Hawaii 'Bleachapalooza' coral inventory set for Saturday, military, EPA ink agreement on leaky Red Hill storage tanks, helipads coming to Ellison's Lanai property, UH Cancer Center money unresolved, wind works on Maui, Big Island, Honolulu rail work chugging along, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Bird wrasse amid Hawaii coral © 2015 All Hawaii News

The state department of Land and Natural Resources launches a “Beachapalooza” event this weekend to bring attention to the damaging effects of coral bleaching in the islands. Maui Now.

Volunteers will be searching for the damage to the island’s coral reefs caused by high water temperatures Saturday, and more people are needed. They’re looking for coral bleaching, when corals go from their normal vibrancy to a whiteness close to death. West Hawaii Today.

NextEra Energy Inc., the company proposing to buy Hawaiian Electric Co. for $4.3 billion, won’t go through the acquisition process a second time if Hawaii regulators ultimately nix the current proposal that’s on the table, according to public documents. Pacific Business News.

The Hawaii Innocence Project is looking to revamp its image in the community. It was started in 2005 by retiring UH law professor Virginia Hench and local defense attorneys Susan Arnett, Brook Hart and Bill Harrison. Like other Innocence Projects throughout the U.S., its goal is to free the wrongfully convicted. Civil Beat.

Hawaii has a new sheriff in town. The Department of Public Safety announced its appointment Thursday of Renee Sonobe Hong to head the state Sheriff Division. Civil Beat.

Oahu

State and federal officials said Thursday that “immediate and long-term” actions being required of the Navy will help reduce the threat of future leaks at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility. Star-Advertiser.

A new agreement between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Hawaii Department of Health, the U.S. Navy and the Defense Logistics Agency outlines a plan to upgrade underground fuel storage tanks in Red Hill over the next 20 years. Civil Beat.

Senator Laura Thielen deems Honolulu’s drinking water to be at continued contamination risk even after the Navy and the state struck an agreement today concerning leaks from fuel tanks at the Red Hill facility. Hawaii Independent.

Members of the University of Hawaii Board of Regents Budget and Finance Committee couldn’t agree Thursday on how much money to seek from the state Legislature for the financially troubled UH Cancer Center, and instead passed out a budget proposal omitting the $5 million university officials had wanted. Star-Advertiser.

A structural assessment of the Wilson Tunnel on Likelike Highway has identified additional deterioration of stainless-steel rods supporting the ceiling, state Department of Transportation officials said Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

Workers are almost done building the rail system’s Pearl City-based high-tech operations center — a milestone that rail leaders touted Thursday — but the deal for the city to own the land under that site still isn’t done and at least one key rail official is concerned about how that might affect the project. Star-Advertiser.

HART Executive Director Dan Grabauskas, along with Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell, sounded upbeat when showing off the structures and rail already being laid down at HART’s Rail Operations Center. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu buildings deal with elevator issues, maintenance problems. KHON2.

A city crew patched potholes on Halekauwila Street in Kakaako on Thursday following weeks of heavy rain, but the public shouldn’t expect the same to be done for several nearby streets in shabby condition. That’s because the city has discontinued maintenance of at least five streets in central Kakaako after the private owner of the public thoroughfares restricted parking along major portions of Queen, Waimanu, Kawaiahao, Ilaniwai and Cummins streets. Star-Advertiser.

A federal judge sentenced a former executive director of the Hawaii Center for Independent Living to 21 months in prison Thursday for embezzling nearly $180,000 in federal grant money from the now-defunct nonprofit organization, which provided services to people with disabilities.Star-Advertiser.

A third former employee of Waianae Community Outreach has been charged with felony theft, Hawaii Attorney General Doug Chin announced Thursday. Civil Beat.

Firefighters are investigating a potentially toxic gas release at the Waiau Power Plant that occurred Thursday evening. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii

A massive energy kite being developed in California could be deployed for testing near Waimea by early next year. West Hawaii Today.

Cinder mining operations will likely be expanded in Hawaiian Ocean View Estates without the county being forced to regulate assessments on private roads there, if the Windward Planning Commission follows through on planning director recommendations following a protracted contested case hearing that wrapped up Thursday. West Hawaii Today.

How to keep energy costs down dominated the public hearing at Kealakehe High School on a possible merger between Hawaii Electric Company and Florida-based NextEra Wednesday night. The hearing was organized by the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission, part of a series running across the state. West Hawaii Today.

On the Big Island, work is underway for a wind farm in South Kohala. The project will consist of five wind turbines – generating 3.3 megawatts of energy – for the Department of Water Supply wells. KITV4.

This weekend, Puna residents will have another opportunity to live through the harrowing approach of the June 27 lava flow. “The Pahoa Flow,” a documentary made by Pahoa-area residents Josh Ballauer, Jeremiah Lofgreen and Matt Tavares, will premiere Saturday at Uncle Robert’s Awa Bar in Kalapana. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

A Maui County Council committee Wednesday recommended fast-track approval of the 184-unit Kenolio Apartments affordable rental housing project in Kihei, with a member saying affordable housing is "direly needed." Maui News.

Maui Electric Co. has steadily increased the amount of wind energy that it utilizes for power generation, leaving less curtailed, or wasted, energy on the table, according to public documents. Pacific Business News.

South Maui state Rep. Kaniela Ing and Hawaiian activists Walter Ritte Jr. and Dr. Noa Aluli are among the candidates vying to be delegates to a Native Hawaiian constitutional convention. Maui News.

Kauai

Former deputy prosecutor Lisa Arin will officially announce her bid for the office of Kauai’s Prosecuting Attorney in the 2016 election Tuesday. Garden Island.

The planned revival of the shuttered Coco Palms Resort on Kauai is back on track after the county approved demolition permits for the famous resort. Star-Advertiser.

A local subsidiary of a Texas-based gasoline company has made a deal to acquire a mix of gas stations, convenience stores and Subway restaurants on Kauai from a 57-year-old kamaaina firm. Star-Advertiser.

Molokai

Molokai residents voiced largely opposition two weeks ago to a proposed merger between Hawaiian Electric and NextEra, a Florida-based energy company. The Public Utilities Commission (PUC) is gathering public feedback on the proposed $4.3 million merger and will make a decision within the next six months. Molokai’s feedback, said Commission Chair Randall Iwase, has been in keeping with what they’ve heard so far around the state. Molokai Dispatch.

