Ige pledges $12M in volcano relief, lava tally reaches 600 homes and 2,000 acres as earthquakes, ash plumes, rattle Big Island, unions endorse Ige, Tokuda, Honolulu council squabbles over rail, Kauai seeks temporary housing for flood victims, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

$12M lava bailout agreement signed by Ige, Kim ©2018 All Hawaii News

600 homes confirmed destroyed on Big Island as state pledges new aid. Hawaii News Now.

The state today released $12 million to Hawaii County to support its response to the volcanic eruption in Lower Puna. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. David Ige and Mayor Harry Kim have signed a letter of agreement releasing $12 million in state funds to support the county’s response to the active volcanic eruption occurring on Hawaii Island. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige and Hawaii County Mayor Harry Kim signed a Letter of Agreement releasing $12 million to support the county’s response to the active volcanic eruption occurring on Hawaii Island, along the East Rift Zone in Lower Puna. Big Island Now.

Prospects for Hawaii island to rebound from the loss of what is now about 600 homes destroyed by lava rose significantly Thursday with a group hug and a $12 million down payment. Star-Advertiser.

The State has pledged to give Hawaii County $12 million to help respond to the lava disaster that's claimed hundreds of homes. KHON2.

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Hirono gets free ride as Dems dominate Hawaii Congress races. U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono appears guaranteed of reelection as not a single opponent capable of mounting a statewide campaign is running against her. Hawaii News Now.

One of Hawaii’s largest labor unions representing blue-collar workers endorsed Gov. David Ige today in this year’s gubernatorial race. The United Public Workers union represents about 14,000 members employed at facilities such as schools, hospitals and correctional facilities throughout the state. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii's largest union, the Hawaii Government Employees Association announced its endorsement in the Lt. Governor's race. The HGEA is supporting Senator Jill Tokuda. KITV.

Trump Plan Would Cost Planned Parenthood In Hawaii $830,000. A rule change proposes to halt all federal funding to health care organizations that provide abortions. Civil Beat.

After Sen. Will Espero’s retirement from the Senate effective June 1, 2018, Sen. Kaialii Kahele who previously served as the Senate Majority Whip, will now serve as the new Senate Majority Floor Leader. Big Island Now.

Suicide rates in Hawaii on the rise. In Hawaii, rates went up about 18-percent from 1999 to 2016. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Honolulu City Council Squabbles Over HART Budget, Again. The 2019 construction budget for the Honolulu Rail Transit Project almost got derailed today at the Honolulu City Council. Hawaii Public Radio.

Will Uber threaten to cease operations in Hawaii? The question being discussed by ride share drivers. KHON2.

USS Arizona repairs are complicated, but harbor tours remain. Since May 10 none of the thousands of people who show up daily to see one of the most revered spots in American battle history have been able to disembark on the walkway memorial that straddles the grave for over 900 men who gave their lives on Dec. 7, 1941. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

A 5.2-magnitude earthquake struck near the summit of Kilauea on Friday morning, but there was no tsunami threat, according to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center. Hawaii News Now.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning System reports a 5.2 magnitude earthquake shook at the summit of Kilauea Friday morning, there is no tsunami threat for Hawaii. KHON2.

Another small explosion occurred early this morning at Kilauea’s summit and generated a moderate ash plume. Star-Advertiser.

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Norwegian Cruise Line announced Thursday that it will resume port calls to Hawaii island — a move state officials said will be a major linchpin in shoring up tourism losses for the hard-hit island. Star-Advertiser.

The Pride of America cruise ship will make her return to Hawaii Island next week, days after it was announced that the island had been removed from the ship’s itinerary. Tribune-Herald.

State elections officials hope to avoid a repeat of 2014, when a natural disaster wreaked havoc on Puna elections and sent a candidate in a tight election to court. West Hawaii Today.

Temporary housing for those displaced by Kilauea volcano will be built later this week, with eligible evacuees to move in soon. Tribune-Herald.

Preliminary ground preparation is underway in Pahoa for a project that will hopefully provide emergency transitional sheltering for some residents impacted by the volcanic eruption. Big Island Video News.

Fissure 8 Continues to be "Very Active". Hawaii Public Radio.

Lava from the Kilauea volcano that flowed into Kapoho Bay has created nearly a mile of new land and officials with the U.S. Geological Survey said today the flow is still very active and there’s no way to know when the eruption will end or if more lava-spewing vents will open. Associated Press.

Lava claims nearly 600 homes in Lower Puna; select curfews lifted for residents. Star-Advertiser.

The Latest: Kilauea Eruption Update. KITV.

Additional loitering citations issued in active eruption zone. Seven more people were cited Wednesday night by officers from the DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement for loitering in a closed area. KHON2.

Volcanic activity burns biggest economic driver for Big Island. Star-Advertiser.

The traumatic events associated with the new events on Kilauea Volcano have taken an emotional toll, not only on the community directly impacted by the eruption, but on the scientists charged with monitoring the fissures and lava flows, as well. Big Island Video News.

Eruption Threatens Future Of Some Big Island Charter Schools. The ongoing volcanic lava flow is raising many issues for students and their families. Civil Beat.

Color 'em confused: A guide to accessing and understanding air quality reports online. West Hawaii Today.

'Pele's Path: The People of Puna,' an HNN digital documentary. Hawaii News Now.

Amid ongoing explosive eruptions at Kilauea's summit, new images show the incredible extent of damage at the former Halemaumau Crater overlook. Hawaii News Now.

Kim’s budget it is: Council fails to approve amended version. West Hawaii Today.

Monty Richards, a fifth-generation kamaaina and guiding force of Kahua Ranch who was known for his leadership in the community, died Monday in San Francisco. He was 88. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Debate gets heated over managing director amendment. Maui County Council Member Elle Cochran pressed for answers Wednesday about the extent to which county directors, including Managing Director Keith Regan, contributed money to Mayor Alan Arakawa’s campaign. Maui News.

