Governor tours Maui jail, signs Kilauea lava relief bill; homeless shelters don't meet specs; pay raises for Honolulu officials, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Elderly hula dancer n Hawaii ©2019 All Hawaii News

Lawmakers boost funding for senior services. State lawmakers Tuesday approved a package of bills that earmark about $10 million during the next two years for services and staff to support seniors. Star-Advertiser.

Legislature Approves Spending Millions For Elderly Care. Funding for kupuna care programs were some of the outstanding big ticket items that weren’t included in the state’s operating budget in March. Civil Beat.

8 homeless shelters don’t meet new standards, but will be funded anyway. The state has had to throw out the results of its latest bids from homeless shelter providers after eight of 34 homeless shelters failed to meet new quality standards. Hawaii News Now.

DOE Lays Out A 10-year ‘Road Map’ For Fixing Old Schools, Building New Ones. A long-range DOE facilities plan has identified $7 billion in “top priority” capitol needs, from adding more classrooms to repairing aging schools. Civil Beat.

State seeks ‘safe harbor’ for financial institutions that do business with medical marijuana dispensaries. Star-Advertiser.

Minimum Wage Increase Could Help Over 200,000 Workers, Report Says. The Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice analyzed the demographics of workers who could be impacted by an increase. Civil Beat.

Ozawa-Waters Race Highlights Flaws in Hawaii's Voting System. Problems counting mail-in ballots and an extremely small margin created chaos in the 2018 Honolulu City Council election between Tommy Waters and Trevor Ozawa. Several bills at the legislature aim to correct those problems. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Rep. Ed Case Raised 99% Of Campaign Money From PACs. The congressman raised nearly $78,000 during the first quarter of 2019. Only $425 came from individual donors. Civil Beat.

Commentary: Why, Tulsi, Why? Her fans cried, “Run, Tulsi, Run.” But now the Hawaii congresswoman’s presidential campaign is sputtering and the big question is why is she staying in the race? Civil Beat.

Statewide solar electric permits in Hawaii decline in Q1. Oahu and the Big Island experienced year-over-year first quarter decreases in the number of solar photovoltaic installation permits while Kauai and Maui had slight increases, according to data compiled by Marco Mangelsdorf, president of Big Island-based ProVision Solar. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

Honolulu Salary Commission Approves Pay Raises For Top City Officials. Barring any action by the City Council, most of Honolulu's top officials will get a 3.5% pay raise this year. Hawaii Public Radio.

A bill designed to give owners of apartment-size lots enough incentive to develop affordable rentals is up for a key vote before the Honolulu City Council today. Star-Advertiser.

City Council to vote on a long-awaited Waikiki park project. A vacant lot will become a gated green area in Waikiki with the approval of what would become Centennial Park in a vote today before the Honolulu City Council. Star-Advertiser.

Lawmakers Agree to Emergency Funds For Pali Highway. The $7 million approved by lawmakers Tuesday is less than half of the $15 million requested by the Senate in March. Civil Beat.

State regulators push to relocate Red Hill fuel tanks as Navy studies potential new sites. The Navy pumps fuel from its Red Hill tanks to its piers at Pearl Harbor. Hawaii News Now.

New sit-lie enforcers proposed. The homeless population in Chinatown has grown by about 30 percent, according to the chairwoman of the area's neighborhood board. KHON2.

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A Division of Fish and Wildlife employee and two representatives of the nonprofit Pacific Rim Conservation survive helicopter crash near Sacred Falls. A pilot and three passengers walked away from a helicopter that lost power and crashed Tuesday morning in a gully in a remote section of Sacred Falls State Park in Hauula. Star-Advertiser.

4 escape injury after chopper crash on Oahu’s North Shore. Four people miraculously escaped injury Tuesday morning after a state-contracted helicopter crashed in Sacred Falls Valley on Oahu’s North Shore. Hawaii News Now.

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Matson’s bigger cranes for bigger cargo ships arrive in Honolulu. Hawaii’s dominant ocean cargo transportation firm Tuesday began what is expected to be a more than two-month process of installing three bigger and more powerful gantry cranes at its container handling facility at the state’s busiest harbor. Star-Advertiser.

Matson unloads three cranes to advance modernization push. Matson Inc. set a new milestone in Honolulu Harbor as three new 65 long-ton capacity gantry cranes, the biggest ship-to-shore container cranes sent to a commercial Hawaii harbor, were delivered. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

Governor Signs Volcanic Disaster Relief Bill For Hawaii County. The new law, now to be known as Act 9, appropriates $60 million for disaster recovery in the wake of the Kilauea volcanic eruption. Big Island Video News.

Council seeks proof that taxpayer money’s well-spent. A full 38% of the county’s proposed 2019-20 budget is eaten up by employee pensions, retirement, health insurance and payment on old debt, eroding the ability of the County Council and administration to pay for new services and initiatives. West Hawaii Today.

County preparing to address parking lot behind Agasa Furniture that has become a homeless camp. A small lot of land located between Ponahawai and Mamo streets has, during the past several months, gone from a vacant parking lot to a fenced-off collection of tents and makeshift structures. Tribune-Herald.

NHCH nurses, Queen’s in contract talks. As negotiations continue for a new contract between The Queen’s Health Systems and the nurses of North Hawaii Community Hospital, the president of the Hawaii Nurses Association says there are still some issues that need resolving, even as management is preparing to come back with its final offer. West Hawaii Today.

Lead Found In Hu Honua Discharge, Sierra Club Says. Cory Harden of the Sierra Club's Moku Loa group informed the Hawaii County Game Management Advisory Commission of their findings on Monday. Big Island Video News.

Experts say market should be stable and slow, which is good news. Matthew Gardner, Windermere Real Estate chief economist, delivered his forecast Monday during the inaugural Hawaii Island Economic Summit, hosted by Windermere C&H Properties, at the Courtyard King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Officials tour Maui jail. Five weeks after an inmate revolt at the Maui Community Correctional Center caused $5.3 million in damage, state and county officials toured the Wailuku facility Tuesday to check on repairs and security updates while promising to address overcrowding issues they blame for the unrest. Star-Advertiser.

