Hawaii Democrats pan Trump budget, UH seeks to commercialize research, Board of Education OKs rail route impact fees, Caldwell to unveil affordable housing plan today, Kaui councilman fails to disclose marijuana business, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii road construction © 2017 All Hawaii News

For a second year in a row, lawmakers have blocked the DOT's request to increase taxes for Hawaii drivers, even though the tax hikes were backed by Gov. David Ige. The proposal would have increased the state fuel tax from 16 cents to 26 cents per gallon, bumped up annual registration fees from $45 to $50 and raised the motor vehicle weight tax by a quarter of a cent. Hawaii News Now.

In a move designed to strengthen the University of Hawaii’s position as a hub for economic development, the state is on the verge of adopting a program designed to help commercialize intellectual property created at UH. Civil Beat.

State confirms new timeline for medical marijuana as dispensaries harvest first crops. KHON2.

Members of Hawaii’s congressional delegation slammed President Donald Trump’s proposed budget Tuesday, saying it cuts critical programs for the poor and working class, such as Medicaid and food subsidies, to fund tax breaks for the rich, echoing a chorus of criticism from Democratic colleagues in Washington. Star-Advertiser.

The federal administration’s full budget proposal for 2018 drew strong criticism from Hawaii’s state representatives who called the plan "cruel" and "dangerous." Pacific Business News.

Hawaii legislators pan Trump budget. Garden Island.

The federal government’s full budget proposal for 2018, which it released on Tuesday, includes over $258 million in construction work a for various projects at Hawaii’s military bases. Pacific Business News.

A man acted strangely long before he caused a disturbance on a plane that prompted fighter jets to accompany it to Hawaii, but a lack of communication and an airline’s hesitancy to be caught on video booting a passenger could have played a role in allowing him to fly, experts say. Associated Press.

Oahu

After more than two years of analysis, number-crunching and talks with developers and housing advocates, the details of Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s affordable-housing strategy package is expected to go public today. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu City Council is urging the formation of a Task Force to clear illegal homeless camps. Hawaii Public Radio.

A City Council committee on Tuesday revived a bill that would make it illegal for O'ahu residents to look at their phones while crossing a street or highway. KITV.

To accommodate an estimated 10,000 students expected to enroll in urban Honolulu schools as development swells along the city’s rail route, the Board of Education on Tuesday unanimously approved establishing a so-called school impact fee district from Kalihi to Ala Moana. Star-Advertiser.

Despite opposition from developers and the city, the Hawaii Board of Education voted Tuesday to establish a new school impact fee district along the planned Honolulu rail line from Kalihi to Ala Moana to help cover the cost of school services for the area’s anticipated population increase. Civil Beat.

Businesses along Waikiki's famous shoreline are prepping for a big high tide and incoming south swell that could bring coastal flooding later this week. Workers at Hawaiian Oceans Waikiki expect the elevated water levels will force them to alter their operations Thursday and Friday. Hawaii News Now.

At Ala Moana Beach Park, boards and sandbags have been put up to protect against the tides. KHON2.

A circuit judge Tuesday sentenced a former Honolulu police officer to 60 days in jail on multiple drug charges including the promotion of cocaine, marijuana and powerful painkillers. Star-Advertiser.

The Kahala Hotel and Resort is asking permission to use more state land for more weddings. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaiian Electric Co. has approved 420 residential rooftop solar systems attached to batteries on Oahu, but the city Department of Planning and Permitting has given building permits to only 33. Star-Advertiser.

Despite relatively low spending on parks, Honolulu scored in the top third in an annual ranking of urban park systems in the 100 largest U.S. cities. Star-Advertiser.

Urban Honolulu is among the worst places to live in the U.S. if you're trying to save money, according to GOBankingRates.com. KITV.

Hawaii Island

Hawaii Island’s low-income, elderly population could be hit particularly hard under President Donald Trump’s budget proposal, which would deeply cut a federal food assistance program throughout the next decade as well as other “safety net” programs for low-income people. Tribune-Herald.