Lanai

Billionaire Larry Ellison, who purchased 98 percent of the Hawaiian Island of Lanai several years ago for $300 million, has plans to develop helistop pads at the two luxury Four Seasons resorts that he owns on the Pineapple Island. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii set to lose federal Safe Drinking Act funds, state #2 in military money, Affordable Care Act waiver makes Hawaii first, more on medical marijuana dispensaries, Punchbowl condo project opposed, sex offenders get special treatment, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Freshwater stream enters Pacific Ocean © 2015 All Hawaii News

The federal government is withholding $8 million — or all of the 2015 fiscal year funding that’s earmarked for repairing Hawaii’s drinking water infrastructure — because the Hawaii Department of Health continues to do a poor job of spending federal funds, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s Department of Health shouldn’t receive any more federal funds under the Safe Drinking Water Act until it cleans up its own act, the Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Inspector General said in a report made public Monday. Daily Caller.

Read full EPA report on Hawaii's drinking water infrastructure spending here.

Hawaii still ranked No. 2 in the nation in fiscal 2014 among states with the greatest military spending as a percentage of gross domestic product, but those expenditures slipped to $7.6 billion in 2014 from $8.1 billion the previous year, the Department of Defense said in a new report. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s first draft of an Affordable Care Act waiver proposal is the first of its kind in the nation. The state is seeking public input on a waiver to harmonize its relatively progressive Prepaid Health Care Act, which passed in 1974, with the federal health care law. Pacific Business News.

Protections Proposed for 49 Hawaii Species. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service wants to add 10 animals and 39 plants to the Endangered Species Act. Civil Beat.

Should lawyers be allowed to represent medical marijuana dispensaries that are legal under Hawaii state law but not under federal law? That’s the question the state Supreme Court is grappling with, and it’s asked for public input. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii’s record run of visitor arrivals and spending could be in jeopardy next year even though airlines are bringing more seats to the islands than ever before. Star-Advertiser.

While the visitor growth in August was not as strong as in previous months, Hawaii’s visitor industry continues to exceed 2014 records in spending and arrivals. Spending reached $10.3 billion for the first eight months of 2015 and contributed $1.1 billion in state tax revenue. West Hawaii Today.

Virgin America, AirAsiaX and Jin Air will begin operating flights between Hawaii and the West Coast and Asia by the end of the year, the Hawaii Tourism Authority says. Pacific Business News.

State lawmakers have confronted the issue of how to allow charitable giving by candidates in a way that creates a public benefit but doesn't give incumbents an unfair advantage over those seeking to challenge them politically. Maui News.

Treating Hawaii’s Sex Offenders: ‘Here, We Don’t Give Up on People’ Of the state program’s 800-plus “graduates,” only 20 have returned to prison after committing a new sex crime, a recidivism rate of slightly more than 2 percent. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Plans for a contentious condominium project on the makai slopes of Punchbowl crater will be subject to a public hearing Wednesday morning. Star-Advertiser.

Pearl Harbor was once known as Oahu’s “bread basket” because it was such an important fishing area, teeming with ocean life. But since the construction of the iconic U.S. military base, the pristine harbor has been marred by environmental disaster. Civil Beat.

The cost of a parking ticket and other traffic violations on the University of Hawaii-Manoa campus would significantly increase next summer under a proposal that would bring campus fines in line with citations from Honolulu police and state sheriff’s deputies. Star-Advertiser.

More than a year after a violent fight between a Honolulu police officer and his girlfriend was caught on surveillance video, the internal investigation is finally done. HPD Sgt. Darren Cachola was not indicted for domestic violence but his own department could hand down stiff punishment against the 19-year veteran of the force. Hawaii News Now.

Goto Construction has been contracted by the city to refurbish 15 playgrounds across Oahu, and they’re hoping to bring a new one online every week. KHON2.

Hawaii

NASA’s announcement Monday that it found evidence of liquid water on Mars was reassuring for a University of Hawaii at Hilo team hoping to select the landing site for the first manned mission to the red planet. Tribune-Herald.

The Hawaii Public Utility Commission has granted the request made by Parker Ranch subsidiary Paniolo Power Company, LLC to withdraw from the HEI-NextEra merger docket. Big Island Video News.

A trial begins today in a lawsuit that accuses the state Department of Land and Natural Resources of failing to properly oversee the Army’s use of ceded lands at the Pohakuloa Training Area on Hawaii island. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

Kahului is one of the most tax-friendly places for retirees in Hawaiʻi, according to a recent study from SmartAsset, a New York-based financial technology company. Maui Now.

Kauai

Visitor expenditures on Kauai increased 15.5 percent (to $1.1 billion), which was boosted by the growth in visitor arrivals (up 4.5 percent to 802,554) and air seats into Lihue (up 5.2 percent to 473,200). Per person per day spending also saw a double-digit increase of 12.2 percent, which helped the island maintain its momentum for the first eight months of 2015. Garden Island.

The Department of Public Works used sand to fill holes at Kapaa Beach Park after an old cesspool was removed Monday morning. Garden Island.

Hawaii State Hospital revamp planned, no ho‘oponopono for Mauna Kea protesters, Thirty Meter Telescope fight costs University of Hawaii, Maui candidate files campaign spending complaint Pacific Resource Partnership, ACLU loses bid for restraining order against homeless sweeps, weather brings pumpkin shortage, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii State Hospital, courtesy asylumprojects.org

The Hawaii Department of Health is planning to overhaul the state’s psychiatric hospital in Kaneohe — more than doubling the number of beds and installing tighter security — in light of hundreds of reported assaults by patients against staff in recent years and a sharp increase in the number of people being committed to the facility. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii State Hospital would more than double its capacity while improving employee safety under an updated master plan unveiled Tuesday, health officials said. Civil Beat.

The state Department of Health is unveiling an updated plan for the Hawai‘i State Hospital, that would more than double the amount of available beds for patients. Hawaii Public Radio.

Six years after President Obama launched the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, the commission created to support the initiative is making its first official visit to Hawaii. Civil Beat.

The State of Hawai‘i has ranked fourth in Kiplinger’s list of the country’s least tax-friendly states, topped only by California, Connecticut and New Jersey. Maui Now.

A public charter school’s academic and financial performance for the first time will determine whether its contract with the state should be renewed when the first round of performance-based contracts expire in 2017 — a move that has some schools anxious. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii lawyers must not provide legal services to clients seeking a license to run the state’s first medical marijuana businesses, according to a new formal opinion released by the Disciplinary Board of the Hawaii Supreme Court. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

A federal judge on Tuesday denied the American Civil Liberties Union of Hawai‘i’s request to stop the city from using its sidewalk enforcement laws to remove the homeless from Honolulu streets. Star-Advertiser.