Maui Jail Riot Repairs Estimated to Cost $5.3 M. Public Safety Director Nolan Espinda, Governor David Ige, and United Public Workers Union’s State Director Dayton Nakanelua all traveled to Maui today to join Maui Mayor Michael Victorino in surveying the latest repairs and security updates underway at the Maui Community Correctional Center. Maui Now.

Gov. Ige tours MCCC for a first-hand look at damage following riots, escapes. A month after an inmate uprising at the Maui Community Correctional Center, Gov. David Ige toured the facility for an update on repairs. Hawaii News Now.

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Mayor Michael Victorino announced today his selection of Steve Welling as deputy director of the Department of Public Works. Maui Now.

Maui retail vacancies hit record high in 2018. Report shows that new, existing retailers moving to new malls. Maui News.

Kauai

Old school produce. Rotary members built two wheelchair accessible raised garden beds at Kauai Care Center, and now residents are harvesting produce for their dinner table. Garden Island.

Kauai 'alert and warning' siren testing Wednesday 8am-5pm. It's just a test, a part of Hawaii's statewide "alert & warning system"  used to notify the public during pending emergencies. KITV.

Water concerns linger at Legislature, Maui mayor reveals past sex assault, DOE accelerates school repairs, tobacco tax hike snuffed out, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Pipe brings water down from the mountain ©2019 All Hawaii News

State Senate leaders say they don’t intend to revive water bill. Leaders in the Senate say they have no plans to revive a controversial bill that would extend the deadline for Alexander & Baldwin and other water users to convert their water permits into long-term leases, contrary to a flurry of concerns from the bill’s opponents that the Senate might attempt a last-ditch maneuver to ram the measure through the Legislature. Star-Advertiser.

Commentary: Possible Resurrection Of Water Bill Has Capitol Abuzz. Lawmakers supporting the measure to extend rights to divert stream water — including for Alexander & Baldwin — play hardball behind closed doors. Civil Beat.

All eyes were on House Bill 1326 at the Legislature on Monday, even though the Senate Committee on Ways and Means deferred it last week, effectively killing the measure. Garden Island.

Gathering at the State Capitol rotunda over water rights bill. The sound of chanting and pahu drum echoed through the state Capitol Monday night. KITV.

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Bills Lighten Up On Pot Possession, But Add Penalties For Drugged Driving. A Senate committee passed a measure to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana, while a House committee voted to add penalties for drugged drivers. Civil Beat.

There will be no increase to the tax on cigarettes and little cigars after a measure that initially sought to increase the cost of a pack of cigarettes by $1 was snuffed out. West Hawaii Today.

Sen. Kai Kahele says he’s raised $250K for run at U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard’s seat. Kahele is running for the U.S. House of Representatives’ seat currently occupied by U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard. The seat represents rural Oahu and the neighbor islands. Star-Advertiser.

Ed Case’s ‘Talk Story’ Has Aged Well. The Hawaii congressman perfected constituent forums when he was in office 10 years ago. Now he’s taking that show on the road again. Civil Beat.

Moving Hawaii’s Technology Out Of The Dark Ages. The Legislature is considering bills that would help modernize decades old and outdated systems. Civil Beat.

State Initiates Audit Of School Impact Fees On Developers. The fees on new residential developments in certain areas have proven controversial since they were authorized by the Legislature in 2007. Civil Beat.

DOE finds quick fix for school roofs. Previously, each roof repair for a public school had to go through the traditional design-bid-build process, which typically takes several years. The new approach, known as job-order contracting, instead relies on several companies chosen through competitive bidding to perform common repair projects at fixed prices under a multiyear contract. Star-Advertiser.

Department of Education using new contracting method to clear backlog of repair projects. KHON2.

Oahu

Katherine Kealoha loses fight to keep personnel file secret, but questions remain. Circuit Court Judge Edward Kubo has reviewed Katherine Kealoha’s employment records from the Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney’s office, but hinted in court Monday that it didn’t provide all the information requested. Hawaii News Now.

The state is soliciting developers again to revitalize its run-down Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor in Waikiki 11 years after making a similar attempt that failed amid much public criticism. The state Department of Land and Natural Resources published a request for proposals Friday seeking competitive bids to redevelop 11 acres that include parking areas, public restrooms, a former fuel dock, a former boat repair site and submerged lands extending off the fuel dock and boat repair sites. Star-Advertiser.

Longtime television anchor Marisa Yamane is leaving KHON2 to join the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Yamane, 40, who co-anchors newscasts three times a day, will be director of communications and public relations at the HTA, where she will oversee a contract with PR firm Anthology Marketing Group. Star-Advertiser.

Solar permits issued on Oahu continued their downward trend and plunged 14 percent in the first quarter. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Verizon Tower For Lower Puna Planned. The Windward Planning Commission has some concerns about the placement of the tower near Highway 130, although they agree the service in needed in the area. Big Island Video News.

Waimea-Kohala Airport subsidy moving forward. Continuation of commercial air service from Waimea-Kohala Airport is on solid footing for the next two years, based on an agreement Hawaii County plans to sign with the U.S. Department of Transportation. West Hawaii Today.

The planning for the removal of the Caltech Submillimeter Observatory from Mauna Kea is underway, but an event that occurred at the facility in 2009 sparked some discussion at the Maunakea Management Board meeting on April 2 in Hilo. Big Island Video News.

Thirty Meter Telescope has green light, but protesters aren’t giving up fight. On Monday, Native Hawaiians gathered at the University of Hawaii at Manoa campus to honor the season of Ku -- and honor those who stand for Mauna Kea. Hawaii News Now.

The future of marijuana: Island cannabis industry reps talk hurdles, economic woes. The Hawaii Island Chamber of Commerce Medical Cannabis Forum brought business owners together to participate in a panel discussion about medical marijuana on the island. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui Mayor Breaks Silence on Sex Assault. Maui Mayor Michael Victorino today, recounted a very personal account of sex assault that he shared for the very first time as joined in offering a proclamation to recognize Sexual Assault Awareness Month in the County of Maui. Maui Now.

Maui mayor reveals haunting personal details of an incident from teenage years. Hawaii News Now.

Mayor to announce decision Tuesday on corporation counsel. There have been calls for the mayor to dismiss Patrick Wong. Maui News.

