. Island Air says it will close operations as of 12:01 a.m. Saturday due to legal pressures imposed by its aircraft lessors. KITV.

Interisland air carrier Island Air announced it will shut down operations as of Saturday, significantly diminishing the number of interisland flights available. In a Thursday afternoon statement, the carrier said “all Island Air passengers must make alternative arrangements for interisland transportation, effective this Saturday, November 11, 2017.” Tribune-Herald.

Island Air said Thursday it will cease interisland service Saturday, having exhausted all options to remain flying. West Hawaii Today.

On Saturday at midnight, Island Air will end 37 years of service to Hawaii "due to legal pressures imposed by aircraft lessors." Big Island Video News.

Island Air announced Thursday it will close operations at midnight tonight. The move ends 37 years of service in Hawaii, leaves passengers scrambling to find flights for interisland transportation and puts 400 employees out of work. Garden Island.

Island Air to Shut Down After 37 Years. Maui Now.

Island Air ends 37 years of flying today. Airline to file for Chapter 7 Monday, Hawaiian offers help. Maui News.

Looking beyond Island Air’s last day: what happens next? Hawaii News Now.

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Hawaii Regulates Manicurists And Bartenders — Why Not Midwives? Several legislative proposals to license people who assist with births, often at home, have failed. Another may be coming next session. Civil Beat.

There have now been 557 cases of mumps in Hawaii this year. Hawaii has seen 557 cases of mumps in 2017, and 16 people have suffered from complications. Hawaii News Now.

Commentary: Don’t Ban Campaign Fundraising During Legislative Sessions. Some people seem to equate holding fundraisers during sessions to accepting bribes, but there’s a free speech issue here. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Taxpayers to fund defense team for ex-police chief, wife. Taxpayers will be funding attorneys to defend a former Honolulu police chief and his wife in a corruption case, a judge ruled Thursday. Associated Press.

Former Honolulu police chief Louis Kealoha and his city deputy prosecutor wife Katherine Kealoha will receive court-appointed attorneys in their public corruption case as early as next week, a federal judge ruled today after discussing the couple’s financial situation with them in private. Star-Advertiser.

Judge: Kealohas Are Too Broke To Pay For Their Own Defense. A federal judge will assign new, publicly funded counsel to represent the former Honolulu police chief and his prosecutor wife. Civil Beat.

Former Police Chief Louis Kealoha and his deputy prosecutor wife will get taxpayer-funded attorneys to battle charges in a public corruption case. Hawaii News Now.

Judge approves court-appointed attorneys, taxpayers to fund Kealohas’ costly defense. KHON2.

Federal judge approves court-appointed counsel for Kealohas. A high profile public corruption case will soon be costing taxpayers. KITV.

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Is a ‘big house’ coming to your neighborhood? Plans in the works as officials weigh fixes. Honolulu’s mayor is asking his administration to take action as the “big house” trend continues to spread on Oahu. KHON2.

Honolulu moving ahead with Blaisdell redevelopment, but questions linger for business. The City and County of Honolulu is moving forward with its plan to redevelop the 50-year-old Neal S. Blaisdell Center and plans to submit a draft environmental assessment in the first quarter of next year, but residents and business owners are concerned the plan won’t provide enough parking. Pacific Business News.

Despite high-profile sweep, parts of Nimitz Viaduct still overrun with squatters. As crews hired by the state work to clear massive piles of garbage from one side of the Nimitz viaduct, many of the squatters who created that mess are making themselves at home on the opposite side. Hawaii News Now.

Boat’s grounding points up risks of fishing fleet’s labor practices. Associated Press.

Hawaii Island

Despite Navy assurances that the military is using the latest science to protect marine mammals during bombing and sonar training exercises, most of the approximately 75 people attending a public meeting Thursday evening remained skeptical. West Hawaii Today.

On Thursday, the owners of a lot in a Pepeekeo shoreline subdivision took their objection over a recently issued violation to the Board of Appeals. Big Island Video News.

University of Hawaii researchers need the help of Big Island residents to gather information about the natural cycles of breadfruit trees. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Arakawa ‘leaning very strongly’ at run at council seat. Mayor hasn’t ruled out bid for governor, lieutenant governor. Maui News.

Land Board: Alexander & Baldwin Can Keep Diverting Maui Water. Opponents say water drawn from streams by the Hawaii land company harm the environment. Civil Beat.

First Amendment right to record video of police officers at work at the center of a court case. Thomas Russo of media outlet Maui Time, shot the video back in 2012 and got arrested for it. KITV.

Kauai

Court rules in favor of state, Syngenta. A lawsuit calling for environmental review of Syngenta seed company operations was dismissed by Judge Randal Valenciano on Thursday. Garden Island.

Honolulu jail site selected, Office of Hawaiian Affairs sues state over Mauna Kea management, Kealoha judge wants proof they can't afford lawyer, Sen. Kim announces congressional bid, high cost to retrofit high-rise sprinklers, more news from all the Hawaiian islands

Concertina wire over Hawaii jail © 2017 All Hawaii News

Animal Quarantine Station site marked for new Oahu jail. The preferred location for Oahu’s new jail is the Animal Quarantine Station site in Halawa Valley, and the latest cost estimate for the project is $525 million, according to the project’s draft environmental impact statement. Star-Advertiser.

‘Preferred’ Jail Site Currently Houses Animal Quarantine Station. The Halawa Valley project’s $525 million price tag includes $17.5 million for a new quarantine facility. Civil Beat.