Shunichi “Shun” Kimura, the Big Island’s last county chairman, its first mayor and a retired Hilo Circuit judge, died Saturday in California after a lengthy battle with cancer. He was 87. Tribune-Herald.

West Hawaii dedicates Purple Heart Memorial. West Hawaii Today.

Papaikou retirees seeking patent for little fire ant bait stations. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

A Department of Land and Natural Resources enforcement officer is accusing his own agency of covering up the alleged misuse of a state-funded helicopter. Hawaii News Now.

More buses and routes could be ways to ease traffic along the congested Honoapiilani Highway between Maalaea and West Maui, community leaders told the Maui Metropolitan Planning Organization on Monday. Maui News.

Kauai

Kauai County Council Chairman Derek Kawakami owns more than 14 percent of a company that’s hoping to grow medical marijuana in Hawaii. But you wouldn’t know that if you looked at the financial disclosure form he filed in January with Kauai County. Civil Beat.

A $5 million project to allow development of a substance abuse treatment and healing center for adolescents was unanimously approved by the Planning Commission Tuesday. Garden Island.

After Kauai’s only racetrack was repaved in 2013 thanks to capital improvement plan funds, the drag strip will now add electricity and a scoreboard for its 2018 season. Garden Island.

About 25 percent of Kauai’s keiki are not kindergarten-ready, according to the 2017 Kauai Early Childhood Care and Education Report under the Keiki to Career Kauai Initiative. Garden Island.

Kunoa Cattle Co. which manages a herd of 2,000 cattle on Kauai, has partnered with all Times Supermarkets locations on Oahu and Maui to sell its ground beef. Pacific Business News.

A decline in the price of scrap metal prompted Puhi Metals Recycling Center to start charging commercial haulers for dropping off their recyclables. Garden Island.

Scientists to announce captive dolphin study results today, Maui passes 'Styrofoam' takeout ban, Saiki unveils House leadership, feds watch rail finance plan, Honolulu seeks police, tax hikes unpopular, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Captive dolphins at Hilton Waikoloa © 2017 All Hawaii News

Scientists tout value of studying dolphins in captivity as Dolphin Quest and other captive dolphin attractions are growing increasingly controversial. Star-Advertiser.

Newly elected House Speaker Scott Saiki unveiled his leadership team Thursday — a bigger, younger and more diverse group than his 84-year-old predecessor Joe Souki had in place during his tenure. Civil Beat.

House Speaker Scott Saiki, who took over House leadership earlier this month after members effectively ousted Rep. Joe Souki, has announced his leadership team, emphasizing its inclusion of women and a younger generation of leaders. Star-Advertiser.

House Rep. Cindy Evans, a Democrat who represents North Kona, North Kohala and South Kohala, has been promoted to House Majority Leader. West Hawaii Today.

Paying double? Public on the hook twice as state workers collect incentive some didn’t earn. KHON2.

Democratic attorneys general in more than a dozen states, including Hawaii, announced today they would attempt to intervene in a federal lawsuit that threatens to undercut funding for the Affordable Care Act. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii on Wednesday honored 13 businesses and eight events for pursuing energy efficiency and sustainable business practices with this year's Hawaii Green Business awards. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii’s unemployment rate didn’t change in April, but more people were working and fewer were without jobs, according to state data released Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell to 2.7 percent in April, a 0.4 percentage-point decline from 3.1 percent in April 2016. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

The Honolulu rail transit project’s top official said Thursday that the federal government is anxious for more details on how the city plans to pay for its partially built $8.2 billion rail line. Associated Press.

Honolulu rail board members spent much of their Thursday meeting — the first since state lawmakers adjourned without a funding deal — debating how to cover the project’s short-term construction costs. Star-Advertiser.

Mayor Kirk Caldwell has tapped former Hawaiian Airlines’ executive Hoyt Zia to replace Colbert Matsumoto on the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation board. Star-Advertiser.

New numbers show an alarming number of vacancies within the ranks of the Honolulu Police Department – and a decline in the size of average recruiting classes is doing little to fix the problem. Hawaii News Now.