Maui mayor faces mounting pressure to oust appointee after abuse arrest. Hawaii News Now.

Make way for Southwest. Inaugural flight of Maui service touches down at Kahului Airport. Maui News.

Kauai

A Kekaha woman was sentenced on Monday to 30 months in prison and ordered to pay back hundreds of thousands of dollars she stole from the federal government while working as a clerk at the Pacific Missile Range Facility. Garden Island.

Officials plan for Mauna Kea telescope protests, Native Hawaiians decry OHA violence, judge rejects gut-and-replace lawsuit, $250M rail bonds floated, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

2015 Thirty Meter Telescope protest PC:Occupy Hilo

State and county law enforcement officials have started planning for how they aim to allow construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope on Mauna Kea without protester interference. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii County is taking the lead on responding to anticipated protests of the Thirty Meter Telescope on Maunakea, lawmakers were told Thursday. Tribune-Herald.

Lawmakers questioned state and University of Hawaii officials Thursday about plans to dismantle five existing telescopes on Mauna Kea. As a condition to building the Thirty Meter Telescope, the University of Hawaii and state Land Board officials said the older telescopes need to be decommissioned by the year 2033. Hawaii News Now.

VIDEO: Thirty Meter Telescope Briefing At The Capitol. Big Island Video News.

A group of prominent Native Hawaiian leaders gathered Thursday morning to speak out against the 13 men who stormed the Office of Hawaiian Affairs offices last week in a failed attempt to seize the agency and its assets. Star-Advertiser.

A group of leaders in the Native Hawaiian community held a press conference today, calling for a greater level of accountability for entities, organizations and their own communities and families in relation to the events that unfolded last week at the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. Maui Now.

Hawaiian leaders denounce violence after group stormed OHA offices. Hawaii News Now.

Native Hawaiian leaders call for more accountability after OHA occupation. KHON2.

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A Hawaii judge today rejected a lawsuit challenging the state Legislature’s “gut and replace” tactic of passing bills that have been stripped of their original content and replaced with entirely different details. Associated Press.

Chief justice seeks funding for new judges on Oahu, Kauai and Maui. Hawaii Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald is asking state lawmakers to fund four additional judges, including a new District Court judge on Oahu to help handle a surge in drunken driving cases over the past decade. Star-Advertiser.

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Tulsi Gabbard officially kicks off 2020 presidential bid with campaign video. Associated Press.

Hawaii Representative Tulsi Gabbard launches her presidential campaign in new video 'For The Country We Love'. KITV.

9 Things To Know About Tulsi Gabbard. The Democratic congresswoman from Hawaii seeks to become the first millennial president. Civil Beat.

Sitdown with Representative Ed Case as Shutdown Approaches Week Six. Hawaii Public Radio.

Welcome To The Instant Outrage Of Today’s Washington, Mr. Case. The Hawaii congressman got a first-hand view of how quickly a slip-up becomes headline news in the era of Trump, Twitter and the saturation of social media. Civil Beat.

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A proposal before lawmakers would make it illegal for any registered sex offender to temporarily or permanently live within 1,000 feet of a school, childcare facility, playground or park. Hawaii News Now.

Measures introduced in both the state House and Senate this week would increase gas taxes and other vehicle fees to generate additional money for the State Highway Fund. Tribune-Herald.

Governor proposes hefty hikes to gas tax, vehicle registration fees. Hawaii News Now.

Despite Shutdown, Hawaii Housing Programs Are OK — For Now. Officials worry that if the shutdown drags on too long, landlords will be reluctant to accept Section 8 housing vouchers in the future. Civil Beat.

Hawaii’s firearms law was declared unconstitutional by a federal appeals court last year. That ruling is currently being appealed. But there could be change no matter what the final outcome in federal court. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii’s Never-Ending Teacher Shortage Leaves Many Lawmakers Frustrated. In 2017, the percentage of new teachers hired from the mainland grew, while the percentage from Hawaii shrunk. Civil Beat.

Oahu

The City and County of Honolulu said Thursday it has completed a two-day sale of about $250 million in tax-exempt general obligation bonds to finance construction costs of the rail project. Star-Advertiser.

The chairman of the state House committee on public safety has introduced a bill to purchase the Honolulu Federal Detention Center to replace the outdated, overcrowded Oahu Community Correctional Center. Tribune-Herald.

Proposal to build a new, smaller Aloha Stadium complete with museum and hotel. Hawaii News Now.

A tussle between the state and a private road owner in Kakaako took yet another turn Thursday with the state contending that it now owns seven streets recorded as private property for more than a century. Star-Advertiser.

Drivers might be asked to use hazards lights at crosswalks. A bill that suggests drivers put on their flashing hazard warning lights after stopping for a pedestrian on a street with multiple lanes won tentative approval Thursday from a Honolulu City Council committee. Star-Advertiser.

USS Missouri marking 2 anniversaries. The USS Missouri will mark the 75th anniversary of its launching and the 20th anniversary of it becoming a museum Saturday during Living History Day. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

State mulls long term solutions for popular spot off highway. The State Department of Transportation is looking for a long-term solution for access to the Huehue lava tube. West Hawaii Today.

Salary Commission seeks input. Former Salary Commission Chairman Hugh Ono had a novel idea Thursday for the commission: Why not disband? West Hawaii Today.

Rideshares cleared for neighbor island airports. West Hawaii Today.

Hamakua Flood Victims Feel Overshadowed By Lava Disaster. When Hurricane Lane dumped torrents of rain on this stretch of coastline, attention was still focused on volcanic eruptions. Civil Beat.

Maui

Two mayoral nominees approved by committee. Parks, transportation heads clear panel after full day of testimony. Maui News.

Planning Department Seeks Public Input on West Maui Community Plan. Maui Now.

Patrol police officer shortage easing. Community, crime reduction unit getting staff back. Maui News.

Lyft to Begin Service to Kahului and Kapalua Airports. Maui Now.

Kauai

Lawmakers questioned officials from the Department of Land and Natural Resources Thursday about what changes are being made after the State Ethics Commission found numerous violations within Kauai's Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation office. The investigation found the office manager awarded more than 100 jobs to a private contractor, who the manager admitted was a friend. KHON2.