An informational meeting Wednesday night helped quell some fears from West Maui residents and farmers worried about losing water to new in-stream flow standards set earlier this year for four West Maui streams. Maui News.

Maui Aquatics Facilities Master Plan Recommendations to be Unveiled. Maui Now.

Fair officials seek relief from high shipping costs. Event scheduled for Oct. 4 to 7; entertainment contract still not inked. Maui News.

Kauai

Kauai County officials looking for temporary housing for flood victims. Almost two months after the historic flooding disaster, Kauai County officials estimate as many as 50 residents are still displaced from their homes. Hawaii News Now.

The Hanalei Dolphin is expected to reopen on July 16 following a three-month closure. Pacific Business News.

Eighty bicycles were given away in celebration of Wilcox Health Center’s 80th anniversary during the annual Kids Summer Fest at the Kauai Marriott Resort &Beach Club. Garden Island.

State lawmakers tour lava zone as they mull special session, Ige seeks presidential disaster declaration for entire state, overnight rumbles predict more volcanic activity, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii lawmakers tour Kilauea lava flow PC: Sen. Kai Kahele

Gov. David Ige asked President Donald Trump to declare the state of Hawaii a major disaster area Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

White House, Hawaii In Contact Concerning Eruption. Big Island Video News.

Kilauea volcano is threatening to blow its top in coming days or weeks after sputtering lava for a week, forcing about 2,000 people to evacuate, destroying two dozen homes and threatening a geothermal plant. Associated Press.

Dozens of quakes overnight signal more lava outbreaks are 'likely'. Hawaii News Now.

Volcanic activity pauses along East Rift Zone, but more lava outbreaks expected. KHON2.

===== More volcano news at Hawaii Island category below =====

Gov. David Ige has signed a bill setting aside $125 million for flood recovery efforts on Kauai and Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has denied the state's request for federal funding after historic flooding destroyed parts of Kauai and Oahu. KHON2.

Hawaii's request for aid on Kauai was denied by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. KITV.

State Director of Health Dr. Virginia “Ginny” Pressler has announced her retirement, effective June 1, according to a statement released today by Gov. David Ige.  Star-Advertiser.

Virginia Pressler will retire on June 1 from her post as director of the Hawaii state Department of Health, a post she’s held since late 2014, Gov. David Ige’s office said Thursday. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii’s commercial swordfish fleet has been shut down for the rest of the year following a court order aimed at protecting endangered loggerhead sea turtles. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Swordfish Industry Shut Down To Protect Endangered Turtles. Environmental groups have been trying to restrict the taking of turtles by longliners for the past six years. Civil Beat.

Hawaii's longline fishing industry will have to stop fishing for swordfish because of court agreement designed to protect loggerhead sea turtles. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc.’s earnings jumped 17.7 percent in the first quarter even as the holding company’s utility shifted $9 million worth of tax reform net benefits to customers. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Access to the USS Arizona Memorial is again suspended until further notice, to “address the structural integrity of the facility.” Star-Advertiser.

Structural concerns mean visitors won't be able to disembark onto Arizona Memorial. Hawaii News Now.

An Oahu grand jury has indicted Randall Saito for escape and theft six months after he walked out of the Hawaii State Hospital and flew to California. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii State Hospital escapee Randall Saito has been indicted by a Honolulu Grand Jury on one count of Escape in the Second Degree and four counts of Identity Theft in the First Degree. KHON2.

Efforts to control a holiday 'floatilla' event has led to a civil rights complaint against the state Land Department. Hawaii News Now.

Concerned Citizens: Homeless Sweeps in Kakaako Don't Work. Hawaii Public Radio.

A federal jury found the owner and operator of a business that provides speech language therapy primarily to children of military service members guilty Thursday of multiple counts of wire fraud, identity theft and lying to receive payment of services that were never provided. Star-Advertiser.

For Tourists Only: This Hawaii Wedding Venue Won’t Host Locals. Some wedding venues only accept destination weddings to limit the number of guests and the effect on neighbors. Civil Beat.

Students, alumni and visitors of Hawaii Pacific University added $423.1 million in income to Oahu's economy for fiscal year 2015-16, according to an economic impact study conducted by Economic Modeling Specialists International. Pacific Business News.

The Hawaii State Department of Education held a groundbreaking ceremony for its new East Kapolei Middle School on Thursday. KHON2.

Retired Kailua auto dealer Mike McKenna, who appeared in newspaper and TV ads with his beloved golden retriever Hana Girl, has died. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Lower Puna waited for Pele to make her next move Thursday after going more than 24 hours without seeing magma surface. Tribune-Herald.

The pentane at Puna Geothermal Venture has been removed, but Civil Defense officials remain concerned about another hidden hazard. Tribune-Herald.

More than 200 people showed up at Pahoa High and Intermediate School on Thursday night to receive updates on Kilauea’s eruption. Star-Advertiser.

7 pm Eruption Update – Flyover Of Leilani Estates. Big Island Video News.

HVO: All 15 Fissures Have Paused. The eruption has destroyed at least 25 homes, and lava has covered more than 100 acres of land. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is now closed until further notice. The gates closed at 10 pm Thursday night. Big Island Video News.

Amid ongoing eruptions, Big Island faces a daunting new problem: A housing crisis. Hawaii News Now.

When a lava evacuee returned home to get his belongings, he found a man inside. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii County police charged a 29-year-old Pahoa man Thursday with burglary in connection with the suspected looting of homes in the Leilani Estates subdivision, which was under a mandatory evacuation order due to a lava eruption. Star-Advertiser.

Volcanic ash may contaminate the water supply for families with catchment systems. Hawaii News Now.