Hawaii reveals preferred location for new Oahu jail. An underused animal quarantine facility near the confluence of two freeways on Oahu is the state of Hawaii’s preferred site for Honolulu’s new jail, a $525 million project that would replace the aging and overcrowded Oahu Community Correctional Center. Pacific Business News.

OCCC Relocation: $525M. The state reached a major decision-point in its plan to replace the outdated Oahu Community Correctional Center. Hawaii Public Radio.

State selects Animal Quarantine Station in Halawa as preferred location for OCCC. Gov. David Ige announced on Wednesday that his administration has selected the Animal Quarantine Station in Halawa as the preferred site for the relocation of the Oahu Community Correctional Center. KITV.

Construction at Halawa prison stirs up rats. Recent construction work at Halawa Correctional Facility has stirred up the rat population at the state’s largest prison, but Department of Public Safety Director Nolan Espinda says the department has contracted with exterminators who have the situation under control. Star-Advertiser.

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Why Gov. Ige’s Secret Talks With Airbnb Have So Many People Upset. A backlash is brewing against a potential deal for the company to collect Hawaii taxes — in part, because no one knows what’s in the agreement. Civil Beat.

Donna Mercado Kim enters race for US Congress. Veteran State Sen. Donna Mercado Kim is making another run for U.S. Congress. Hawaii News Now.

Attack Warning Siren Tests Begin in December. The Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency will begin testing its Attack Warning Signal or “Wailing Tone” next month as they continue preparedness and consequence management plans related to potential attack scenarios. Maui Now.

Judge ‘troubled’ as Island Air seeks cash infusion. Bankruptcy Judge Robert Faris expressed concern Wednesday about Island Air’s dire financial condition and gave the company a one-week extension to use its cash and provide more evidence of its financial situation before he decides how to proceed with the case. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Ballard names 2 HPD captains as her top deputies. Honolulu Police Chief Susan Ballard has named HPD captains John McCarthy and Jonathon Grems as her two deputy chiefs. Star-Advertiser.

Attorneys ask to be removed from case; Kealohas to file financial disclosures. A federal judge has continued a hearing to Thursday morning on whether the attorneys representing Louis and Katherine Kealoha should be removed from the couple’s high-profile public corruption case. Star-Advertiser.

Judge To Kealohas: Show Me Your Finances. A federal judge says he won’t consider taxpayer-funded attorneys for the former Honolulu chief and his prosecutor wife until he verifies their financial situation. Civil Beat.

Kealohas claim they can't afford attorneys; judge says prove it. The Kealohas will have to turn over financial information before a U.S. District Court Judge will order taxpayer-funded attorneys for the couple fighting a 20-count federal indictment. Hawaii News Now.

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Rail costs cast shadow over Blaisdell plan. As the plan to make over the Neal S. Blaisdell Center moves ahead, one prominent state lawmaker continues to question whether the city should tackle that nearly $700 million endeavor before it finishes funding rail. Star-Advertiser.

Bringing the Blaisdell Center into the 21st century could cost $530M. Community members had their third and final opportunity to weigh in on the future of the Neal S. Blaisdell Center on Wednesday evening. Hawaii News Now.

City holds final public workshop on Blaisdell Center Master Plan. KHON2.

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Fire safety panel recommends retrofitting sprinklers in 150 older Honolulu buildings. Five months after the deadly fire at the Marco Polo Building, an advisory committee formed in response to the tragedy is making a recommendation to the Honolulu City Council. KITV.

Here's what it would cost to retrofit high-rises with fire sprinklers. A residential fire safety panel led by Honolulu Fire Chief Manuel Neves is recommending that only older residential high-rises with interior hallways should be required to install automatic fire sprinklers. Hawaii News Now.

New report whittles down older high-rises in need of new sprinkler systems. In the wake of the deadly Marco Polo fire, the mayor called for older residential high-rises to be retrofitted with sprinklers. KHON2.

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North Shore safety, traffic frustrations continue with solutions overturned, unenforced. The bottleneck on Kamehameha Highway near Laniakea Beach has long been a source of frustration for Oahu’s North Shore residents. KHON2.

Leader of Kakaako development agency resigning. Jesse Souki, head of the Hawaii Community Development Authority, notified the agency’s board and staff last week that he is stepping down Nov. 30 after one year on the job. Star-Advertiser.

NRG Energy seeks $350M in financing to build solar farms in Hawaii. NRG Energy acquired the three solar farm projects from bankrupt SunEdison last November. Pacific Business News.

Cat sterilization non-profit seeks new home after losing lease. After seven years, the non-profit CatFriends lost the lease for their facility in Kalihi. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

OHA sues UH over Mauna Kea; Attorney says agency willing to work with DLNR on new management structure. In a lawsuit filed Tuesday in Honolulu Circuit Court, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs is alleging the University of Hawaii is in violation of its general lease for the Mauna Kea Science Reserve and asks for the agreement to be cancelled. Tribune-Herald.

OHA sues to end UH’s stewardship of Mauna Kea summit. After threatening to go to court for months, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs finally pulled the trigger, accusing the University of Hawaii of aggressively developing the Mauna Kea summit for astronomy at the expense of its environment and cultural significance. Star-Advertiser.