Uber and Lyft are cheering a state change that will make them eligible, as of Feb. 1, to pick up passengers at Neighbor Island airports, including in Lihue. Garden Island.

A food drop organized by labor unions and the Hawaii Foodbank distributed bags of food Thursday afternoon to nearly a hundred federal employees who have been working for weeks without pay. Garden Island.

Paying for climate change, state sells affordable housing cheaply, delays and cost overruns plague Oahu jail, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Full blood wolf moon eclipse over Hawaii ©2019 All Hawaii News

Fighting Climate Change Will Cost The State Millions. The state Department of Land and Natural Resources says money is urgently needed to protect beaches, watersheds, native species and more. Civil Beat.

Experts in climate change say Hawaii needs to plan now for rising sea levels. Star-Advertiser.

The shortfall in Hawaii’s largest public pension fund climbed to an all-time high of $13.41 billion last year and is expected to keep rising until 2024. It will take 25 years, until June 30, 2043, before the pension is 100 percent funded. Star-Advertiser.

Reforms to end corporate tax loopholes in Hawaii could reduce lost tax revenue and bring in an additional $38 million to the state, according to a new report released on Friday by The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy. Maui Now.

State officials recently agreed to sell a collection of low-income housing to a private developer for less than originally planned, after an examination of the more than 1,200 rental homes showed a need for substantial renovations. Star-Advertiser.

New proposal would ban hotel guests in Hawaii to bring firearms or ammunition into rooms. There are no state laws making it illegal for hotel guests to have guns and ammunition in their rooms, says state Representative Tom Brower. KHON2.

Hawaii legislators introduce measures to protect sharks, rays. West Hawaii Today.

Rooftop solar installations increased 5.3 percent in 2018 across the five islands served by Hawaiian Electric, Maui Electric and Hawaii Electric Light. Pacific Business News.

Commentary: Good intention trapped in an outdated local style. This week, Hawaii Congressman Ed Case caused a kerfuffle when, while speaking at a gathering of the Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote Celebration, he described himself as an “Asian trapped in a white body.” Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

A long-delayed project to replace the locks, video surveillance systems and other electronics in the Halawa Correctional Facility has turned into a multimillion-dollar headache for prison officials after work stalled because of problems with two subcontractors. Star-Advertiser.

Government Shutdown Won’t Stall Kealoha Trial. A federal judge on Friday said he would guarantee that all attorneys and expert witnesses would be paid for their services. Civil Beat.

Labor Board: Police Chief Did Nothing Wrong When She Transferred SHOPO President. It was OK for Honolulu Police Chief Susan Ballard to publicly explain why she felt it necessary to reassign Tenari Maafala and other union officials. Civil Beat.

Council member Heidi Tsuneyoshi has a plan to help bring tax relief to Oahu's overburdened residents. Bill 3 would increase the basic property tax exemption from $80,000 to $100,000. KHON2.

The U.S. Marine Corps will be conducting urban training exercises in multiple locations on Oahu starting Sunday. Hawaii News Now.

A rental housing complex in Hawaii Kai has been partially converted into condominiums following purchase of the nearly 3-year-old complex by a local development firm. Star-Advertiser.

Volunteers expect to hand out emergency bags of food Tuesday to 150-300 federal workers on Oahu affected by the partial federal government shutdown. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii State Supreme Court has rejected an appeal by a woman ordered to pay a fine for abandoning kittens at a park. Hawaii News Now.

There is a state law against sleeping in your vehicle on public streets at night, but that hasn’t stopped at least one Oahu host from parking a former car rental shuttle he turned into a mobile vacation rental, dubbed Hippie Bus Hawaii, in front of Kapiolani Park and selling beds with an ocean view. Star-Advertiser.

It’s a treasure trove of ancient Hawaiian history in West Oahu. But a bureaucratic standoff is threatening to derail its preservation. Hawaii News Now.

A group of researchers at UH Manoa has received a $10.4 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to study microbiomes, or the community of microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi and viruses, that live everywhere, and their impact on human health. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

It sounds too good to be true: A national law firm wants to sue Big Pharma on behalf of Hawaii County in a no-risk deal that has the county paying nothing if it loses, but sharing in any damage awards if it wins or settles. West Hawaii Today.

A state health official told legislators Thursday prescriptions written for opioid pain relievers in Hawaii have declined over the last four years. Tribune-Herald.

The Hawaii County Mayor’s legislative package – a $155 million appropriation request for Kilauea Volcano eruption disaster relief and recovery – has been submitted to the state legislature. House Bill 184 and Senate Bill 166 have been introduced as the 2019 legislative session gets underway. Big Island Video News.

First-line supervisors remain a priority for law enforcement during discussions with the county on additional budget needs for the upcoming fiscal year, officials told police commissioners last week. Tribune-Herald.

Missing drugs, assault of a juvenile suspect, and false violations on traffic tickets. That's among the low-lights of the past year at the Big Island Police Department. KHON2.

Volunteers needed for PIT Count of county homeless. West Hawaii Today.

A project to renovate several properties in Keaukaha may be able to proceed after a state environmental assessment was published earlier this month. Tribune-Herald.

Elite Pacific Properties has acquired Boundless Hawaii, a Big Island vacation home and property management company. Pacific Business News.

Maui

Queen Kaahumanu Center ramping up security measures. MPD foot patrols, more cameras, more personnel among the steps taken in wake of criminal attacks. Maui News.

Despite a fractured national movement and march cancellations around the country, including on Oahu, the Women’s March on Maui moved forward Saturday morning. Maui News.

Kauai

Hospitals revamp menus to utilize locally grown foods. The Hawaii Health Systems Corporation Kauai Region will treat residents and staff to the results of its food and nutrition program that focuses on increasing scratch-cooked, local food in its facilities that includes Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital and the Kauai Veterans Memorial Hospital. Garden Island.

The state Commission on Water Resource Management is holding statewide open hearings to solicit input on its update to the statewide Water Resource Protection Plan. On Kauai, the meeting is scheduled for Feb. 5, starting at 6 p.m. at the Lihue Civic Center Moikeha Building first-floor conference room. Garden Island.