Commentary: Officials Need To Back Off When It Comes To Media Access To Hazardous Scenes. The disaster in Puna is dangerous, but the public has a right to know all that is going on — without government control. Civil Beat.

Commentary: Mayor Kim still the man to rely on during a crisis. Star-Advertiser.

Friends of former Mayor Billy Kenoi have planned a “worldwide prayer gathering” for noon Saturday. West Hawaii Today.

Big Island Dairy in Ookala has continued to discharge wastewater this week. Tribune-Herald.

The County Council made quick work Wednesday approving a $30.5 million bond issue for park improvements to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

A lawsuit was filed Thursday against the builders of the Front Street Apartments and the state housing agency to challenge the developer’s attempt to convert the complex to market-rate units before the end of its 50-year commitment to keep rents affordable for low-income tenants. Maui News.

Southern Connector Road Between Honoapiilani and Lahaina Bypass Opens Today. Maui Now.

Improvements continue at both ends of the Lahaina bypass, to be referred to for the time being as Route 3000, the state Department of Transportation announced Thursday. Maui News.

Several Maui residents Thursday expressed support for the embattled Office of Hawaiian Affairs chief executive officer, whose performance is being evaluated following a scathing state audit over use of funds. Maui News.

The Economic Development Administration will award $210,000 to the University of Hawaii for the Maui Food Innovation Center, which is used by agribusiness and food entrepreneurs to develop and manufacture products. Maui Now.

Kauai

Repairing Storm Damage Is A Chance To Solve Tourist Congestion. Fixing Kuhio Highway will be costly and complicated, but may provide impetus for a long-term plan limiting daily visitors in the area. Civil Beat.

More Victims Of The Kauai Flood — Tourist Vacation Rentals. Kauai County had already cracked down on hundreds of remote visitor rentals. The flood might have doomed many more. Civil Beat.

Wednesday, 32-year-old Bronson Nakaahiki of Kekaha was arrested for allegedly slicing a green sea turtle’s throat and harvesting its meat on Kekaha Beach. Garden Island.

USS Arizona Memorial employee took gifts from tour company seeking tickets, 5-8 tropical cyclones predicted, state sues car makers on airbags, Maui rousts homeless, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

USS Arizona Memorial, courtesy National Park Service

A National Park Service employee at the USS Arizona Memorial accepted gifts from tour operators in violation of ethics regulations, U.S. Department of Interior investigators said Wednesday. The U.S. Attorney's Office declined to prosecute. Star-Advertiser.

Investigators: USS Arizona Memorial Employee Took Improper Gifts. Tour operators gave the worker a jacket and golf course green fees, the U.S. Department of Interior found. Civil Beat.

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The Central Pacific Hurricane Center today predicted five to eight tropical cyclones for the 2017 hurricane season. Star-Advertiser.

After two busy hurricane seasons, brace yourselves for an encore: Forecasters are expecting another above-average year for tropical cyclones in the Central Pacific. Hawaii News Now.

The Central Pacific Hurricane Center released its outlook for the 2017 Central Pacific Hurricane Season, which begins June 1 and runs through Nov. 30. KHON2.

Climate conditions point to a near to above-normal hurricane season in the Central Pacific basin this year, forecasters announced today. Big Island Video News.

On the 25th anniversary of the season that brought devastating Hurricane Iniki to the islands, National Weather Service forecasters are warning of another possible busy hurricane season. Star-Advertiser.

A developing El Nino could result in a slightly busier than normal hurricane season this year, forecasters said today. West Hawaii Today.

For 2017, the outlook calls for a 40% chance of an above-normal season, a 40% chance of a near-normal season, and a 20% chance of a below-normal season, with 5 to 8 tropical cyclones expected to affect the Central Pacific. Maui Now.

Another cyclone season is winding up, and forecasters are predicting more storms than last year. Garden Island.

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Scientists studying sea level rise at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa need your help. Impacts of some of our highest tides of the year are predicted to be seen this week. And the general public is being summoned to document those impacts along the thousand or more miles of coastline across the island chain. Hawaii Public Radio.

More than a dozen settled claims against the state of Hawaii will be paid under legislation signed into law Tuesday by Gov. David Ige. The claims total $17.9 million, an increase of almost $7 million from a similar claims bill last year. Civil Beat.

Hawaii has filed a lawsuit against three major automobile manufacturers for selling cars with dangerous air bags. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii is suing auto manufacturers Ford, Nissan and Toyota over air bags that can spew shrapnel when they deploy. Associated Press.

The Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Office of Consumer Protection filed a lawsuit against automakers Toyota, Nissan and Ford for unlawful practices in connection with the marketing and sales of vehicles with Takata airbags to Hawaii consumers. Pacific Business News.

UH Regents want to ensure coaches' salaries don’t go out of bounds. Star-Advertiser.

Maui and Big Island beaches make Dr. Beach's top 10 list. Associated Press.

Oahu

Mayor Kirk Caldwell released his strategy to increase affordable housing on Oahu on Wednesday, packed with new regulations and incentives for developers. Hawaii News Now.

A City Council committee deferred a bill Wednesday that would place tighter restrictions on private sponsorships of parks and other city facilities after the Outdoor Circle raised concerns that the measure does not go far enough to prevent sign clutter and preserve Oahu’s natural beauty. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Sierra Club is pressuring state officials to require massive underground fuel storage tanks operated by the Navy be upgraded faster to protect a critical source of drinking water for Oahu residents. Star-Advertiser.

The Kailua Neighborhood Board passed a motion recently asking the city to revise its feral chicken removal program to focus on trapping roosters. Civil Beat.

The Board of Water Supply wanted feedback on the future of the Haiku Stairs -- and it got it. Nearly 700 suggestions poured in, about two-thirds of them just before Tuesday's close of the public comment period. Hawaii News Now.