OHA Sues State, UH Over ‘Longstanding Mismanagement’ Of Mauna Kea. The legal action follows a ruling allowing the Thirty Meter Telescope project to go forward on a mountain considered deeply sacred by many Native Hawaiians. Civil Beat.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs says it is moving forward with its lawsuit over the management of Mauna Kea. Big Island Video News.

OHA: State incapable of giving Mauna Kea 'level of aloha' it deserves. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs is suing the state, claiming "longstanding and well-documented mismanagement" of Mauna Kea. Hawaii News Now.

OHA sues state over management of Mauna Kea. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs filed a lawsuit on Tuesday against the state and the University of Hawaii for what the group calls the "longstanding and well-documented mismanagement of Mauna Kea." KITV.

Office of Hawaiian Affairs sues state, University of Hawaii over Mauna Kea. The state Office of Hawaiian Affairs is suing the state of Hawaii and the University of Hawaii for what it calls “their longstanding and well-documented mismanagement of Mauna Kea,” and seeks to terminate the university’s lease of the land on the mountain, which is home to a dozen observatories. Pacific Business News.

University Of Hawaii, State Respond To OHA Mauna Kea Lawsuit. Big Island Video News.

Memorial service, music program mark 100th anniversary of Liliuokalani’s death. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Navy expands zone limiting sonar testing around county. The U.S. Navy has expanded its no-sonar-testing zone around Maui County by about 50 percent, according to its latest draft environmental impact statement for personnel and weapons systems training between Hawaii and California, officials said Tuesday. Maui News.

Liquor department faces new gripes. Boys & Girls Clubs ‘Little Chefs’ not allowed with ‘Big Chefs,’ to receive awards on stage; no alcohol allowed at VFW luau. Maui News.

Man On Trans-Pacific Voyage In Ocean Rowboat Rescued Off Maui. He was headed from California to China aboard an 18-foot vessel, according to the Coast Guard. Civil Beat.

Progress made in converting old sugar cane lands. Half of company’s 36,000 acres may be leased more quickly than expected – A&B. Maui News.

Maui home sales jump 35% in October as prices rise. Home sales on Maui increased by more than 35 percent in October, when compared to the same month last year, while median prices rose for both single-family homes and condominiums, according to statistics released by the Realtors Association of Maui. Pacific Business News.

Sammy Hagar Lists Haiku Oceanfront Retreat for $3.3M. Maui Now.

Kauai

Navy outlines plans for future activity. Weapons and whales came head to head in Lihue Wednesday afternoon as the U.S. Navy presented its newest evaluation of the impacts training and testing activities have on the environment. Garden Island.

Housing, safety at forefront of county requests. On Wednesday, the county committee meeting began dialogue regarding the priorities for formulating the 2018 Kauai County Legislative Package. Garden Island.

Fat and molting, Kauai’s yearling Hawaiian Monk Seal RH38 has returned to Kauai waters after spending two months at Ke Kai Ola, a dedicated Marine Mammal Center hospital for monk seals on Hawaii Island. Garden Island.

Officials expect traffic nightmare for Trump visit, first female police chief sworn in, Thirty Meter Telescope appealed to state Supreme Court, legislative panel holds ocean health meeting today, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Trump hotel in Waikiki © 2017 All Hawaii News

Honolulu city and state officials warned residents and visitors to expect massive rush-hour traffic delays Friday and possibly Saturday during President Donald Trump’s visit to Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell is warning that President Donald Trump’s stopover in Hawaii on Friday will cause “major traffic delays” along the motorcade route and in the state’s largest tourism district — Waikiki. Pacific Business News.

The president's visit Friday is expected to cause significant traffic delays thanks to road closures along his motorcade route and in Waikiki. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell and Honolulu Police Department warn the public to expect traffic delays as President Donald Trump makes his first visit to Hawaii as President of the United States. KITV.

City officials discuss potential traffic issues ahead of President Trump’s visit to Honolulu. KHON2.

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Some of the Hawaii State Legislature is talking about ocean health today in an informational briefing for the House of Representatives Committee on Ocean, Marine Resources and Hawaiian Affairs. Garden Island.

Hawaii bankruptcy filings are beginning to reflect slowing growth in the state economy and are now on pace to exceed last year’s total. Star-Advertiser.

Taiwan on Wednesday was added to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Global Entry program, which will allow Taiwanese visitors to apply for expedited customs clearance at Honolulu International Airport and 53 other airports in the United States. Pacific Business News.

Maui Land & Pineapple Co. Inc. reported a net loss of $500.000, or 3 cents per share, for the third quarter, compared to net income of $2.5 million, or 13 cents per share, for the same quarter in 2016. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

A new era for the Honolulu Police Department began Wednesday with the swearing in ceremony for its 11th chief, Susan Ballard, who replaced recently indicted former Chief Louis Kealoha. Star-Advertiser.

Officers Hope New Chief Will Clear Away ‘Dark Cloud Over HPD’. Susan Ballard is sworn in as Honolulu’s police chief to a chorus of praise as the department looks to move beyond the Louis Kealoha years. Civil Beat.

Honolulu’s first female Police Chief was sworn into office today at HPD Headquarters. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii's first female police chief was sworn in to the Honolulu Police Department Wednesday. Chief of Police Susan Ballard was officially named HPD's 11th chief. KITV.

Honolulu’s new top cop took the oath Wednesday morning to protect the City and County. KHON2.