A Kauai park with ties to Russia is stirring up an international name dilemma. The Russian ambassador and Russian Americans are fighting to preserve the name of Russian Fort Elizabeth in Kauai’s west side town of Waimea. Hawaii News Now.

Powering Up on Kauai. Kauai's electrical utility has a different history from the rest of the islands and different opportunities. Hawaii Public Radio.

A new method of parking enforcement is set to hit Princeville’s streets in early February, a vehicle-immobilization device called the Barnacle that covers the windshield instead of using a conventional boot on the wheel. Garden Island.

Ige appoints Connors as attorney general, Honolulu officer cooperating with feds in police corruption case, Maui's new mayor takes office, Big Island water bottling plant unpopular, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Attorney General appointee Clare Connors with Gov. David Ige PC:Governor's Office

Gov. David Ige has appointed Clare Connors, a prominent local attorney and experienced litigator, to serve as Hawaii’s next attorney general, replacing Russell Suzuki. Star-Advertiser.

Governor’s pick for attorney general is longtime litigator — who sometimes targeted state. Hawaii News Now.

Former assistant U.S. attorney picked to be Hawaii's new attorney general. KHON2.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige Thursday appointed Clare Connors as the state’s new attorney general. Pacific Business News.

Governor David Ige today announced the appointment of Clare Connors to be the attorney general of the State of Hawaii, subject to Senate confirmation. Big Island Video News.

Gov. David Ige press release on appointment of Clare Connors as attorney general can be found here.

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‘I Feel The Energy’: Ed Case Returns To Congress. The Hawaii congressman is back in office after more than a decade. But things are very different. Civil Beat.

A key lawmaker Thursday accused the state Department of Education of lying about the size of the statewide backlog of repair and maintenance projects at Hawaii public schools. The DOE told lawmakers in January 2018 that the school repair and maintenance backlog was $293 million as of 2017, which was a significant drop from $392 million in 2010. However, later in the year DOE notified some lawmakers that the true backlog was $868 million. Star-Advertiser.

If You Thought Legislature Would Bury The Hatchet With Ige, Think Again. The House Finance Committee chair questions the trustworthiness and organizational structure of the governor’s administration. Civil Beat.

43 pedestrians died on Hawaii roadways in 2018. That’s more than the number killed in vehicles. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii cannabis advocates hope to work with state to set rules for hemp. While the federal government did pass the Farm Bill on December 20 making hemp and its products legal, there's still some confusion over how the state should set rules for this crop. KITV.

There’s a high probability an El Nino will form and persist through the winter and spring, bringing with it threats to corals and farming concerns as well as an increased risk of wildfires. West Hawaii Today.

Honolulu-based electric utility Hawaiian Electric Cos. Thursday said it submitted the contracts for seven new solar-plus-storage projects across its service territory to the state Public Utilities Commission for review. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

A Honolulu officer charged in the corruption case targeting Honolulu’s former police chief and his wife plans to change his plea to guilty. It’s a major development that could prove pivotal to prosecutors. Hawaii News Now.

One of the police officers indicted in a public corruption case involving former Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha and his wife, Katherine, has indicated he wants to change his plea. KHON2.

A Honolulu police sergeant charged in a corruption-related investigation targeting the department’s former chief and his former prosecutor wife is pleading guilty. Star-Advertiser.

The attorney for the Big Island firefighter wrapped up in the Kealoha conspiracy case said recent news stories about his client and the explicit messages he reportedly sent Katherine Kealoha are "salacious" and "irrelevant." KITV.

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A Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation board committee Thursday recommended approval of a $7.5 million change order to settle a delay claim made by the company hired to build the rail project’s three Waipahu stations. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Is Short On Cops — And Seattle Is Poaching. Mainland police departments are making it easy for rookie and veteran officers to relocate. With 246 vacancies, the HPD may start doing the same. Civil Beat.

Honolulu City Council concerned after multiple recruits fired from Honolulu Fire Department. KHON2.

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The City and County of Honolulu is expanding its park security initiative to Windward Oahu and the North Shore. Starting Friday, crews will add locks to parking lots and comfort stations at 18 parks in an effort to prevent vandalism. Hawaii News Now.

Starting tonight, 59 city parks will be locked at night to curtail vandalism and illegal homeless activity. Star-Advertiser.

In the continuing effort to secure park facilities island-wide, the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) is expanding its securing parks initiative to District IV, including Windward Oahu and the North Shore (from Makapuu to Mokuleia). KHON2.

City expands securing parks initiative to 18 more parks. The initiative began in April 2018 with 25 parks in the urban Honolulu area. KITV.

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The president and CEO of Damien Memorial School is out after the institution’s owners cited conflicts in leadership style. Hawaii News Now.

Damien Memorial School announced today the appointment of Brother Brian M. Walsh to serve as president, replacing Wes Porter, who was the school’s leader the past 2-1/2 years. Star-Advertiser.

Sixth Howard Hughes condo goes on sale. The Koula condo tower will have 565 units and sit adjacent to the new Victoria Ward Park, where a pop-up LED flower garden now resides, on Auahi Street. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

The Windward Planning Commission postponed action on a proposed bottling plant near Wailoa River State Recreation Area to a future meeting, but that didn’t stop dozens of Big Island residents from testifying against it during the panel’s Thursday meeting. Tribune-Herald.

Water protectors, environmentalists, and supporters of the new organization, Extinction Rebellion, spoke out against an application for a Special Management Area Use Permit to develop a potable water well and bottling facility in Hilo. Big Island Video News.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is being partially staffed during the federal government shutdown thanks to a little help from its friends. Tribune-Herald.

Retired Hawaii physician Charman J. Akina has donated 135 acres of land in South Kona to The Nature Conservancy that will provide habitat for rare native wildlife and plants. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

In his first day on the job, new Maui County Mayor Mike Victorino went to work announcing that landfills will once again open on Sundays and that his office will convene groups addressing Native Hawaiian culture and economic diversity and bringing together environmentalists and the hospitality industry. Maui News.

Maui County Mayor Mike Victorino took the oath of office on Wednesday morning from 2nd Circuit Chief Judge Joseph Cardoza, with First Lady Joycelyn Victorino, other family members, Maui County Council members and dignitaries looking on. Maui Now.