The Hawaii Department of Agriculture on Wednesday declared little red fire ants eradicated from a Mililani Mauka neighborhood. Star-Advertiser.

Aloha Green will become the first medical marijuana dispensary in Hawaii to have a “soft opening” in June, but customers won’t be able to buy products that elicit a high. Civil Beat.

A Hawaii technology startup will receive a federal grant of more than $1 million to research and develop a low-cost data acquisition system. Pacific Business News.

HDOT warns Honolulu airport travelers of limited parking during Memorial Day weekend. KHON2.

A king tide appeared to reign Wednesday along sections of Oahu’s south shore. Star-Advertiser.

Lifeguards and Hotels along Oahu's tourism hot spot are preparing for impacts from an incoming 'king tide' and south swell. Hawaii News Now.

One of the casualties of the King Tides was Hilton’s Friday night fireworks show. KITV.

A street in Mapunapuna is already flooded as businesses prepare for effects from a king tide. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Power’s future taking shape: BioEnergy Hawaii’s waste-to-energy plans clearer. West Hawaii Today.

Hu Honua Bioenergy reached a settlement in its federal antitrust lawsuit against Hawaiian Electric Light Co. and its parent companies, Hawaiian Electric Co. and Hawaiian Electric Industries, over a terminated power purchase agreement. Tribune-Herald.

An election challenge pending since 2014 will have to wait a bit longer before it’s resolved, now that a three-member panel charged with hearing it has eroded to a single member. West Hawaii Today.

The National Science Foundation is sponsoring an ecological observatory that will connect research sites throughout the United States for the next three decades, with one proposed for the Pu‘u Maka‘ala Natural Area Reserve. Tribune-Herald.

Beach-goers and oceanfront residents should keep an eye out over the holiday weekend for tides that could rise more than foot higher than normal. Hawaii County Civil Defense spokeswoman Kanani Aton said Wednesday no county park or beach closures are planned, though that could change if warranted. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Police and park rangers cleared out the homeless encampment Tuesday at Baldwin Beach Park that they said had become one of the largest on island. Maui News.

Maui Grown Therapies is aiming to open as early as July, selling lotions, tinctures, oils, capsules and concentrates at its first dispensary in the Maui Lani Village Center, a spokeswoman said Wednesday. Maui News.

Alexander & Baldwin, the parent company of Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co. that shut down in December, continues to negotiate with prospective buyers of the Puunene Mill. Maui News.

Two school bus companies — one new to the island — will be transporting public school students in Maui’s largest complexes beginning next school year. Maui News.

The Maui News reporters and photographers captured five awards — three of them first-place honors — in the 32nd Hawaii Publishers Association Pa’i Awards that recognizes works of Hawaii’s newspapers and publications. Maui News.

Kauai

The United States Postal Service hasn’t yet scheduled another meeting to talk with the public about closing and relocating the Rice Street post office. Garden Island.

Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. recently attended the first Japan-Hawaii Economic Summit on the Big Island along with other Hawaii and Japanese leaders. Garden Island.

The Kapahi Bridge is scheduled to reopen this afternoon. Garden Island.

Prepare for ‘King Tides’. Predicted high tides for Kauai. Garden Island.

USS Arizona Memorial to close for repairs, Department of Health delays medical marijuana dispensary licenses, Hawaii House OKs empty shell bill, East-West Center on congressional pork list, council praises Kenoi and his budget, Maui County clerks rally for raises, Kauai council postpones general excise tax hike, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

USS Arizona Memorial, courtesy National Park Service

Visitors will not be able to go call on one of Hawaii’s most memorable and popular attractions early this summer. The dock of the USS Arizona, across from the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center, will be dismantled, removed and replaced between June 13 and June 26. Civil Beat.

Hawaii’s Health Department confirmed Wednesday that it will miss the deadline for awarding licenses to the state’s first eight medical marijuana dispensary contractors. Star-Advertiser.

Despite a statutory deadline of April 15, the state Department of Health will wait until April 28 to announce the eight companies that will receive licenses to grow and sell medical marijuana. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii Department of Health says it's going to delay announcing the names of Hawaii's first medical marijuana dispensary owners. Officials say they planned to release the names April 15, but are delaying the announcement two weeks. Associated Press.

The Hawaii state Department of Health said Wednesday it is delaying its announcement of the state's first eight medical marijuana dispensary licensees by two weeks to allow all 66 applicants to submit fingerprints for background checks. Pacific Business News.

The Hawaiʻi State Department of Health is reviewing the criminal history records of applicants for the Medical Marijuana Dispensary licenses after announcing last week that applicants were given notice to provide consents and submit fingerprints. Maui Now.

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Resources have not kept pace with Hawaii’s rapidly aging population when it comes to ensuring the health and safety of residents living in long-term care facilities, according to health officials and state budget documents. Civil Beat.

On the House side, lawmakers took the extremely unusual step of approving on the floor a bill relating to geothermal power that does not actually have any content. That so-called “short-form” bill will now go to conference committee and can be amended there to insert language that can then become law. No public testimony is allowed in conference committee, effectively shutting out the public from providing input on a hotly contested issue. Star-Advertiser.

It’s been years since the country recovered from the Great Recession spurred by the subprime mortgage crisis, but economic conditions for Hawaii’s low-income residents haven’t fully rebounded, according to a report by the Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice, a nonprofit law firm that advocates on behalf of the poor. Star-Advertiser.

The state says the construction industry will again lead Hawaii’s economy with the fastest growth rate. On Wednesday, the state released its employment forecast for the short-term. Officials predict the construction industry will increase 12.1 percent, creating 3,880 jobs between the first quarters of 2015 and 2017. KHON2.