Three former members of the Honolulu Police Department’s elite Criminal Intelligence Unit were back in U.S. District Court on Wednesday to answer to charges filed against them in last month’s indictment of former Honolulu police Chief Louis Kealoha and his prosecutor wife, Katherine Kealoha. Star-Advertiser.

Three Officers Plead Not Guilty In Honolulu Police Corruption Case. The charges relate to the alleged framing of a man at the behest of the former police chief and his prosecutor wife. Civil Beat.

A Honolulu police lieutenant, an officer and a retired major pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges alleging they helped former Chief Louis Kealoha and his deputy prosecutor wife frame a man. Associated Press.

Three men arrested in the conspiracy case against the former Honolulu police chief pleaded not guilty in federal court Wednesday. KITV.

Two new members to the Honolulu Police Commission were approved unanimously by city council Wednesday. Hawaii News Now.

The Honolulu City Council approved Wednesday two new members to the Honolulu Police Commission. KHON2.

Commentary: It Turns Out We Owe Chuck Totto A Big Thank-You. Federal indictments in the Honolulu police corruption case vindicate the former ethics director but raise questions about the Caldwell administration. Civil Beat.

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Vacation rental issue moves to planning department. After hearing more than an hour of testimony, City Council members voted to approve four resolutions directing Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s administration to come up with bills for them to consider. Star-Advertiser.

Pineapple has been gone for over a decade, and vegetable crops disappeared this year. Now, fallow fields between Mililani and Waipio are about to produce homes in a $2 billion project called Koa Ridge in Central Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

Castle & Cooke Hawaii plans to break ground Thursday on Koa Ridge, its long-delayed $2 billion master-planned community that will add 3,500 homes along with commercial space, an elementary school and a new hospital in Central Oahu. Pacific Business News.

A preliminary search for state-controlled land parcels on Oahu where possible “safe zones” could be established for homeless encampments turned up no vacant sites. Star-Advertiser.

DLNR to hire salvage company to remove vessel near Kahala Resort. The DLNR says they plan to hire a salvage company to remove a 25-foot sailboat that ran aground Tuesday on the reef at Maunalua Bay. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Opponents of a giant telescope planned to be built on Mauna Kea are appealing the state Land Board’s approval of the project’s construction permit to the Hawaii Supreme Court. Associated Press.

Kona Councilman Dru Kanuha wants to save Kahaluu Beach Park from the sea. Almost 10 years after a conceptual master plan was created for one of the island’s most popular beach parks, Kanuha was successful Wednesday getting fellow members of the County Council to agree to put $600,000 into the budget to plan and design park improvements. West Hawaii Today.

The county is rethinking plans for a popular Kona beach park. During the Finance Committee meeting, Kona councilmember Dru Kanuha introduced a bill to fund the planning and design of future improvements to the park. Big Island Video News.

Mayor Harry Kim did not agree with the Hawaii County Department of Water Supply’s decision to keep quiet on the failure of two North Kona deep wells in the first half of October, but he did accept it. West Hawaii Today.

A bill to amend the county water plan for the Keauhou Aquifer in Kona has been withdrawn, after the community voiced concerns. Big Island Video News.

Hawaii County won’t be getting a time extension yet for completing its master plan for a park in Hawaiian Paradise Park. Tribune-Herald.

A plan for a county park in Puna’s Hawaiian Paradise Park subdivision is moving forward. Big Island Video News.

Aquaculture in Hawaii just got a $149,972 infusion for research and industry support, and it’s being used to develop a way for small businesses and individuals to get a piece of the shellfish industry. Garden Island.

Maui

Land use change for Makila Kai project in trouble. A 49-unit housing project in Launiupoko, containing a mix of residential workforce housing and market-rate agricultural lots, was essentially halted Wednesday. Maui News.

Navy schedules hearing to cover training impact. The U.S. Navy has scheduled a public hearing from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Maui High School for its draft environmental impact statements for personnel and weapons systems training between Hawaii and Southern California. Maui News.

Longline fishing industry scrutinized for hiring of foreign fishermen. The Hawaii Longline Association has jumped into a legal fight they say threatens their livelihood. Longliners oppose a Maui fisherman's complaint against the state. Hawaii News Now.

Island visitor counts continue on record-breaking pace. A total of 2.1M visitors arrived by air on Maui in the first nine months. Maui News.

Maui Health System, the new operator of three isle hospitals, is reversing its controversial policy to charge as much as $672 for a private postpartum room for new parents at Maui Memorial Medical Center. Star-Advertiser.

District 12 of the Democratic Party of Maui will host a presentation to discuss Medicare on Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2017 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Pukalani Pool Multipurpose Room. Maui Now.

Kauai

There were eight fatal vehicle crashes on Kauai’s state roads in 2016, more than double the number in 2015, according to new data from the Hawaii Department of Transportation. Garden Island.

Power was still out in some of Kauai’s North Shore Wednesday evening as a swollen Hanalei River caused the closure of Kuhio Highway and blocked access for repairs. Garden Island.

Aquarium fish collecting halted; Mauna Kea conflict spurs arrests, peace park plan; Taiwan president visits USS Arizona Memorial; Oahu monster houses, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

School of tropical fish © 2017 All Hawaii News

A Hawaii judge has halted the commercial fishing of reef fish for aquariums until the state reviews the trade's environmental impact. Associated Press.

A new ruling upholds a state Supreme Court ban on Hawaii's aquarium fishing industry and there's no timeline on when it will be lifted. Hawaii News Now.