The new Maui County Council elected Kelly King as chairwoman, Keani Rawlins-Fernandez as vice chairwoman and Tasha Kama as presiding officer pro tempore during the council’s first meeting of the term on Wednesday. Maui News.

Featuring several new faces and a majority of women for the first time, the Maui County Council officially took office on Wednesday. Maui News.

Kauai

Mayor Derek S. K. Kawakami signed a sixth supplementary emergency proclamation on Thursday for the County of Kauai, extending the emergency relief period for damages sustained during the April flooding. Garden Island.

Hawaii officials are planning to issue additional permits and extend the six-month trial period of pig hunting in a mountain area on Kauai. Associated Press.

Chipper Wichman, who has served as a backbone for the National Tropical Botanical Garden for 15 years, is turning over the position of chief executive officer and director to someone else. Garden Island.

Foreign investment soars, owners to face fines for fake service animals, homeless qualify for Medicaid housing, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Honolulu ©2018 All Hawaii News

Amid already hot housing market, foreign investment in Hawaii properties soars. Decades after the collapse of the Japanese investment bubble, foreign investment in Hawaii is making a big comeback. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii to roll out database to track school repair backlog. The Hawaii Department of Education is rolling out an online database to track the estimated $868 million backlog of repair and maintenance projects in the public school system. Associated Press.

Homeless people in Hawaii who are enrolled in Med-QUEST, the state’s Medicaid program, will have access to housing support services starting Jan. 1 that were previously offered to only a handful. Civil Beat.

As Ed Case prepares to be sworn into the U.S. House of Representatives in January, he’s been hiring key staff and gearing up for what he hopes will be major reforms in Congress. Star-Advertiser.

Claiming an ordinary dog to be a service animal will soon be illegal in Hawaii. Thanks to a law passed in July, the new year will add “misrepresentation of a service animal” to the state’s list of offenses punishable by a civil penalty. Tribune-Herald.

Circus and carnivals in Hawaii can’t bring lions, tigers or bears in for the show thanks to updated state rules signed by Gov. David Ige, and the head of the Hawaii Board of Agriculture says it’s been a long time coming. Garden Island.

Hawaii’s economy remained relatively strong through the year, with continued job growth, increasing wages and tax revenues that exceeded government projections in 2018, according to an annual financial report released last week by the Department of Accounting and General Services. Garden Island.

IMAGES OF 2018: A Year Of Alarms, Elections, Lava And A Notable Passing. The mother of all false alerts preceded very real disasters that flooded Kauai with rainwater and the Big Island with lava. Then came the threat of Hurricane Lane. Civil Beat.

Oahu

State Hospital overtime raises safety concerns. Big paychecks for overtime, also leads to big concerns about safety at the Hawaii State Hospital. KITV.

State and county officials, social service agencies and law enforcement are working together to address the highest per capita rate of homelessness in the country, but more needs to be done, according to the regional coordinator for the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness. Star-Advertiser.

'It’s paradise’: Crowds head to the beach, trails for a sunny Christmas Day in Hawaii. A sunny Christmas Day sent throngs of merry-makers to Oahu beaches and parks Tuesday, where first responders were out in full force, too. Hawaii News Now.

Nearly 5 years after a huge fuel leak at the Red Hill Bulk Storage Facility, a forum will be held so people can get answers about preventing future leaks while protecting our water supply. KITV.

No flood, tsunami, earthquake or hurricane — not even retirement or a near-fatal heart attack — can keep Danny Tengan from readying East Honolulu residents for disaster. Star-Advertiser.

Water service will be temporarily suspended for four hours this morning at Magic Island, also known as Aina Moana, for a shower improvement project. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii officially down to one refinery. In line with the findings of the Hawaii Refinery Task Force's interim report from November 2013, one of the state's two refineries has, as predicted, officially ceased its refining operations before the year 2020. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

Embattled dairy intentionally discharges 800,000 gallons of sewage into Big Island waters. Hawaii News Now.

Big Island Dairy Discharges More Wastewater Amid Heavy Rains. Hawaii health officials say the diary, which was fined for spilling nearly 8 million gallons of wastewater this summer, is pumping out nearly 800,000 gallons in the latest incident. Civil Beat.

The owners of Big Island Dairy illegally discharged Monday roughly 600,000 gallons of sewage that contaminated coastal waters through Kaohaoha Gulch. Star-Advertiser.

Water within Kaohaoha Gulch was contaminated with animal waste due to an overflowing retention pond at the dairy facility caused by heavy rainfall, health officials say. Big Island Video News.

Waimea residents and others will get a chance next month to weigh in on which of two air service providers they’d rather see offer subsidized flights out of the Waimea-Kohala Airport. West Hawaii Today.

The reins of the Big Island’s fourth-largest private landowner quietly changed hands last week. The new president of W.H. Shipman Ltd. is Margaret “Peggy” Farias, previously the chief financial officer and treasurer of the Keaau-based company. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Timeshare resorts report occupancy rate of 91.8% in Q3. Maui News.

Chief: Officers’ actions ‘justified’ in shooting. Suspect, who was shot to death, drew a handgun, he said. Maui News.

New video of Sunday’s deadly officer-involved shooting in Wailuku was released at a press conference today at the Wailuku Police Station. The 23 second encounter at the Kaohu Street, South Market Street intersection, came following a chase that ensued for approximately 12 minutes. Maui Now.

Maui Electric is proposing to assume ownership and operation of the existing electric vehicle fast-charging network established on Maui through the JUMPSmartMaui demonstration project. Maui Now.

Maui Electric Co. on Friday proposed to assume ownership and operation of the JUMPSmartMaui electric vehicle fast-charging network on the Valley Isle. Pacific Business News.

Kauai

The last several miles of road along Kauai’s North Shore remain closed to the public since the April flood. Local residents are limited to commute along one lane of the highway and only during scheduled convoy times. Hawaii Public Radio.

More than 100 threatened and endangered seabirds have fledged from the Nihoku restoration site within the Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge in the past four years. Garden Island.

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Perdue tours Kilauea lava flow, campaign started to impeach Honolulu prosecutor, dairy industry suffering, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, Twitter

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue was in Puna Tuesday, where he toured the damage from Kilauea Volcano alongside Hawaii Department of Agriculture Chairman Scott Enright and several local ag producers. Big Island Video News.