A federal court has denied a request for a temporary restraining order to halt city sweeps of homeless encampments in Honolulu. U.S. District Court Judge Helen Gillmor ruled Tuesday that the court lacked “sufficient information” to determine whether the continued enforcement of the stored property and sidewalk nuisance ordinances would cause “irreparable harm.” Civil Beat.

The civil rights battle for those who live on the streets hit a major speed bump on Tuesday. A federal judge denied a Temporary Restraining Order that would have prevented the City from removing personal belongings from public sidewalks. KITV4.

A federal judge has denied the American Civil Liberties Union's request to immediately stop Honolulu officials from clearing homeless encampments. Star-Advertiser.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation plans to recommend on Friday that the state terminate its lease with Honey Bee USA Inc., the developer of the planned Waikiki Landing at the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor, for nonpayment of more than $425,000 in back rent and for failing to pay the nearly $1 million performance bond and keep the lease free of encumbrances and liens. Star-Advertiser.

Sidewalk cafes are rare in Honolulu, despite the city’s famously good weather. That’s because a city ordinance doesn’t allow them anywhere except in Waikiki. Kakaako, a state redevelopment district, is also exempt from the ban that’s in place by default because the city defines sidewalks as places for walking, not dining. Civil Beat.

Honolulu architecture firm Ferraro Choi and Associates Ltd. has been tapped to design a part of the 5.5-acre “Kakaako Makai Innovation Block,” a partnership between the Hawaii Community Development Authority and the High Technology Development Corp. Pacific Business News.

O’ahu’s over-budget rail transit project is completing mile 5 of its elevated guideway and making its way through the heart of Waipahu.  Officials announced the resolution of a major issue that impacted a number of businesses there. Hawaii Public Radio.

Tanioka’s Seafoods & Catering and about 20 other Waipahu businesses along the rail line will get a partial reprieve from construction now that the left-turn lane into their shopping complex is back, surprisingly. Star-Advertiser.

Aloun Farms has reported a pumpkin shortage due to recent storms and frequent heavy rain. Production has dropped nearly 50 percent. KHON2.

Hawaii

It’s back to court for 10 Thirty Meter Telescope opponents arrested on Mauna Kea after state officials declined to participate in a Hawaiian mediation process known as ho‘oponopono. Tribune-Herald.

The financial impact from legal and other challenges to the Thirty-Meter Telescope at Mauna Kea and the Dan K. Inouye Solar Telescope at Haleakala is beginning to be felt on the University of Hawaii Manoa campus. The UH has already spent $2.2 million in attorney fees defending the construction of the telescopes. Hawaii News Now.

Residents now have a better idea of the cost of protecting water quality and ensuring healthy reefs at Puako Bay. The cost to build private aerobic wastewater processing systems would run about $6 million for Puako residents, and a sewage plant would be $9 million, according to an engineer’s study completed last month. West Hawaii Today.

Leaky pipes can cost big bucks, not only for residents who don’t catch them in time, but also for the Water Department, which generally picks up half the cost of overages, provided the resident fixes the leak. Property owners are allowed one such forgiveness every three years. West Hawaii Today.

The final environmental assessment (EA) for a proposed development mauka of Kahalu’u Beach Park has been published with a Finding of No Significant Impact. Big Island Video News.

Vehicles will be banned from Hilo’s Bayfront Beach beginning Friday. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui County Councilwoman Elle Cochran filed a state Campaign Spending Commission complaint Tuesday against the political action group Pacific Resource Partnership/Forward Progress, alleging that it plotted illegally with a political opponent to unseat her. Star-Advertiser.

An eight-bed special treatment facility for alcohol- and drug-dependent men in a Kihei neighborhood moved closer to reality after receiving a key approval from the state Health Department last week. Maui News.

Maui County's population has grown 5.3 percent in the last five years, pacing ahead of other counties in the state, according to newly released 2014 population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau. Maui News.

Haleakala National Park’s Headquarters Visitor Center, near the park’s entrance, closed down Sunday afternoon for roof repairs that began Monday. The center will be closed until late November. Maui News.

Kauai
The Kauai Island Utility Cooperative will start a pilot program that offers discounted rates to a group of residential customers to encourage them to shift their energy use to the daylight hours to take advantage of the utility’s robust solar resources, the nonprofit co-op said Tuesday. Pacific Business News.

The number of falling endangered seabirds has slowed. A Save Our Shearwaters organizer said only two birds have fallen at Kokee Air Force station since early last week — a big drop off from the 126 reported felled from mid-August to mid-September. Garden Island.

Hawaii coral endangered as hot El Nino persists, rail consultant under ethics investigation, lawmakers seek caregiver training, NextEra takes merger message across islands, UH sells $185M in bonds, council may reprimand Kenoi, principals under fire, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Researchers study coral off Hawaii Island © 2015 All Hawaii News

Researchers say warmer-than-normal ocean temperatures are bleaching large sections of Hawaii's coral for the second year in a row. Meteorologists say waters around Hawaii have been anywhere from 2 to 4 degrees Fahrenheit above normal this summer. Associated Press.

An updated El Nino forecast that predicts a 95 percent chance of warmer ocean temperatures through the winter means Hawaii can expect an increased chance of hurricanes, and muggy weather and hotter-than-usual temperatures, for several months. Star-Advertiser.

© 2015 All Hawaii News

Forecasters with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration say we now have a “strong” El Niño event, upgraded from a “moderate” forecast last month. Maui Now.

A Legislative Working Group is looking at addressing some of the issues facing the estimated 150-thousand-plus Family Caregivers in Hawai’i. Lawmakers heard from community stake-holders today as part of their on-going public hearings. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kamehameha Schools wants to be thought of as an educational system, and not so much as a real estate developer, the head of the $11 billion private charitable educational trust endowment said Thursday. Pacific Business News.

Keli'i Akina is one of six plaintiffs in a lawsuit filed recently against the state of Hawaii and others seeking to stop an election and convention that possibly would help establish a sovereign Native Hawaiian government. Star-Advertiser.

With its board of regents' approval, the University of Hawaii began selling $185 million in revenue bonds Wednesday. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

A high-ranking consultant who oversees construction on Honolulu’s $6 billion rail project is under a city ethics investigation for a sailing excursion he took with his family to watch fireworks along the coast of Oahu on New Year’s Eve. Civil Beat.