Aquarium fishing permits in Hawaii are now invalid and illegal, due to a Friday Oahu Circuit Court ruling by Judge Jeffrey Crabtree. Garden Island.

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The U.S. Navy wants approval to continue war games in Hawaii and California waters that include naval ships firing at air targets, Marine battalions practicing amphibious assaults and submarines shooting explosive torpedoes. Civil Beat.

Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen visited the USS Arizona Memorial on Saturday, providing a very public record of her first trip to Hawaii, which drew strong objections from China. Star-Advertiser.

President Donald Trump is scheduled to stop on Oahu this week, before beginning a two-week trip to Asia. He will travel to Japan, the Republic of Korea, China, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Hawaii, from November 3-14. KITV.

Three TMT opponents were arrested after they interrupted a land board meeting on Friday, demanding the resignation of one member. Big Island Video News.

A U.S. Navy ship carrying two Honolulu women it rescued from their storm-battered sailboat in the Pacific docked Monday at an American naval base in Japan. Associated Press.

House and Senate leaders will convene an informal working group of lawmakers in the weeks ahead to try to finally develop a viable system for collecting hotel room taxes from Airbnb Inc. and other companies that market transient vacation units across the islands. Star-Advertiser.

State goes after unlicensed aging-in-place facilities. Health Department data show the agency conducted 10 investigations of unlicensed care homes in 2015, 10 in 2016 and 11 through mid-October of this year, with six of those still pending. Star-Advertiser.

Will Regular Classrooms Better Serve Hawaii’s Special Ed Students? Co-teaching — classrooms with both a general and special-ed teacher — is catching on in a state that has one of the lowest “inclusion” rates in the nation. Civil Beat.

Doctors At UH Hyperbaric Facility Complained Months Before It Shut Down. In a letter to university officials, the physicans said they were worried about patient safety and a lack of resources. Civil Beat.

With state’s only hyperbaric chamber inactive, some divers feel uneasy. West Hawaii Today.

Group seeks to rebrand medical marijuana as ‘cannabis’. A local nonprofit trade organization is trying to stamp out use of the term “marijuana” as well as associated slang words that include pot, grass, weed and pakalolo when referring to licensed dispensaries that grow and sell cannabis to registered patients. Star-Advertiser.

The first Pacific Regenerative Medicine Conference will be held Nov. 6-7 at the Hawaii Convention Center. State Sen. Josh Green, an emergency room physician, will deliver a keynote presentation on regenerative medicine in Hawaii’s health landscape. Star-Advertiser.

After more than a century away from the islands, human remains stolen from burial caves in Hawaii and sold to a museum in Germany have finally returned home. Star-Advertiser.

Island Air said in a bankruptcy filing Friday it is in discussions with multiple prospective investors to obtain about $6.5 million in financing. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Airlines took delivery Friday of its first of 18 Airbus A321neo aircraft that it plans to use for West Coast markets. Star-Advertiser.

Commentary: Lieutenant governor race needs firefight spark. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Waikiki business people and government officials are calling on the Honolulu Police Department and U.S. armed forces to address a recent uptick in serious crimes in the state’s top tourist district, where two military members were victimized this month. Star-Advertiser.

Several Waikiki leaders are frustrated by the holdup in the release of $1 million earmarked this year by state lawmakers to address homelessness in tourist areas, which many say is contributing to the district’s security concerns. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s public defender is reviewing the criminal cases handled by four Honolulu police officers and a deputy city prosecutor to uncover any possible wrongdoing after they were accused of planting evidence, falsifying reports and lying to U.S. investigators in a corruption probe. Associated Press.

Former police chief Louis Kealoha will soon have a new attorney defending him against charges of conspiracy, bank fraud and deception of government investigators. Civil Beat.

Council members offer bills to address ‘monster houses’. Officials with the city Department of Planning and Permitting, which is tasked with enforcing zoning and building violations, say their hands are tied on many of the complaints because they can cite or fine only people who are not meeting code requirements. Star-Advertiser.

Star-Advertiser Employees Rally To Protest Layoffs. More than 30 newsroom staffers have lost their jobs at Hawaii’s biggest newspaper in the past year amid ongoing contract negotiations. Civil Beat.

Tenants, landlord clash at Kewalo Basin harbor. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii's new 'Teacher of the Year' hails from Ewa Makai Middle. Hawaii's Department of Education honored Vanessa Ching of Ewa Makai Middle School Friday with the title of "Teacher of the Year." Hawaii News Now.

Several scabies cases reported at Oahu elementary school. The Hawaii Department of Education sent a letter home to parents after several cases of the infection were reported at Makalapa Elementary School in Salt Lake. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

Gov. David Ige has tapped Mayor Harry Kim to lead a working group to create a “living monument for world peace” on Mauna Kea. West Hawaii Today.

The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands wants future landholders and Honomu community members to help plan their new subsistence agriculture development. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii County is hiring a consultant to draft a master plan for a park in Hawaiian Paradise Park. Tribune-Herald.

Almost six years after one of the county planning commissions rejected rule changes governing special management areas, which center around shorelines, the Planning Department is trying again. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii solar customers can still receive credit for supplying solar energy to the power grid after the Public Utilities Commission approved new solar incentive programs earlier this month. Tribune-Herald.

The state Land Board approved fining a tour boat operator $42,165 on Friday for damage done to the historic Punaluu Wharf. Tribune-Herald.