Once-Thriving Hawaii Dairy Industry Is On The ‘Brink Of Extinction’. There used to be 160 dairies in Hawaii. Only two remain, and one plans to close, meaning Hawaii could end up importing all of its milk. Civil Beat.

Ed Case backs Nancy Pelosi for House speaker. Ed Case, who is set to be sworn into Congress on Jan. 3, is supporting U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi’s bid to be speaker of the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives. Star-Advertiser.

Governors from throughout the nation’s west on Tuesday came together for a talk on biosecurity as well as the potential for interstate collaboration on preventing and combating invasive species. West Hawaii Today.

Will increasing the fine for drivers who don't stop for pedestrians save lives? Council Member Ron Menor wants the State to double fines for drivers who don't stop for pedestrians. KHON2.

Investigators to release long-awaited probe into admitted killer’s State Hospital escape. More than a year after an admitted killer escaped from Hawaii State Hospital and jumped on a plane for California, the state has completed an investigation into the incident. Hawaii News Now.

No One Is Speaking Up For Hawaii’s Renters. There is no organization dedicated to advocating for the rights of tenants, and a new study finds they lose nearly every eviction case. Civil Beat.

Why Has Wall Street Punished Hawaiian Airlines? The high-flying growth of Hawaii’s largest private employer has slowed recently thanks to storms, volcanos, increased competition and lower fares. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Campaign to impeach city prosecutor launched as he shows no signs of stepping aside amid federal probe. Kaneshiro has made no moves to step aside, prompting some to look into the impeachment process. Hawaii News Now.

Former Honolulu city prosecutor calls for Keith Kaneshiro to quit or be impeached. KITV.

The City Prosecutor’s Office on Tuesday declined to say whether three top prosecutors who reportedly have been linked to an ongoing federal investigation of government corruption have taken leave or are still on the job. Star-Advertiser.

Neighborhood Opposes Cemetery Expansion. Longtime Kaneohe resident Rich McCreedy has opposed the expansion plan of Hawaiian Memorial Park Cemetery. Hawaii Public Radio.

City to close parts of a Chinatown park that’s become a haven for the homeless. The city is shutting down parts of Aala Park for maintenance from Wednesday through mid-January. Hawaii News Now.

A new, privately owned public park in the urban core of Honolulu is set to open Friday ahead of a state-mandated deadline, and it will debut in the holiday spirit with a high-tech display of lights. Star-Advertiser.

Niu Valley Middle School teacher Zachary Morita hopes to inspire students statewide by creating a musical Olympics with the $100,000 grant he won through the Dream Big Teacher Challenge. Star-Advertiser.

Lambchop, a Hawaiian monk seal who was a more than 30-year resident of Sea Life Park, died Tuesday from a sudden decline in health from age-related kidney disease, according to a statement released by the park. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu condo sells for record $23.5 million. Coldwell Banker Pacific Properties announced Tuesday that it represented a buyer who paid $23.5 million for one of three “grand penthouse” units at the Park Lane Ala Moana condo. Star-Advertiser.

Park Lane Ala Moana grand penthouse sells for $23.5M (Slideshow). Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

Puna Geothermal Venture was given the go-ahead to restore road access to its lava-locked property. Tribune-Herald.

Police say a woman shot by officers Tuesday morning on Kahakai Boulevard in Hawaiian Beaches subdivision brandished a rifle despite being ordered by police to drop the weapon and was wanted an arrest warrant. Tribune-Herald.

Woman fatally shot by Big Island police after pointing rifle at officers. Hawaii News Now.

A District Court judge Tuesday doled out a plethora of community service hours to a group of hikers cited for trespassing after they were swept away amid flash flooding, prompting a daring, hours-long rescue last month at Anna’s Pond. West Hawaii Today.

Future patients and the public on Tuesday evening got a chance to glance inside Kona’s first ever medical marijuana dispensary, owned and operated by Hawaiian Ethos. West Hawaii Today.

Mortgage delinquencies on Hawaii's Big Island grow after Kilauea eruption. The number of mortgages in some stage of foreclosure in Hawaii declined slightly in September, as the number mortgages facing some form of foreclosure on the Big Island grew following the eruption of Kilauea volcano, according to a new report by CoreLogic. Pacific Business News.

Maui

Maui County Managing Director Keith Regan has been appointed chief administrative officer for the Hawai’i Tourism Authority. The announcement from the authority says that Regan will begin work Monday. Maui News.

Mayor-elect Mike Victorino announced his appointees for chief of staff, managing director and 11 department directors on Monday afternoon — a slate which included five current directors and the deputy director of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources. Maui News.

Workers from Ono Construction LLC install sections of roofing on the South Maui Community Park Recreation Center late last month. Construction of the long-awaited gymnasium is on target to be finished next spring. Maui News.

Kauai

The public is advised that a portion of Puolo Road in Hanapepe will be closed for reconstruction work, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., on Dec. 13, weather pending. Garden Island.

The U.S. Missile Defense Agency successfully intercepted an intermediate-range ballistic missile in a live-fire test Monday night from the Aegis Ashore Missile Defense Test Complex at the Pacific Missile Range Facility. Garden Island.

Feds probe rail, Ige-Green inauguration today, Gabbard stumps in New Hampshire, but coy on presidential plans, preschool kids served Pine-Sol, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Honolulu rail guide-way detail PC:HART

Federal inquiry linked to rail. Federal investigators are taking an interest in Hono­lulu’s $9 billion rail project, but it is unclear what has attracted their attention. Star-Advertiser.

After winning his re-election bid earlier this month, Gov. David Ige is set to be sworn in for his second term Monday at the rotunda in the state Capitol. Hawaii News Now.

Governor David Ige, Lt. Governor-elect Josh Green to be sworn-in Monday. KHON2.

Ige will start his last four years as governor with a new partner. This year, the governor chose to have his inauguration at the Rotunda at the State Capitol. KITV.

Testing the waters in New Hampshire, Tulsi Gabbard ‘seriously thinking’ about presidential bid. Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard made multiple stops this weekend in the state that holds the first primary in the race for the White House — sparking further speculation that she’s considering a run for the Democratic presidential nomination. Star-Advertiser.