Illegal dumping of green waste and years of accumulated silt contributed to the overflow of Waikane Stream on Sunday night, which flooded Kamehameha Highway and blocked Windward Oahu traffic for hours, officials said. Star-Advertiser.

A new group at the University of Hawaii plans to hold three public meetings in September to gather community feedback on the proposed merger of Hawaiian Electric Industries with NextEra Energy. Civil Beat.

Enforcement efforts begin to lower the population of a homeless encampment in Kakaako. Meanwhile, residents are asked to provide some personal information in advance of an emergency to help dispatchers send help quicker. Civil Beat.

Hawaii

Kohala Councilwoman Margaret Wille wants the council to reprimand Mayor Billy Kenoi for inappropriate use of his county credit card, and she’s put a resolution on Wednesday’s council agenda to do just that. West Hawaii Today.

It was a quiet meeting as all cable service for the state was commented upon Thursday night in the West Hawaii Civic Center. There were only two comments made about pending change in service providers.  West Hawaii Today.

NextEra Energy Inc.’s foray into Hawaii has turned out to be a tougher slog than anticipated, according to Eric Gleason, president of the Florida-based company’s Hawaii division. Tribune-Herald.

Maui
Robust tourism, a strengthening labor market and a construction sector that appears poised to break out all point to a promising 2016 for Maui, a local economist told business leaders Thursday at the 41st annual First Hawaiian Bank Economic Outlook Forum. Star-Advertiser.

Wastewater overflowed twice in two months at the entrance to one of Maui's major tourism centers, literally creating a major stink, but a Kaanapali resort official had no complaints about Maui County's reaction to the spills and its operation of the sewer system. Maui News.

A Maui principal is reassigned after getting tough on students at their welcome back assembly. The back-to-school message riled-up students and parents and the Department of Education has now launched an investigation. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

Lisa McDonald, Hanalei Elementary School principal, stood outside of the school Thursday morning, shoulder-to-shoulder with Superintendent Bill Arakaki, watching protesters line the entrance to the parking lot. Garden Island.

A blessing was held Tuesday to mark the start of the seawall repair project fronting Pono Kai Resort. Garden Island.

Council ethics scandals mar $6B Honolulu rail, 11,750-unit Hoopili development projects, 8 more arrested on Mauna Kea, new federal judge named, Molokai coconut grove protected, Kamehameha statue spear recovered, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Honolulu Hale © 2015 All Hawaii News

Separate efforts to halt the city’s $6 billion rail project and the 11,750-unit Ho‘opili development project in West Oahu started Tuesday in different forums. City ethics laws require Council members who have a direct or indirect interest in pending legislation to disclose such interests publicly before voting on them. Star-Advertiser.

Abigail Kawananakoa, a descendant of Hawaiian royalty and millionaire heiress to the James Campbell estate, filed a lawsuit Tuesday that could pose some problems for Honolulu’s $6 billion commuter rail line that’s slated to open in 2019. Civil Beat.

A report conducted by The Friends of Makakilo, Inc. shows that all nine of Honolulu’s City Council members owe their seats, in large-part, to businesses that profit from real estate development. The organization is using the report to ask the City Ethics Commission to take a look at the council votes that went into two of the most lucrative development projects in the history of Hawaii: Honolulu Rail and the accompanying Hoopili housing development. Hawaii Independent.

Honolulu attorney Clare E. Connors was nominated to the federal bench, replacing Chief Judge Susan Oki Mollway in U.S. District Court in Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

A Honolulu attorney has been nominated by President Barack Obama to serve as a U.S. District Court judge in the Hawaii District. Clare E. Connors has been an attorney at the law firm of Davis Levin Livingston in Honolulu since 2011, where her practice focuses on civil litigation. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii Department of Education is seeking to purchase 1,000 portable air conditioner units on short delivery notice to address its short-term crisis in trying to alleviate heat problems in its classrooms across the state, according to public documents. Pacific Business News.

When it Comes to Social Media, David Ige Plays It Safe. The Hawaii governor’s online presence is professional and thorough, but are there ways he could improve his “brand” to govern more effectively? Civil Beat.

Commentary: Lobby the Legislature, and there’s a healthy degree of transparency. Lobby the governor, or department directors or their deputies, and the activities never see the light of day. Civil Beat.

Oahu

A Circuit Court jury awarded about $27 million Tuesday in special and punitive damages to Ewa Beach homeowners who filed a class-action lawsuit against Haseko over a marina dispute, saying the developer violated a consumer protection law. Star-Advertiser.

A Hawaii jury has awarded Ewa Beach homeowners about $27 million in a lawsuit against a developer trying to build a recreational lagoon instead of the marina it originally planned. Associated Press.

There were only three tents for a cleanup crew to dismantle when the city made good on Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s promise to begin clearing out the Kakaako homeless encampment Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

City officials cleared an area on the outskirts of one of Honolulu’s largest homeless encampments on Tuesday. Associated Press.

Sand Island homeless facility to be ready by end of the year. City plans to have all 25 containers ready for move-in by December. KITV4.

Construction defects may be to blame for the flooding problems at University of Hawaii’s West Oahu’s campus, which opened just three years ago.  Hawaii News Now has learned taxpayers will have to pay nearly a quarter of a million dollars for drainage improvements to stop a persistent flooding threat to the school’s library.

An oceanography professor and director of the University of Hawaii’s Center for Microbial Oceanography: Research and Education is among the winners of the 2015 Balzan Prize, an international award that honors achievements in the humanities, natural sciences and culture, as well as peace-focused endeavors. Star-Advertiser.

Groundbreaking for construction of the $25 million first phase of the Culinary Institute of the Pacific at Diamond Head on Tuesday marked the beginning of a new era in culinary education in Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Law enforcement officers arrested eight protesters of the Thirty Meter Telescope early this morning at a camp near the Mauna Kea Visitors Center on Hawaii Island, according to officials with the State Department of Land and Natural Resources. Seven women, ranging in ages from 26 to 65, and one 23 year old man were arrested for allegedly being present in the overnight restricted area along Mauna Kea Observatory Access Road, outlined in the emergency rule passed by the Board of Land and Natural Resources and signed by Governor Ige. Hawaii News Now.

Eight people were arrested early this morning atop Mauna Kea. The Department of Land and Natural Resources tells us it was the second round of arrests under the 120-day-long emergency rule signed by Governor Ige. KHON2.