The Hawaii land board voted on Friday to fine the man accused of digging up part of the historic Punalu’u Wharf with a backhoe back in June. Big Island Video News.

Senate WAM Committee Visits East Hawaii. Big Island Now.

Closing the Hilo Landfill. On Hawaii Island, county officials have been talking about the potential closure of the Hilo Landfill for more than three decades. Hawaii Public Radio.

Maui

Proposed tax changes cause concern. A Maui Vacation Rental Association official fears that two bills on property tax classifications recommended for approval by a Maui County Council committee could lead to higher property taxes for at least 2,900 property owners in Maui County. Maui News.

Low-income renters fear they’ll be priced out of Lahaina apartments. Some 300 low-income residents at Front Street Apartments effectively face eviction under what they call an “IRS loophole” that enables the property to be converted to market-priced units after 15 years in service. Star-Advertiser.

Audit calls for change to MFD staffing policy. Overtime costs have almost doubled since provision took effect. Maui News.

Sweeping change. ‘Group effort’ offers jobs and more for homeless people in Wailuku. Maui News.


Kauai

Timeshare visitors leave behind billions of dollars. The timeshare industry generated about a billion dollars in economic output just on Kauai and an estimated $5.3 billion in consumer and business spending in 2016. Garden Island.

Nearly $250,000 in federal grant funds were awarded to the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney to continue funding its Drug Nuisance Abatement Unit and Sex Assault Prosecution Unit. Garden Island.

The Hawaii Farm Bureau’s 70th annual meeting will be prefaced Monday by the Ag Summit Reception and screening of “Food Evolution” on Kauai. Garden Island.

Footings went in for a $32,000 gazebo at the Kilauea Community Agricultural Center on Thursday, one of the first steps for constructing the little community gathering place within the developing ag park. Garden Island.

Molokai

One-third of the island of Molokai is up for sale and residents want to send a message to its prospective buyer. On Saturday, about 200 community members marched from Mahana to Maunaloa wearing green shirts that read "We Are Molokai Pule O'o" and "Keep Molokai Molokai." Hawaii News Now.

Chicago firm pitches solar panel, battery project for Molokai. 37-acre solar farm could stablize rates now, reduce reliance on oil-generated power. Maui News.

Navy rescues Honolulu women after months lost at sea, homegrown pot tainted, audit says burning Honolulu recyclables cheaper than recycling them, vacation rentals irk neighbors, Kauai mayor wannabes line up, rail begins airport leg, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Women lost at sea rescued, courtesy U.S. Navy

After five months adrift, two women are saved by the U.S. Navy. Two Honolulu women and their dogs survived powerful storms, shark attacks and bouts of hopelessness while drifting at sea for five months aboard a 50-foot sailboat that broke down during their sail from Hawaii to Tahiti. Star-Advertiser.

U.S. Navy

Two Honolulu women and their dogs have been rescued after being lost at sea for months while trying to sail from Hawaii to Tahiti. Associated Press.

Two Hawaii women and their dogs have been rescued after spending months lost at sea in the Pacific Ocean. The pair, Jennifer Appel and Tasha Fuiava, survived off of water purifiers and a year’s worth of dry food, like pasta and oatmeal. Hawaii News Now.

The U.S. Navy released a video of its recent rescue at sea. A pair of Hawaii women and their dogs were stuck on board their sailboat in the Pacific Ocean. KITV.

Growth in visitor numbers outpaces spending. Arrivals last month increased 5 percent year-over-year to 701,833 visitors, and spending rose to $1.2 billion — up nearly 2 percent from September 2016, according to preliminary statistics released Thursday by the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Star-Advertiser.

Visitor spending increased 7.1 percent to a total of $12.56 billion through the third quarter of 2017 in Hawaii, according to preliminary statistics released Thursday by the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Pacific Business News.

Visitors to the Hawaiian Islands spent a total of $12.5 billion in the first three quarters of 2017, an increase of 7.1 percent compared to the same period last year, according to preliminary statistics released Thursday by the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Garden Island.

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Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen is expected to arrive today for a short visit on her first official trip to Hawaii on what is technically labeled a “transit.”  Star-Advertiser.

Vigilance required for public pensions to reach full funding. 9.4 percent of Hawaii residents are part of the state Employees’ Retirement System. Maui News.

Cannabis Curriculum a Grassroots Effort in Hawaii. The number of patients registered under Hawai’i’s medical cannabis program has grown by 54 percent since 2015. Hawaii Public Radio.

Most homegrown marijuana tainted, lab reports. Most of the homegrown pakalolo tested by Hawaii’s first medical marijuana laboratory is tainted with pesticides and other dangerous contaminants. Star-Advertiser.

Human remains stolen from burial caves in Hawaii more than a century ago are finally returning to their resting place. Hawaii News Now.

High Surf Warning issued as waves of 35 feet forecast. A High Surf Warning has been issued for north- and west-facing shores of Oahu, Niihau, Kauai and Molokai, and north-facing shores of Maui. Hawaii News Now.

Southwest Airlines officials say starting service to Hawaii is now their primary focus, interisland flying is being seriously considered and they don’t plan on using red-eye flights from the mainland to the islands. Star-Advertiser.

Island Air filled two key employment positions Thursday, even as its long-term fate remains up in the air in federal Bankruptcy Court. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Audit: Honolulu Could Save Millions By Burning Recyclables For Energy. Sorting and selling recyclables hauled away in blue bins no longer makes economic sense, the audit found. Civil Beat.