Oahu

The  U.S. Department of Justice has awarded $200,000 to the Honolulu prosecutor’s office to kick-start a proposed mobile court aimed at clearing the court docket of thousands of homeless defendants who don’t show up and end up accruing bench warrants and additional penalties that keep them from getting jobs or housing. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu Prosecutor’s Office has received a $200,000 federal grant to implement a community court that is intended to help resolve a backlog of over 11,000 low-level, non-violent cases. Civil Beat.

The Damon Key Leong Kupchak Hastert law firm has sent a cease and desist letter to the Honolulu county permitting department, requesting that it cease issuing notices of violations for homeowners involved with vacation rentals in residential districts. Pacific Business News.

A Honolulu City Councilman is proposing a newly opened city homeless shelter in Sand Island be closed, and homeless living in their cars be allowed to park on the property and sleep instead. Hawaii News Now.

With news reports warning that the solar giant SunEdison could declare bankruptcy as early as this week, the fate of a trio of the company’s stalled solar projects on Oahu remains uncertain. Civil Beat.

The Catholic Church knew late Honolulu Bishop Joseph Anthony Ferrario had been accused of sexual abuse while a priest in Kailua, but appointed him to head the Honolulu diocese anyway, a Catholic priest who was in charge of managing the process in which candidates were vetted for the office of bishop alleges in a new 18-page court report. Hawaii News Now.

Three additional lawsuits were filed Wednesday accusing Catholic priests in the Diocese of Honolulu of sexual abuse. Associated Press.

Citizens Against Government Waste lists the East-West Center in Honolulu in its 2016 Congressional Pig Book, which flags congressional earmarks deemed unnecessary. Civil Beat.

Ocean Safety welcomes their first rescue boat ever. The boat will be stationed at Kewalo Basin Harbor. It will provide emergency ocean response to the Kakaako waterfront area. KITV4.

Hawaii

Council praises Mayor Billy Kenoi and his $462.7M spending plan. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi was critical on Wednesday of the State of Hawaii’s distribution of the Transient Accommodations Tax to the four counties, which is likely to be millions less than what Kenoi says the counties should be getting. Big Island Video News.

Two bills that would have provided funding to combat invasive pests on the Big Island are dead in the state Senate. The measures would have appropriated money to help treat infestations of little fire ants and macadamia felted coccid. Tribune-Herald.

Assuming they survive the haggling of conference committees later this month, tens of millions of dollars in funding and projects will be coming West Hawaii’s way in the months ahead. West Hawaii Today.

It’s been nearly 16 months since students and staff gathered for a formal groundbreaking of the Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy’s long-awaited permanent building. But since then, little at the South Ahoku Street construction site has changed. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui County clerks and supporters wave signs outside the Kalana O Maui building Tuesday morning. Their chants included, "What do we want? Equal Pay! When do we want it? Now!" Maui News.

The state Senate passed a bill Tuesday to allow holdover state water diversion permits for farmers, ranchers and utilities, but not for Alexander & Baldwin and subsidiary Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co. to continue to divert East Maui stream water for irrigation. Maui News.

For the eighth year, Maui Electric Company has been named one of the nation’s top utilities for connecting the most solar watts per customer to the grid, earning ninth place in the annual Top 10 list compiled by the Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA), formerly the Solar Electric Power Association. MauiWatch.

Maui Mall is a step closer to beginning its $10 million expansion and renovation project, which will be phased in over the next several years. Maui News.

Kauai

In a 4-3 decision Wednesday, the Budget and Finance Committee voted to defer a proposed general excise tax increase to May. Garden Island.

Residents in the North Shore community of Haena will most likely be teaming up with the state to manage the new Community-Based Fisheries Subsistence Area. Garden Island.

Fern Anuenue Rosenstiel filed papers to run for state representative for Kauai District 14, east and north Kauai. Garden Island.

Board of Agriculture mulls wild animal acts, Japan defense minister visits USS Arizona, Thirty Meter Telescope to be last atop Mauna Kea, dengue fever worries tourism authorities, more government and political news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Zoo animals, such as these elephants at Honolulu Zoo, won't be affected by animal act ban © 2015 All Hawaii News

The state Board of Agriculture is expected to vote today on an initiative that would ban wild animals, such as lions, elephants and tigers, from being brought to Hawaii for display at circuses and fairs. Star-Advertiser.

The State Board of Agriculture will be reviewing the formal rule proposal banning the importation of wild animal acts to Hawaii Tuesday morning. KITV4.

Japan’s defense minister has arrived in Hawaii to meet senior U.S. military officials this week. Defense Minister Gen Nakatani was scheduled to lay a wreath at the USS Arizona Memorial on Monday. He’ll also due to see a ballistic missile defense radar and a guided missile cruiser at Pearl Harbor. Associated Press.

The state’s largest labor federation and three local chambers of commerce have announced their support of the $4.3 billion buyout of Hawaiian Electric Industries by Florida-based NextEra Energy. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell signed into law Monday measures that range from rezoning land in Waikiki to ensuring that homeowners who are renovating their homes don’t miss out on property tax exemptions. Civil Beat.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell and members of the Strategic Housing Development office presented Monday the city’s plan to convert a former school campus in Makiki into a transitional housing facility. KHON2.

The Hawaii Community Development Authority says a $7 million appropriation from the Legislature to move utility lines underground in Kalaeloa isn't enough to complete the project after bids to do the work came in high, and it will ask for an additional $6 million. Star-Advertiser.

Doubt continues to reign over the ownership of Ansaldo, the Italian rail-car maker that has the $1.4 billion contract to build and operate the train cars for Honolulu’s rail transit system, as Italian regulators are taking a complaint over Hitachi’s bid for the company seriously. Pacific Business News.

People living in tents and makeshift shacks on state land bordering the Waianae Boat Harbor have long known their situation was precarious at best.  Civil Beat.