Members of the Hawaiian community celebrated the finding of a long spear tip snatched from the King Kamehameha statue in Hilo during the holiday weekend as police continued to search for clues to explain the vandalism. Detectives found the six-foot-long ‘ihe Tuesday in overgrowth along the banks of a channel leading to the Wailoa River. Tribune-Herald.

The slaughter last week of Ernest the goat, the beloved mascot of Volcano Garden Arts, is raising awareness of the problem of roving packs of dogs around the island, and in the process, raising money for the Hawaii Island Humane Society. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The West Maui Taxpayers Association will host a meeting to discuss housing needs for the unsheltered, houseless and homeless Sept. 16 at the Lahaina Civic Center. Maui News.

St. Louis-based Charter Communications, Inc. wants to merge with Time Warner Cable, a deal valued at $78.7 billion. That move potentially affects Oceanic Time Warner’s 200,000 or so customers in Hawaii, since the merger will transfer Time Warner’s cable TV franchises over to Charter. As a result, the state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) is holding a series of public hearings on this franchise transfer. The first one for Maui County takes place tomorrow, Sept. 8. MauiTime.

Kauai

Students in Sue Schott’s Kekaha Elementary fourth-grade class try to stay focused on learning in a classroom where the heat index has been in the low 100s since late August. Garden Island.

Molokai

With help from the community, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands has cleaned up Molokai's historic Kapuaiwa Coconut Grove and taken steps to put up a fence to protect the area from pollution and "disrespectful behavior." Maui News.

Sewage spills close famed Waikiki beaches, hit two other islands, Ige nixes liquefied natural gas, Public Utilities Commission sets hearings on Hawaiian Electric sale, Maui mulls parking meters, Catholic cardinal gets Kona DUI, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Waikiki Beach © 2015 All Hawaii News

Waikiki Beach and much of Oahu’s South Shore were placed off-limits Monday after more than 500,000 gallons of sewage, mixed with stormwater, spewed into the ocean from heavy rainfall. Star-Advertiser.

Miles of beaches are still closed Monday night after about half a million gallons of raw sewage overflowed on Atkinson Drive and then poured into the Waikiki side of Magic Island. Hawaii News Now.

Heavy rain caused numerous wastewater discharges across Oahu on Monday, from Kaneohe to Waikiki, where state officials closed Waikiki beaches on Monday due to a 500,000 gallon sewage spill near Ala Moana Center. Pacific Business News.

A massive sewage spill has shut down miles of beaches along Waikīkī and Ala Moana. Flooding from heavy rains caused more than 500,000 gallons of sewage to overflow from manholes near Ala Moana Center. Hawaii Public Radio.

Heavy rains triggered a half-million gallon sewage spill in Honolulu, prompting city officials Monday to close most of the beach fronting Waikiki. Associated Press.

An estimated half a million gallons of sewage water has spilled from a 69-foot pipe that's currently backed up. EMS warns beachgoers to stay out of the water until further notice. KITV4.

The area between Point Panic at Kakaako Waterfront Park to Kapahulu Groin in Waikiki is closed because of Monday’s sewage spill along Ala Moana Boulevard that was estimated to be 500,000 gallons. KHON2.

Gov. David Ige blew a hole in the plans of Hawaii utilities to burn liquefied natural gas to generate electricity, saying it would only delay the state’s eventual switch to renewable energy. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige said Monday that the state does not need liquefied natural gas as part of its energy future and says Hawaii should focus on developing renewable energy rather than importing LNG. Pacific Business News.

Hawaiian Electric Co. is not backing down from its commitment to ship liquefied natural gas to Hawaii, following Gov. David Ige’s new stance made known on Monday that he is in opposition to LNG being imported to the state as a replacement for oil. Pacific Business News.

The Public Utilities Commission will be conducting public listening sessions next month on the proposed merger of Hawai’i’s major electricity provider. Hawaii Public Radio.

Inmate Work Furlough Program: Statistical Success or a Public Danger? Prison reform advocates and tough-on-crime proponents glean different conclusions from the same numbers concerning well-publicized prisoners who walk away — and the few who commit new crimes. Civil Beat.

Linda Lingle says she’s not giving political advice to her new boss Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner, even though he considers her a “superstar.” The former Hawaii governor, who spent eight years at the helm of the Aloha State, is now earning $198,000 as Rauner’s chief operating officer. But in a recent interview she insists she’s only helping with the day-to-day operations of the state. Civil Beat.

Oahu

State Rep. Marcus Oshiro contends the number of homeless people in Wahiawa is woefully underreported, so he’s bringing together government officials, landowners, businesses and social service providers Tuesday night to get a clearer picture of what’s really going on. Star-Advertiser.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs, a major landowner around the Kakaako homeless encampment, is in talks with state and city officials about using one or two of its Kakaako properties to create short-term housing that could potentially accommodate all of the estimated 300 homeless occupants. Star-Advertiser.

While the Honolulu Police Department has not implemented a body camera program, some officers are using their own personal devices while in the field. Associated Press.

A printing problem is plaguing the state’s largest daily newspaper and the Honolulu Star-Advertiser doesn’t know when it will be fixed. KHON2.

Hawaii

Pepeekeo’s Hu Honua Bioenergy Facility once again has taken the top spot on the Hawaii State Energy Office’s list of renewable energy projects. The list ranks 45 of the state’s top clean energy leaders and is updated twice a year. Hu Honua first took the top spot in January. Tribune-Herald.

A decade after Hawaii County created a new sign ordinance and then backed off enforcing it, questions are arising in Kailua-Kona about what are and are not legal signs. West Hawaii Today.

School started for Hawaii Community College students at their new Palamanui campus on Monday morning. West Hawaii Today.

One of the high-ranking American officials of the Roman Catholic Church was arrested for drunken driving late last week in Kailua-Kona. The Most Eminent Cardinal William Joseph Levada, 79, of Menlo Park, Calif., was stopped at about midnight Thursday on Hina Lani Street and charged with DUI, according to the police arrest log. Tribune-Herald.

Approximately 70,000 gallons of partially treated wastewater was released into waters near the Kulaimano Wastewater Treatment Plant in Pepeekeo between Sunday evening and Monday morning. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

On Friday, Aug. 28. the Maui Redevelopment Agency will take up a number of issues, all of which are parking-related. The agenda shows that the big new item involves the potential “use of Capital Improvement funds for the construction of additional parking at the Wailuku Municipal Parking lot” but “old business” includes items like the “Parking Pricing RFP” and discussion on “Revisions to Parking ordinance” that will likely involve parking meters. MauiTime.