Auditor urges city to get some cash for its trash. Many of the recyclables collected in Honolulu residents’ blue bins could eventually wind up at the city’s HPOWER plant in Kapolei instead of overseas, based on the recommendations of a new city auditor’s report. Star-Advertiser.

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After hearing more than four hours of sometimes emotional testimony from supporters and detractors of vacation rentals, the City Council Zoning and Housing Committee on Thursday voted to advance four proposals aimed at addressing the complicated issue. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu City Council is once again trying to get control of the growing vacation rental industry and crack down on illegal units. Hawaii News Now.

A battle over vacation rentals and illegal bed-and-breakfasts is brewing before the city council. On Thursday, members of the Committee on Zoning and Housing took up four resolutions that addressed the issue. KHON2.

Operators, neighbors clash over plans to curb vacation rentals. The online booking platforms for vacation rentals have created issues in neighborhoods no one ever expected. KITV.

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First, it was a law that bans lying down on city sidewalks. Now a city councilman wants to take it a step further, by making it illegal for people to lie down at bus stops. KHON2.

HPD Corruption Case: Who Is Alison Lee Wong? The feds say Honolulu prosecutor Katherine Kealoha used the alias of “Alison Lee Wong” to help carry out alleged crimes. Civil Beat.

Years in the making: How prosecutors built their case against the Kealohas. It's the biggest abuse of power case in modern Hawaii history. Hawaii News Now.

Former Honolulu Prosecutor Peter Carlisle: Fed's Case Against the Kealohas Solid. Honolulu’s former police chief and his city deputy prosecutor wife pleaded not guilty to federal charges Friday. Hawaii Public Radio.

Rail work kicks off airport leg. The joint venture Shimmick, Traylor and Granite is being paid $875 million to build Phase 3 of the 20-mile Honolulu rail line. Hawaii News Now.

Rail pillars are going up for the airport section of Honolulu's Rail Transit Project. Contractors used heavy machinery to drill its first holes for the 5-plus mile stretch of that phase of the project, which runs from Aloha Stadium to Middle Street. KITV.

Star-Advertiser Employees Rally To Protest Layoffs. More than 30 newsroom staffers -- about a quarter of the staff -- have lost their jobs at Hawaii’s biggest newspaper in the past year amid ongoing contract negotiations. Civil Beat.

A restaurant in the Shirokiya Japan Village Walk at Ala Moana Center was shut down for interfering with a state Department of Health inspection to follow up on food safety violations. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Department of Health Sanitation Branch has posted a red “closed” placard at Mazesoba Ono-ya inside Ala Moana Center for refusing to cooperate during a follow-up health inspection to correct eight outstanding critical food safety violations. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

Construction continues on the former Sports Authority storefront at Prince Kuhio Plaza, with new tenants — T.J. Maxx and Petco — expected to open early next year, according to the mall. Tribune-Herald.

Lava Inundation Zones Mapped On Mauna Loa. Mauna Loa is not erupting, but scientists with the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory are watching it closely. Big Island Video News.

Kua O Ka La students learning about ‘what’s happening in their ocean’ by participating in eDNA study. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui Police Officer Arrested for Domestic Abuse. Maui police responded to a Kahului residence on Tuesday night after receiving a call for a domestic violence complaint involving a 26-year-old female and an off-duty Maui Police Department officer. Maui Now.

State pension system still considering golf course development. As questions circled around plans for the Kaanapali Golf Course, the executive director of the state Employees’ Retirement System, which owns the golf course, said it’s too early to tell how much the project will cost and whether it will prove beneficial for the agency and the community. Maui News.

Kauai

Kauai County Department of Parks and Recreation director announces run for mayor. Kauai’s Lenny Rapozo announced Thursday that he’ll be entering the race for county mayor. Hawaii News Now.

Gov. David Ige covered a lot of ground in his 40-minute talk Thursday morning at the Lihue Business Association. Garden Island.

State Rep. Andria Tupola, recently chosen as House Minority Leader, will be at Lihue United Church Parish 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday. Tupola is running for governor. Garden Island.

The Department of Water recently held a blessing ceremony to commence the Koloa Well 16 A and 16 B Site and Building Improvements Project in Koloa. Garden Island.

Lifeguard lawsuit immunity ends, Matson strike averted, Oahu historic property tax hike advances, hemp plans progress, Maui hospital takeover complete, journalists win SPJ awards, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii lifeguards © 2017 All Hawaii News

 A 15-year-old state policy granting immunity to county lifeguards from civil liability ended Friday, but it’s business as usual for the roughly 350 of them as they patrol Hawaii waters this Independence Day weekend. Star-Advertiser.

With mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue fever and Zika virus continuing to be a threat to Hawaii, the state is ramping up its vector control capacity in an effort to help prevent an outbreak — or at least meet one with greater force. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Electric Companies has submitted a draft of its plan to modernize the power grids on the five Islands it serves to bring more renewable resources online. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii is going to need more caregivers. The state’s seniors, those 65 and older, made up 17.1 percent of Hawaii’s 1.4 million residents in 2016 — a jump from 14.3 percent in 2010, according to recently released data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Star-Advertiser.