Hawaii

The University of Hawaii has made it official: the Thirty Meter Telescope site will be the last spot on Mauna Kea to be developed for astronomy. Tribune-Herald.

The University of Hawaii is confirming that the planned location for the Thirty Meter Telescope on the Northern Plateau of the Mauna Kea summit will be the “last new area on the mountain where a telescope project will be contemplated or sought.” Big Island Video News.

While tourism apparently hasn't suffered much yet, there's growing concern the visitor industry on the Big Island could take a major hit if the number of dengue fever cases continue to mount. Star-Advertiser.

The Big Island’s dengue fever outbreak reached 92 cases Monday, matching the number confirmed on Maui during a 2001 outbreak. Tribune-Herald.

There are nearly 90 confirmed dengue fever cases on the Big Island, primarily centered in Kona.   One elected official in a neighboring district is concerned the state is not doing enough to prevent its spread. Hawaii Public Radio.

Maui

The County of Maui Department of Environmental Management reported that a wastewater overflow of approximately 2,160 gallons occurred on Thursday, Nov. 19, 2015 at the Paukūkalo Pump Station along Waiehu Beach Road. Maui Now.

Kauai

Kauai police officials are warning the public to be aware of fake $100 bills with red Chinese markings being used to buy merchandise. Star-Advertiser.

Three experienced voyagers from Kauai who set out nearly two decades ago to build the island's first long-distance Polynesian canoe in more than a century are almost ready to set sail. Associated Press.

Lanai

Shipping volume between Honolulu and Lanai took a double-digit dive for the first nine months of this year compared to last year. Maui News.

USS Arizona Memorial closed for repairs, doctors' records kept secret, dengue informational meetings set on Big Island, longtime legislator Takamine dies, Hanalei Stream restored, county settles 2008 honeymoon drowning lawsuit, housing costs and homelessness rise, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

USS Arizona Memorial, courtesy national Park Service

The National Park Service is indefinitely suspending visits to the USS Arizona Memorial while engineers study a potential safety issue with its dock. The park service said Thursday officials noticed bolts connecting the dock to the memorial were stressed. Associated Press.

Policies block out full picture. Consumers can’t easily find potentially troubling information on doctors because state law and practices limit what’s public. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s housing shortage now has a number — nearly 66,000 housing units are needed over the next ten years. What happens next? Hawaii Public Radio.

Homelessness in Hawaii has grown in recent years, leaving the state with 487 homeless per 100,000 people, the nation's highest rate per capita, above New York and Nevada, according to federal statistics. Associated Press.


Homelessness in Hawaii grows, defying image of paradise. Associated Press.

Raising marine animals for sale was a record- breaking business in Hawaii last year, according to a new federal report, though the major driver of the growth in local aquaculture farming is murky. Star-Advertiser.

The Trans Pacific Partnership and its corresponding and supporting military "pivot" have been impacting the lives of Pacific peoples for years through military-industrial buildups, the removal of indigenous self-determination, environmental degradation and wealth extraction. Hawaii Independent.

Oahu

A Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation board member serves as a director at the law firm that will be paid to defend the city in a challenge to the validity of key votes on the rail project. Star-Advertiser.

The median price of a single-family home on Oahu rose 4.3 percent in October to $720,000 as sales jumped by 5 percent, while the median price of a condominium increased by 5 percent to $370,000 on a smaller bump in sales, the Honolulu Board of Realtors reported Saturday. Pacific Business News.

Honolulu doesn’t just coincidentally have some of the highest-priced median homes, condos and rents in the country. A panoply of intertwined public policies, rules and regulations have helped to drive prices up and, recent data suggests, they continue to do so. Civil Beat.

The Institute for Human Services had one year to test the Housing First concept and find 115 permanent homes for clients — helping to alleviate Oahu’s homeless crisis. Star-Advertiser.

The number of sexual assault reports on the University of Hawaii at Manoa campus remained unchanged in 2014 compared to the previous year. Hawaii News Now.

State officials say they hope the Aiea Public Library’s photovoltaic solar panels will be activated early next year, nearly a year and a half after the facility opened at the former Aiea Sugar Mill site. Star-Advertiser.

Weeks of wet weather may have left Oahu a greener place, but it’s causing headaches for city crews trying to keep up with the out-of-control growth. But now the city thinks it may have a solution, but some in the public are not too happy about it. KHON2.

Tammy Mencel has been named publisher and market president of Pacific Business News, effective immediately, Whitney Shaw, president and CEO of American City Business Journals, PBN's parent company, announced Thursday. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

Department of Health: Late information hampered fight against dengue. West Hawaii Today.

Public informational meetings have been scheduled throughout the island to update residents on the recent dengue fever outbreak. Big Island Now.

Hawaii County has closed the book on a negligence lawsuit stemming from a 2008 honeymoon tragedy at Punaluu Black Sand Beach. West Hawaii Today.

The results of Bleachapalooza, the recent statewide attempt to survey coral bleaching, shows that it’s been more severe on West Hawaii compared to the east side of the state — with some species showing nearly 100 percent bleaching, one of the organizers reported. West Hawaii Today.

Yoshito Takamine, a longtime advocate for Hawaii labor laws and one of the architects of the groundbreaking Hawaii Prepaid Health Care Act, died Tuesday, October 27, at his home in Honokaa surrounded by family. He was 89 years old. Hawaii News Now.

Maui

Maui state Rep. Angus McKelvey pleaded no contest Friday in Honolulu District Court for failing to file a complete and accurate candidate spending report with the state Campaign Spending Commission and for allowing an unauthorized person to receive and disperse campaign funds, according to an announcement from the state Department of the Attorney General. Maui News.

Heavy rainfall this summer caused Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co. to sustain significant losses in the third quarter, furthering a trend that could spur drastic changes for Hawaii's last sugar plantation. Maui News.