Maui County students and teachers are feeling the heat this school year with temperatures reaching 90 degrees nearly every day this month and causing principals to look for relief from state legislators and the Department of Education. Maui News.

Kauai

A sewage spill happened at the Princeville Wastewater Treatment Plant sometime between Sunday and Monday, according to Marshall Lum, a supervisor of the state Department of Health’s Wastewater Branch. Garden Island.

Apollo Kauai, a grassroots organization that promotes the use of alternative energy, is hosting a discussion on climate change called “He moku he wa’a,” which means “an island is a canoe.” Garden Island.

Hawaiian monk seal protections expanded, Maori visit Mauna Kea, more gay tourists sought, Big Island Roundup ban bill yanked, Laniakea barriers coming down, Maui home sold for $41.8M, state mental health hospital due $150M in upgrades, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaiian monk seal and pup, courtesy NOAA

The federal government expanded the critical habitat for Hawaiian monk seals by 7,000 square miles Tuesday, a move aimed at preventing the declining species from going extinct. Civil Beat.

Federal officials are expanding protections for Hawaiian monk seals around portions of the main Hawaiian Islands in an attempt to help save the species,  which is believed to number only about 1,100 and is declining at a rate of about 4 percent a year. Star-Advertiser.

The National Marine Fisheries Service today issued a final rule protecting nearly 7,000 square miles of critical habitat for Hawaiian monk seals, a species considered among the world’s most endangered marine mammals. Maui Now.

Federal regulators have issued a final rule geared at protecting 7,000 square miles of critical habitat for Hawaiian monk seals, one of the world’s most endangered marine mammals. Garden Island.

Dozens of tourism officials are meeting today in Waikīkī to discuss LGBT travel in Hawai‘i. Hotels, tour groups, and local businesses are hoping to better promote the islands as a destination for the gay market. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii's the new state health director, Dr. Ginny Pressler, plans to ask the Legislature for $150 million next session to build a state-of-the-art forensic facility at the Hawaii State Hospital to add more beds, specialized care and better equipment. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii Department of Education is planning to beef up the number of investigators tasked with reviewing cases of employee misconduct later this month, one of several initiatives aimed at streamlining a process that can currently drag on for up to a year. Civil Beat.

The Department of Education has placed 43 employees on leave during an investigation into alleged misconduct. Associated Press.

Hawaii had the fewest non-fatal injuries from firearms in 2010 in a comparison of 18 states, including California, New York and Florida, a new study shows. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Nearly $40 million has been invested in a $200 million plan to revitalize farming in Central Oahu by providing farmers with land, water, housing, packaging and shipping facilities, one of the plan’s major stakeholders said. Pacific Business News.

State transportation officials have until Monday to remove the barriers that have blocked parking at Laniakea Beach, according to the coalition of North Shore community members and activists that sued to bring them down. Star-Advertiser.

As they do every workday, a maintenance crew cleared scores of sidewalks structures and personal belongings Tuesday as the city continued enforcement actions that hit the homeless in areas throughout Oahu where they congregate. Star-Advertiser.

City Councilwoman Carol Fukunaga hopes to preserve and promote industrial uses along the rail transit route through a bill that seeks to offer real property tax incentives. Star-Advertiser.

The number of photovoltaic permits issued by the City and County of Hono­lulu rose 47 percent as they continued reversing a trend that had seen permits fall for two years in a row. Star-Advertiser.

A controversial bill imposing noise restrictions on pet birds in residential zones was shelved by a Honolulu City Council committee Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

The city says it has finished counting the number of trash and recycling bins throughout Oahu. It’s a process that took more than eight months. KHON2.

University of Hawaii West Oahu Chancellor Rockne Freitas is retiring at the end of the year. Star-Advertiser.

A combination of restaurant and shopping options could be replacing the Macy's store in Kailua in Windward Oahu after it closes down in early 2016, the head of Alexander & Baldwin Inc.'s subsidiary's Kailua operations confirmed to Pacific Business News.

On Tuesday, local companies wanting to get their products on the shelves at military commissaries showed up at the Hawaii Prince Hotel to hand out their samples. KITV4.

Hawaii

A bill aimed at finding alternatives to Monsanto Co.’s Roundup and other non-organic weed killers was facing certain death Tuesday at the County Council Environmental Management Committee when it was swiftly uprooted by sponsor Kohala Councilwoman Margaret Wille. West Hawaii Today.

After struggling to come up with a definition of “public purpose,” and in the absence of key players, the County Council Finance Committee on Tuesday postponed a bill to tighten rules governing county purchasing card policies. West Hawaii Today.

A new ad hoc committee will tackle road connectivity in Puna. The County Committee on Public Works and Parks and Recreation discussed the finalization of the committee during an 11 a.m. meeting Tuesday in Kona. Big Island Now.

Big Island Video News caught a glimpse of a special cultural exchange at Pu’u Huluhulu on Monday. Participants say 250 visiting Maori ʻohana from Rotorua, Aotearoa shared song and chant with a large group associated with the Ku Kia’i Mauna movement.

How Lanakila Mangauil came to Mauna Kea. The first installment of a three-part profile of Joshua Lanakila Mangauil, based on interviews conducted over several weeks. Hawaii Independent.

Maui

A 6,737-square-foot home on more than four acres in Makena sold for close to $41.8 million in what may be a record for a residential real estate sale on Maui. Pacific Business News.

To ease Maui's pet overpopulation problem, the Maui Humane Society has begun a mobile clinic program that recently spayed and neutered - for free - more than 1,050 dogs and cats in nine days. Maui News.

Kauai

Two dozen kayak tour operators pored over hydrology maps with state officials Tuesday in hopes of determining why Uluwehi Falls, the crown jewel of the Wailua River kayak tour industry, has dried up. Garden Island.

Molokai

A Hawaii energy consulting firm and its finance subsidiary plan to develop a microgrid project for the only slaughterhouse on Molokai, the firm told Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island under tropical storm watch, University of Hawaii to ban teacher-student romance, consumer advocate opposes Hawaiian Electric/NextEra deal, homeless czar named, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hurricane Hilda storm track, Central Pacific Hurricane Center

A Tropical Storm Watch has been issued for the Big Island of Hawaii as Hurricane Hilda continues on a path toward the state. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Consumer Advocate Jeffrey Ono believes that the proposed $4.3 billion NextEra Energy, Inc. merger with Hawaiian Electric Industries is not in the public interest. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii Division of Consumer Advocacy on Monday filed testimony recommending state regulators reject NextEra Energy Inc.’s $4.3 billion acquisition of Hawaiian Electric Co., saying the Florida-based energy giant has failed to prove that the sale will result in significant benefits to consumers. Pacific Business News.