‘What Does The US Government Have Against Grandmothers?’ Hawaii Attorney General Doug Chin says the Trump administration’s scaled-back travel ban is illogical in establishing close family relationships. Civil Beat.

Hawaii and Undocumented Immigrants: Part 2. Hawaii Public Radio.

The Navy is planning to forward-deploy another three-ship “amphibious ready group” in the Pacific — a move that will add to highly prized ship-to-shore capability in the maritime-dominated region as well as bring more than 4,400 sailors and Marines and millions of dollars in economic impact to the chosen destination. U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono thinks it should be in Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

A new, 154-foot Coast Guard “fast response cutter” scheduled to be commissioned in Hono­lulu in October represents the first in a series of new cutters anticipated in coming years as District 14 revitalizes a fleet that’s between 25 and 50 years old. Star-Advertiser.

Matson Inc. reached an agreement with two key unions Friday, avoiding a strike that posed a threat to Hawaii’s supply of everything from food to building materials. Civil Beat.

Matson has been able to avoid a strike after reaching a tentative contract agreement with two of its unions, with only hours to spare before the expiration of the current contract. Pacific Business News.

Honolulu-based Matson Inc. on Thursday said it will pay its shareholders a third quarter dividend of 20 cents per common share. The shipping company said the figure represents a 5.3 percent increase over the previous quarter's dividend. Pacific Business News.

The cost of a private ­school education in Hawaii continues to climb as the state’s largest independent schools are charging on average 4.5 percent more in tuition for the upcoming school year, according to a Honolulu Star-Advertiser analysis, with most school officials citing the cost to retain good teachers as their biggest expense. Star-Advertiser.

After months of delay, the state Department of Agriculture is moving forward with its goal of developing a line of Hawaii hemp seeds and an eventual statewide hemp industry. Tribune-Herald.

Oahu

Owners of Oahu properties designated historic residences would need to pay $700 more annually under a bill that has received an initial nod from the City Council Budget Committee. Star-Advertiser.

A Hawaii Circuit Court judge ruled Friday that the city must turn over documents to Civil Beat related to embattled deputy prosecutor Katherine Kealoha’s employment with the Honolulu prosecuting attorney’s office. Civil Beat.

The median rent for a two-bedroom unit in Honolulu in June rose to $2,120 a month, nearly $1,000 more than the national average, a new report shows. Star-Advertiser.

For years, city transit officials have struggled to meet Oahu’s demand for Handi-Van service — a demand they say is the highest in the nation per capita. Now, without a fare increase, the service will be stretched “to the point of failure,” those officials are telling City Council members. Star-Advertiser.

UH football player possibly paralyzed after diving in waters off Waikiki. KITV.

A plan to dismantle a breakwater to prevent risky dives on Oahu's south shore is moving forward. Hawaii News Now.

Officials renamed the city’s aquatic center in Waipio in honor of the late U.S. Rep. K. Mark Takai during a ceremony Saturday. Star-Advertiser.

On A Mission To Save Hawaii’s Most Endangered Native Plants From Extinction. Civil Beat.

Honolulu Civil Beat Named Hawaii’s Best News Site For 7th Straight Year. The Hawaii Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists makes its annual award presentations. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

State Senator Josh Green has officially asked Governor David Ige to declare a state of emergency in West Hawaii over the ongoing water crisis. Big Island Video News.

County scrambles to fix wells but repairs more than a week away. West Hawaii Today.

A revised bill banning disposable polystyrene — popularly known as “styrofoam” — is coming back to the Hawaii County Council next week. Tribune-Herald.

Kona’s Community Development Plan was upheld as law Monday by the Intermediate Court of Appeals, sending a proposed development back to the county Planning Department. West Hawaii Today.

Kona coffee farmer tries to stay upbeat amid deportation proceedings. Star-Advertiser.

On June 23, the Hawaii County Council voted to adopt a resolution to award a Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation Maintenance Stewardship Grant to Na Mamo o Kāwā. Big Island Video News.

West Hawaii Today won six awards, including two first-place honors, in the annual journalism contest hosted by the Hawaii chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Maui Memorial Medical Center, Kula Hospital, and Lanai Community Hospital officially transferred operations from state provider Hawaii Health System Corporation to Maui Health System, a subsidiary of Kaiser Permanente, on Saturday. Hawaii News Now.

The Maui Region staff has created a legacy video to document this day as the Maui Memorial Medical Center, Kula Hospital, and Lānaʻi Community Hospital become part of the Maui Health System, a subsidiary of Kaiser Permanente. Maui Now.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs wants faster, stricter protections for central Maui sand dunes after Always Investigating exposed the extent of sand exports and business connections on Oahu. KHON2.

With news of possible further mining of the sand dunes of Central Maui, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees has formally called for a halt to the practice. Star-Advertiser.

Summit focuses on affordable housing hurdles. Maui News.

Maui News staffers and a columnist received 11 awards, including five first-place honors, from the Society of Professional Journalists Hawaii Chapter during the 2016 Excellence in Journalism Awards ceremony Friday night on Oahu. Maui News.

Kauai

Kauai Humane Society is currently finalizing its contract with Kauai County, but it’s expected the county will contribute around $795,000 in Fiscal Year 2017-18. Garden Island.

An intern at the Limahuli Garden and Preserve came across a dead snake on her morning jog along Kuhio Highway in Haena Friday. Garden Island.

Hanalei Watershed Hui and the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary have partnered together to protect their corner of the planet. Garden Island.