Tulsi Gabbard For President? ‘I Am Seriously Considering It’. Speculation has been mounting, but at an appearance in New Hampshire she said she’s thinking of how she can “best be of service to the people of this country.” Civil Beat.

Case wraps up orientation, eyes campaign finance reform. Congressman-Elect Ed Case is a freshman by title. But after serving in more than two terms in the mid-2000s, he’s familiar with the way Washington works, and his fellow freshman members know it. KITV.

Oysters Could Help Clean Hawaii's Polluted Waterways. Some of Hawaii's most polluted waterways may soon get help from an unlikely source: oysters. After a successful test project in Pearl Harbor, the Hawaiian Islands branch of the Waterkeeper Alliance is seeking to expand the use of oyster colonies to clean polluted waters. Hawaii Public Radio.

State Claims ‘Dramatic’ Improvement In Adult Home Care Oversight. But in the face of a harsh audit of the program last week, some lawmakers were skeptical that there has been such a swift turnaround. Civil Beat.

Want To Teach In Hawaii? The Job Often Comes With A Big Pay Cut. Teachers from the mainland get credit for only a few years of seniority, creating another challenge in efforts to address Hawaii’s teacher shortage. Civil Beat.

Oahu

City rolls out new transit card pilot program. The first passengers on Honolulu’s new rail system won’t take that inaugural ride for another two years, but the initial elements of the system like the new HOLO card are coming to life. Hawaii News Now.

East Oahu preschool students mistakenly served Pine-Sol. Students were mistakenly served Pine-Sol instead of apple juice, according to a report released by the state Department of Health. It happened Tuesday at Kilohana United Methodist Church Preschool. KHON2.

$800,000 Honolulu home median considered modest. When Honolulu’s median sale price for single-family homes punched through the $800,000 ceiling in August, the big round number stunned many prospective homebuyers. Star-Advertiser.

Native Hawaiian graduation rate triples at University of Hawaii at Manoa. Native Hawaiian and Filipino students are graduating on time at record rates from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, with Hawaiians tripling their level since 2010, according to the latest data. Star-Advertiser.

A volunteer group has obtained city approval to build a 1-acre public playground at Ala Moana Regional Park that includes miniature zip lines, slides, swings and a splash pad. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu City Councilwoman Ann Kobayashi wants the city to look into placing a motor sports racetrack on a portion of a historic field that the Navy is planning to transfer to the city. Star-Advertiser.

Don’t Expect To See Those Green E-Scooters Again Anytime Soon. Lime’s electric scooter fleet was pulled from Honolulu streets earlier this year. Hawaii’s vehicle code needs changes for them to return. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Hawaii Island is gaining people, but they’re not coming from the rest of the state. In fact, between 2012 and 2016, the Big Island lost an estimated 2,362 people annually to the other three counties in Hawaii, while adding just 1,654, according to data released Tuesday by the U.S. Census Bureau. West Hawaii Today.

UH-Hilo to offer career path for airline pilots and drone operators. A new bachelor’s degree in aeronautical sciences at the University of Hawaii at Hilo could start training students to become commercial pilots or operators of unmanned aircraft as soon as next year. Star-Advertiser.

About a dozen Puna residents offered their suggestions, as well as complaints, to Hawaii County representatives Thursday evening during the first of what is expected to be several talk-story sessions regarding recovery from the Kilauea eruption. Tribune-Herald.

Parade, lava museum revive hopes for Pahoa’s future. Saturday’s eclectic Pahoa Holiday Parade — the 25th to run down Pahoa Village Road through the heart of the small rural town — carried the hopes of a community still struggling in the aftermath of Kilauea Volcano’s destructive eruption this year. Star-Advertiser.

Big Island: Back in Business. Vivid images of volcanic eruptions captured the world’s attention this year, but frightened off visitors. Hawaii Public Radio.

Aggressive pigs becoming a nuisance at some state parks. A visit to Hawaii Island’s state parks provides a close encounter with nature — sometimes, a bit too close for comfort. Tribune-Herald.

Funds frozen as groups grapple for control of Hawaiian Ranchos Road Maintenance Corporation. West Hawaii Today.

State Investigates Big Island Biofuel Plant For Discharging Wastewater. There is no public health threat from the discharge at the facility, which expects to start generating power by burning wood sometime in December. Civil Beat.

Hu Honua takes exception to Hawaii DOH comments in violation notice. The Hu Honua biomass power plant on Hawaii's Big Island, which is currently under construction, is taking exception to comments made by state Department of Health Director Bruce Anderson in a press release Friday that alleged Hu Honua Bioenergy LLC personnel caused an unauthorized discharge of industrial wastewater on Nov. 9. Pacific Business News.

Maui

New Trial Ordered for Maui Man Arrested During Telescope Protest. The Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals on Thursday vacated an obstruction conviction by a Maui jury of a native Hawaiian who was protesting the construction of the Daniel K Inouye Solar Telescope atop Haleakala in August 2015. Maui Now.

Water ruling shouldn’t affect W. Maui supply. Department says flow is sufficient, working on new supply sources. The county water department said Friday that there should be sufficient flow in the Kanaha Stream — 90 percent of the time — to meet needs of Lahaina customers and to comply with the state water commission’s order last week to restore 550,000 gallons of water per day to the stream. Maui News.

‘We have no choice’. Climate expert: State has to reach for renewable energy goals. Maui News.

Maui scores high marks in visitor satisfaction from nearly all regions. Japanese tourists, though, seem a bit harder to please. Maui News.

Meeting will explore using oysters to improve water quality in harbor. Maui News.

Kauai

The public is invited to attend the inauguration of Mayor-elect Derek Kawakami and the Kauai County Councilmembers-elect, scheduled for today. Garden Island.

In one of the last remaining duties of being the mayor, Bernard Carvalho Jr. presented $500,000 of state grants Friday to six nonprofits for work they are doing for flood recovery on the North Shore. Garden Island.

KEMA unveils new 18-screen video wall in Emergency Operations Center. Garden Island.

The Kauai County Housing Agency held a blessing for the Lima Ola affordable housing project in Eleele last Monday. The county has also secured a total of $19 million of funding for the project. Garden Island.