The Division of Consumer Advocacy of the state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs filed Monday its Direct Testimony recommending that the Public Utilities Commission  reject the $4.3 billion NextEra Energy, Inc. – HECO Companies merger as proposed. KHON2.

A panel of University of Hawaii faculty and staff from UH campuses around the state are putting the finishing touches on a proposed policy to make it clear that romantic and sexual relations between faculty members and their students are prohibited. Current UH policy warns against faculty-student romantic relationships but it does not ban them. Civil Beat.

Oahu

The size and makeup of the Kakaako homeless encampment continues to fluctuate as state, city and federal officials work to figure how — and when — to start clearing out the first groups of people, Gov. David Ige said Monday. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. David Ige announced his selection of Scott Morishige to be his next coordinator on homelessness Monday, while a legislative leader raised the possibility of emergency state funding to address the problem. Civil Beat.

The city has widespread support among Oahu residents to ban people from lying or sleeping on city sidewalks, but not so much when it comes to sweeping the homeless and taking their possessions. Star-Advertiser.

State transportation and public safety officials planned an early Monday morning crackdown on illegal campers who settled under and around the airport viaduct. But the Governor's Office pulled the plug on the enforcement action-- initially with no explanation. KITV4.

The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transit experienced another fiscal shortfall, recently, when General Excise Tax surcharge revenues in the latest quarter fell $8 million short of projections. That brings rail’s total tax deficit to $39 million. Hawaii Independent.

The Honolulu Museum of Art is suing a San Francisco art collector it is paying $80,000 per year for the rest of his life — $890,000 so far — for five pieces of Southeast Asian art. Star-Advertiser.

Hooters, one of the original four tenants that remained at Aloha Tower Marketplace throughout Hawaii Pacific University's nearly $50 million renovation, has filed a lawsuit against the Honolulu-based educational institution, alleging breach of contract and claiming that the construction hurt the restaurant's business significantly. Pacific Business News.

On Monday, Dillingham Ranch representatives held a meeting to tell the community about its plans to build nearly 100 homes on the ranch, then put them up for sale. KITV4.

O’ahu real estate prices continue to climb, achieving sales volume equal to peak levels experienced a decade ago. Hawaii Public Radio.

Living Hawaii: Why Are Honolulu Rents Getting More Expensive? Housing costs — the greatest expense in most people’s lives — are poised to continue their rise in the coming years. What’s true on the mainland may be even more true in the islands. Civil Beat.

Hawaii
Electric vehicle owners will have another place to plug in by the end of the year. And they can pay their taxes while they’re at it. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii County is mulling two possible routes for the first phase of the Nani Kailua road extension, a makai-mauka connector road between Alii Drive and Hualalai Road. West Hawaii Today.

The search for a new dean at the University of Hawaii at Hilo Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy has begun, but it could take until the end of the 2015-16 academic year, which has yet to begin. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

The Maui Ocean Center plans to release six juvenile green sea turtles into the open sea later this month to continue their life in the wild. Maui Now.

The Outlets of Maui is planning to expand, proposing to construct five one-story buildings in a portion of its parking lot at the West Maui mall site along Front Street. Maui News.

Kauai

A riverbank stabilization project is underway with the goal of returning the Hanalei River  back to its original form by restoring the 100-foot section of eroded stream bank located on state land above the Hanalei Wildlife Refuge. Garden Island.

Honolulu to require baby-changing stations, sit-lie ban expanded, Kauai muzzles dog-barking law, power producers fight clean air laws, road to be cleared of lava, Maui cane-burner foes raise $25k, cesspool rules advance, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Fish amid coral © 2015 All Hawaii News

Researchers with the University of Hawaii at Manoa are being honored for their work to understand and reverse coral bleaching. The team headed by Ruth Gates and Madeleine van Oppen from the Australian Institute of Marine Science attempts to grow coral that’s resistant to the effects of global warming and rising levels of acid in the water. Hawaii Public Radio.

New research suggests small-scale fisheries could have big benefits for local communities. That’s according to a new study that highlights the economic impact of community supported reef fisheries. Hawaii Public Radio.

The process to determine Hawaii’s first medical marijuana dispensary license holders will likely be based on a point scale, state officials said Wednesday. But just how transparent the application process will be has yet to be determined. Pacific Business News.

Recently released campaign finance data shows more than $1.8 million has flowed into local candidates’ campaign coffers since the 2014 elections. Civil Beat.

One of Hawaii island’s largest power suppliers and one of the state’s two oil refineries say they can’t meet legal requirements for reducing air pollution as the state moves forward on an eight-year-old law that requires Hawaii to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. Star-Advertiser.

The sale of Chevron Corp.’s Hawaii retail and refinery operations is getting interest from firms from as far as the Philippines and South Korea, Pacific Business News has learned.

Oahu

Diaper-changing stations would have to be provided for men and women in new or significantly renovated commercial and business spaces under a bill approved unanimously by the Honolulu City Council on Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Despite vocal and sometimes harsh criticism from opponents, the City Council voted twice on Wednesday to expand the controversial sit-lie law, which bars people from sitting or lying down on restricted sidewalks and other areas. KITV4.

The Honolulu City Council passed two measures Wednesday that would further curb where the homeless and other people can sit, lie or camp. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu City Council voted Wednesday to advance a draft development plan for the North Shore that doesn’t include any new homes in Malaekahana. Civil Beat.

The Honolulu City Council has passed a measure to make grants and loans available to businesses hit hard by rail construction, but it’s still unclear where the city would get the funds for such a program or at what amount. Star-Advertiser.

Some of the workers on the front lines of Hawaii’s tourism industry work in fancy hotels but are employed by contractors. They’re still supposed to receive union wages under a collective bargaining agreement, but that doesn’t necessarily happen despite legal action and union grievances. Civil Beat.

Local students interacted with leading scientists around the world Wednesday at the International Astronomical Union’s exhibit hall at the Hawaii Convention Center. KHON2.

TMT Protesters Hope to Reach Visiting Astronomers Through Waikiki March The event is planned during a day of rest for the more than 2,000 astronomers in town for the International Astronomical Union’s triennial convention. Civil Beat.