Kauai

On Kauai, 480 homeless people received services last fiscal year from the state homeless outreach program the Care-A-Van, a mobile outreach program operated by Kauai Economic Opportunity, Inc. That number, according to KEO, is the best and most up-to-date estimate of the total number of homeless people on the island. Garden Island.

State officials joined local taro farmers on Friday to commemorate the completion of an extensive, $2.1 million restoration of Hanalei Stream on Kauai. Star-Advertiser.

A multi-million dollar stream restoration project of Hanalei Stream is finished, according to the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Garden Island.

Anahola is now home of the largest solar array in the state. And the solar panels contributing to that designation — all 59,000 of them — were celebrated Saturday at a dedication ceremony attended by about 60 people. Garden Island.

Lanai

Maui County Council members adopted a resolution Friday to extend by approximately three months the amount of time they have to finish the Lanai Community Plan update. Maui News.

Native Hawaiian march draws thousands to Waikiki, Monsanto lobbyist hired to head Maui agency, medical marijuana dispensary businesses vie for limited licenses, feds take Health Department to task on grants, Oahu residents cite homeless growth, Maui hospitals attract suitors, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaiian march in Waikiki, courtesy Walter Ritte

Thousands of demonstrators, many carrying Hawaiian flags, marched through Waikiki on Sunday in an appeal to government to protect Hawaii’s natural resources for future generations. Star-Advertiser.

Thousands of Hawaiians mobilized in Waikiki on Sunday for the “Aloha Aina Unity March” — a massive show of strength that organizers hope to translate into ongoing political actions. Civil Beat.

Thousands of Aloha Aina advocates marched down Waikiki on Sunday striving to send a message to visiting astronomers and tourists. Hawaii News Now.

Medical marijuana dispensaries won’t be operating for another year, and the state Department of Health isn’t even accepting applications for licenses to grow and sell marijuana until January. But potential licensees are already acquiring land, entering partnerships and raising money to boost their chances of obtaining one of the eight licenses that will be available. Civil Beat.


Hawaii is at risk of losing federal water infrastructure improvement funds if the state doesn't start lending the money to counties more efficiently. Associated Press.

Year after year, the Hawaii Department of Health has failed to spend tens of millions of federal dollars earmarked for shoring up Hawaii’s drinking water infrastructure, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Star-Advertiser.


On the fifth floor of the Hawaii State Capitol Friday, state and federal officials inked a 2015 Hawaii Catastrophic Hurricane Plan as the islands face another potential tropical storm. Civil Beat.


Oahu

Oahu residents overwhelmingly believe the island’s homeless problem has gotten worse over the past year and is hurting both the overall economy and their own quality of life, according to a new Hawaii Poll. Star-Advertiser.


Residents say they like the idea of homeless shelters in places such as Sand Island, and even say they’re willing to have a temporary shelter in their own neighborhood, if it helps ease the overall problem, according to a new Hawaii Poll. Star-Advertiser.


Both Governor David Ige and Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell sat down with Hawaii News Now and the Star-Advertiser to discuss the results of the poll on homelessness in Hawaii.

The National Park Service on Friday said it was naming the superintendent of national parks in the Seattle area to oversee the USS Arizona Memorial, which has been rocked by alleged ticket sales even though people aren’t ever supposed to pay to visit the solemn site honoring World War II dead. Associated Press.

Two hospitals serving some of Oahu's most vulnerable patients are in financial crisis. Leahi and Maluhia hospitals have frozen admissions and are cutting staff. They're also reducing the number of available beds by 25-percent, a decision that will have a broader impact for medical care around the island. Hawaii Public Radio.

The cautionary context for Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s imminent plan to convert Oahu’s 50,000, 2,300-kelvin, high-pressure sodium (HPS) streetlights to brighter, bluer, 4,000K LED lamps — despite public pleas that he consider a cost-neutral and less harsh, 2,700-to-3,000K alternative — certainly calls for some review. Civil Beat.


It's no secret that The University of Hawaii Athletics Department has been losing money for years. Now, the question is will its new athletic director be able to change that fact? KITV4.


Hawaii

A dispute over who should build a senior living center in Kailua-Kona has one party warning there could be a glut of such units for seniors, or the area could end up having no new units at all. West Hawaii Today.

A report of shifting crime levels and complaints about officers on Mauna Kea were talked about Friday during the Hawaii County Police Commission meeting in Waimea. West Hawaii Today.

One year after Tropical Storm Iselle made landfall on Hawaii Island, its lasting impact may be one of better preparedness in the event of future storms. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Two major Hawaii health care organizations are preparing their proposals to manage the state's public hospitals on Maui. Pacific Business News.


The head of the Maui region of Hawaii Health Systems Corp. told PBN Friday it was disappointed that the United Public Workers union filed a complaint for an injunction to block its path towards privatization. Pacific Business News.


Carol Reimann, who had been community and government affairs manager for Monsanto Hawaii, has been named director of the Department of Housing and Human Concerns, Mayor Alan Arakawa announced Friday. Maui News.

In a move that’s sure to keep the county’s anti-Monsanto/GMO activists buzzing for months (but perfectly illustrates the very tight bonds that connect local government with big business), Maui County Mayor Alan Arakawa has appointed Carol Reimann to be the new Housing and Human Concerns Director. MauiTime.

Despite criticism from activists against genetically modified organisms, Carol Reimann does not expect her experience working for Monsanto Hawaii will affect any decisions she makes in her new job as director of the county Department of Housing & Human Concerns. Maui News.

Preserving the historic character of bridges along Hana Highway, some of which are more than a century old, is a top concern as the state finalizes a comprehensive plan to maintain those landmarks. Maui News.

Maui Electric Co. is moving into large scale - "first of their kind on Maui" solar ventures with plans to purchase a total of 5.7 megawatts of photovoltaic power from projects in Lahaina and Kihei. Maui News.