Hawaii

Hawaii County taxpayers are footing the bill for Environmental Management Director Bobby Jean Leithead Todd to defend herself from a lawsuit claiming she’s not qualified for the job, and the case isn’t over yet. The County Council on Wednesday voted to pay $47,231 for legal fees and court costs, on top of the $13,860 that had already been paid. West Hawaii Today.

Two-term Puna Councilman Greggor Ilagan announced Wednesday he’s running as a Democrat for the District 2 state Senate seat. West Hawaii Today.

Puna councilmember Greggor Ilagan is going to run for the state senate district 2 seat in 2016. The state senate seat is currently occupied by Russell Ruderman, who has yet to finalize his future political plans. Big Island Video News.

Hawaii County Council members Tuesday took plenty of testimony but no action on a bill banning the use of “toxic herbicides” by county workers, during a meeting of the Committee on Environmental Management. Tribune-Herald.

Tourists and isle residents might have only a few more months to snap pictures of a lava-covered Cemetery Road. Hawaii County put restoration of the narrow country road in Pahoa out to bid, with work expected to begin in late September or early October. Tribune-Herald.

More than four decades after the first promise was made, the Alii Kai subdivision will have its park. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Maui County is slapping a half-million dollar fine on the owner of a popular boutique hotel for several dozen alleged permit violations. Associated Press.

A group of Maui residents called Stop Cane Burning has raised more than $25,000 for legal costs in an attempt to stop Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co. from burning sugar cane. Civil Beat.

Kauai

The Kauai County Council on Wednesday voted to repeal the county’s barking dog ordinance, which provides penalties for dog owners who fail to keep their animals quiet. Garden Island.

Kauai County Council Chair Mel Rapozo’s plan to require an audit of the Kauai Humane Society was unanimously approved on Wednesday. Garden Island.

State health officials are drafting rules for a ban on cesspools as well as a tax credit incentive program that would help a small percentage of property owners upgrade to a more environmentally friendly waste system. Garden Island.

Hawaii recycling fee to drop, state sheriff and deputy on leave per investigation, state workers still accepting free golf, lobbying laws lax on Maui, Ige creates task force to address Honolulu homeless, Hawaii County buys land to fix 15-year-old error, Kaui to learn about Roundup, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Plastic HI-5 bottles await recycling © 2015 All Hawaii News

People aren’t returning their HI-5 bottles and cans as often as they used to, so the state is trimming a half-cent off its administrative fee. West Hawaii Today.

Spurred by falling recycling rates, the state Department of Health announced Monday it will reduce the container fee it charges to manufacturers, distributors and importers of HI-5 beverage containers by a half-cent effective Sept. 1. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Department of Public Safety has confirmed that State Sheriff Robin Nagamine and First Deputy Patrick Lee have been placed on “unspecified leave.”  Star-Advertiser.

Some state workers are continuing to accept free rounds of golf despite the Hawaii State Ethics Commission cracking down on the longstanding practice. Civil Beat.

During the 2013-2014 school year, there were 2,422 homeless students enrolled in the state Department of Education’s public and charter schools out of a total of 185,273 students, according to DOE spokeswoman Donalyn Dela Cruz. Star-Advertiser.

Federal regulators have collected more than 475 written testimonies about a proposal that would shed Hawaii’s humpback whales of their endangered species status. Garden Island.

Oahu

Hawaii Gov. David Ige is creating a new team of city, state and federal representatives to tackle homelessness in the state. Associated Press.

City and state officials do not plan a huge sweep of Kakaako’s expanding homeless encampment and instead will slowly find alternate housing for a few occupants living on the outer edges, Mayor Kirk Caldwell said Monday at an unusual joint news conference with Gov. David Ige. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. David Ige announced Monday that he was launching an “unprecedented” effort to address the state’s growing homeless problem. Civil Beat.

Governor David Ige announced Monday his office has created a leadership team to address homelessness that will work in collaboration with federal and county partners to establish "best practices" for assisting the variety of needs and the complexity of housing the state's growing homeless population. Hawaii News Now.

There are more than 13-thousand homeless residents in the state according to the Department of Human Services.   The Governor announced a major effort to address this growing problem. Hawaii Public Radio.

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency started the day Monday by recovering USS Oklahoma “unknowns” from Punchbowl cemetery, and followed that up by dedicating a new $85 million facility at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. Star-Advertiser.

Thirty-six caskets draped in the American flag arrived at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam Sunday evening.  Inside, the remains of Marines who lost their lives in the battle of Tarawa some 70 years ago. KITV4.

Pumped hydro storage has potential on Oahu. It works by using cheap solar energy during the day to pump water uphill to a reservoir, and then releases that water at night, running down a pipe, turning a turbine and making electricity. Pacific Business News.

Ben Jay accumulated an average of more than $13,200 per month in bonuses during his tenure as the University of Hawaii’s athletic director and was due a lump sum $370,000 bonus payment upon his departure under terms of his 2012 contract, records show. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

The Hawaii County Council is trying to settle a lawsuit over a 15-year-old Planning Department error by buying the disputed land. West Hawaii Today.

A new Department of Hawaiian Home Lands subdivision plan would make 80 agriculture lots in Panaewa available to beneficiaries, including residents of the Makuu Farm Lots who faced relocation due to lava. Tribune-Herald.

At the north end of Hilo Bayfront, next to Singing Bridge, sits Kaipalaoa Landing — a historic and often overlooked strip of land. By year’s end, however, the half-acre parcel — home to a small lighthouse — will undergo a $349,000 face-lift. Tribune-Herald.

Three young dolphins will be airborne between Dolphin Quest facilities in Waikoloa and Oahu, under a permit the company is seeking from the state Board of Agriculture. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Maui County Council Chair Mike White wants Mayor Alan Arakawa’s administration to breathe life into the county’s 34-year-old law requiring lobbyists to register. Civil Beat.

A public hearing will be held on a request for a special use permit and a conditional permit to allow for the development and operation of a transient camp in West Maui. Maui Now.

The developers of the proposed Ma'alaea Plantation subdivision have scaled back their plans from what had been the controversial Ohana Kai development, a 1,100-unit affordable home subdivision on 257 acres that command sweeping views of South Maui's coastline. Maui News.

Kauai

Strong reaction to proposed Haena changes. Master plan restricts daily number of visitors, cuts parking in half. Garden Island.

Kauai residents have three chances to catch a panel discussion about Roundup’s potential dangers featuring science and environmental health scholars from around the world. Garden Island.