County crews continue to respond to waterline breaks in South Maui and Haʻikū. Maui Now.

Kauai

Swim at your own risk. No plans for lifeguard towers at Kalapaki Beach. Garden Island.

The Kauai Creative Technology Center, a project of the Kauai Economic Development Board, will provide a multipurpose creative technology facility for workforce training, a hub for film and music industry professionals, as well as an audio and video resource center for members of the community. Garden Island.

USS Arizona reopens, $130M lost on defunct Hawaii Obamacare, Hanabusa moves on, mining dust-up on Big Island, Maui residents fight sugarcane smoke, Native Hawaiian Roll Commission must release enrollment list, Ellison's Lanai resort plans, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

USS Arizona Memorial courtesy photo

National Park Service officials plan to reopen tours to the USS Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor starting at 7:30 a.m. Friday, after more than a week of repairs to the site’s floating dock and brow. Star-Advertiser.

Repairs to the USS Arizona Memorial's floating dock and brow are nearly complete. The Navy says it anticipates having the repairs finalized by Friday morning. Hawaii News Now.

The state is walking away from a $130 million investment in the Hawaii Health Connector and permanently moving the insurance exchange to the federal Obamacare program. Star-Advertiser.

Is Colleen Hanabusa Through with Politics? The former congresswoman has been named to the board of directors of Hawaii Gas, her second prominent appointment in less than a week. Civil Beat.

A Circuit Court judge has ordered the Native Hawaiian Roll Commission to make public the list of those who have registered to participate in the nation-building campaign funded by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. The conservative watchdog group Judicial Watch, which filed the lawsuit with help from the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, hailed the ruling as a victory for open government. Star-Advertiser.

A state court has ordered the Native Hawaiian Roll Commission to release the enrollment list it is using to form a Hawaiian government. The lawsuit was filed in Circuit Court in Honolulu in February by the nonprofit, conservative Judicial Watch and the libertarian-leaning nonprofit Grassroot Institute of Hawaii after the two groups were not able to obtain the roll information through an open records request. Civil Beat.

All that infighting between the Chess Club, the Opihis, the Tokuda Four and the few nonaligned Hawaii state senators has finally concluded. For now, anyway. On Thursday the Senate released its list of committee assignments following the palace coup of Oahu’s Donna Mercado Kim last month by Ron Kouchi of Kauai. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Hawaiian Telcom officials said Honolulu 911 system was working normally Thursday night after fixes were made when the emergency system was experiencing technical problems. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu has a new man in charge of running elections, tracking legislation and making sure the public is kept in the loop on important City Council decisions. The Honolulu City Council voted unanimously earlier this week to appoint Glen Takahashi to a six-year term as city clerk. Civil Beat.

The Honolulu City Council passed two measures yesterday to provide financial assistance for businesses hurt by construction of O’ahu’s rail transit system. Hawaii Public Radio.

A University of Hawaii professor said he was harassed by his department because his criticisms of GMOs. Hawaii News Now.

The concrete barriers that have blocked cars from parking at popular Laniakea Beach for the past year and a half must be removed under a new court order — but it’s not certain yet that they’ll stay gone for good. Star-Advertiser.

The hills above Kahuku have proven to be a prime place to harness power from the wind. One wind farm has already been planted and another could go up soon. It’s a plan that have some residents concerned. KITV4.

A bill to create a special fund for the Waipio Peninsula Soccer Park won City Council approval Wednesday as several user groups and residents insisted that revenue generated at the complex should be directed back to its upkeep and maintenance. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

A communication breakdown became apparent Wednesday evening at a community input meeting involving proposed cuts to East Hawaii’s safety net hospital system. Facing a $7 million shortfall in the next fiscal year, Hawaii Health Systems Corp.’s East Hawaii Regional Board voted last month to propose cuts to East Hawaii’s Home Care Services, one wing of adult inpatient psychiatric care at Hilo Medical Center, and a reduction in the number of long-term care beds at all facilities. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii County says it is revising its procedures regarding pre-employment medical examinations and urinalyses. Star-Advertiser.

The board that controls the roads in Hawaiian Ocean View Estates has successfully petitioned to intervene in administrative hearings over expansion of mining activities in the neighborhood. West Hawaii Today.

When their eight-month stay in a dome on Mauna Loa ends June 13, six crew members participating in the longest Mars habitat study hosted in the United States will leave their simulated red planet in a Chinook helicopter and “re-enter” Earth’s atmosphere by skydiving with the Army’s Golden Knights parachute team over Kailua-Kona. Tribune-Herald.

Last year, an election season helped fuel the bang of Kailua-Kona’s Fourth of July celebration. But that political fervor won’t add to the kitty this year for the fireworks show that is launched over Kailua Bay. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Maui residents are calling for Maui's last sugar cane plantation to stop burning fields, claiming the smoke is causing adverse health effects. Associated Press.

Maui residents file complaints over severe cane burn smoke. KHON2.

A finding of no significant environmental impact has been issued for Lokahi Pacific's 16-unit Mokuhau affordable housing project. Maui News.

The median price of a single-family home on Maui last month rose by 13 percent on flat sales, while condominium prices fell slightly by less than 1 percent on fewer sales, when compared to the same time last year, according to data compiled by the Realtors Association of Maui. Pacific Business News.

Kauai

Keeping Kauai prepared. Multi-agency exercises taking place all week. Garden Island.


Lanai

Plans to build a controversial third resort on Lana'i have been removed from a key Maui County planning document, but hundreds of acres of homes, a university campus and film studio are still planned for the island's future. Hawaii News Now.

The Maui County Council Planning Committee has made significant revisions to the Lanai Community Plan that members hope will assuage residents' concerns about development on the island owned by billionaire Larry Ellison. Maui News.