Two former officers charged with similar crimes and sued for identical reasons got very different treatment from the Honolulu Police Commission. Civil Beat.

University of Hawaii President David Lassner has called for a “systematic paydown” of a $14.7 million net accumulated athletic department deficit with Manoa campus funds. Star-Advertiser.

Prime property in Honolulu is taking a step toward development. Back in 2012, in a settlement with the state, OHA acquired 30 acres of land in Kakaako Makai, valued at $200 million. KITV.

The weather wasn’t a deterrent to the nearly 200 parents and children who cozied up under blankets, and camped out on beach chairs and in tents on the sidewalks to land a coveted spot at the Manoa Valley District Park’s Summer Fun program. Civil Beat.

The U.S. Department of Defense has awarded Honolulu-based INK Arch LLC with a contract worth a potential $15 million over five years to conduct architectural and other related products at various Navy, Marine Corps and government facilities across the state. Pacific Business News.

Hawaiian Electric Co. said it is awaiting approval by the state Public Utilities Commission for its annual “decoupling” rate adjustment that would raise a typical customer’s bill by 60 cents. Star-Advertiser.

A new lawsuit claims dozens of people have been tricked into renting filthy apartments at an Oahu complex infested with rats. Hawaii News Now.

Canoes at Maunalua Bay were vandalized for the third time this week before sunrise Thursday, when culprits cut lashings to 16 canoes that had been lined up at the water’s edge at the Diamond Head side of the bay. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Everything was on the table but little was decided Thursday during a marathon County Council meeting on the budget, as local lawmakers took their first good look at a $491 million spending plan that includes expenses largely out of county control. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii County’s tax exemptions should help long-timers, not just old-timers, several County Council members said Thursday. Tribune-Herald.

Proposed tax increases for Hawaii County home owners are on the table, as the Hawaii County Council held a special session on Thursday to go over the proposed operating budget for fiscal year 2017-18. Big Island Video News.

Big Island tourism had another strong showing in the first quarter of 2017, with one market in particular seeing a boost. Tribune-Herald.

A local lawmaker and fire chief said they will continue to advocate for state funds to put lifeguards at Kua Bay. West Hawaii Today.

Residents who wanted their voices heard on the Saddle Road extension project, which is moving expeditiously toward final design and construction, got their platform Wednesday night. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The Maui County Council on Thursday evening unanimously passed a bill to ban the sale and use of polystyrene foam containers — a staple of takeout food eateries — throughout Maui County. Maui News.

Kaiser Permanente is on target to take over operations of Maui Memorial Medical Center on July 1, promising increased coverage of orthopedic and neurological surgeries in the coming months, officials said Wednesday night at the Kula Community Center. Maui News.

During Hawaii’s mass coral bleaching event in 2014 and 2015, the reefs of leeward Maui were among the hardest hit. Now, they’ve been marked as a “priority site” in a recovery plan put together by environmental agencies. Maui News.

A University of Hawaii report shows Maui County’s recent economic peaks and valleys, forecasting favorable conditions but slower growth. Maui News.

Maui County’s 3% unemployment rate for April was up slightly from the 2.9% reported a month earlier, and down slightly from the 3.1% reported at the same time last year. Maui Now.

Kauai

Kanani Fu, county housing agency director, was among a large crowd that celebrated the blessing of the Hanamaulu housing project, which will eventually have more than 150 homes — single-family and duplexes — including 32 affordable housing units by D. R. Horton. Garden Island.

Kauai legislators secured more than $181 million in capital improvement project funds for the Garden Isle for fiscal years 2018 and 2019. Garden Island.

More unions get pay boost, Senate may ditch Ways and Means chairwoman in rail battle, bills in the balance as Legislature reaches crucial deadline, Maui mayor wants Oahu sand shipments stopped, LUC gives nod to Ellison's Lanai golf course, lifeguards lose lawsuit immunity, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Road work in the rain © 2017 All Hawaii News

An arbitration panel has awarded 6 percent to 7 percent raises to about 27,500 public employees in six bargaining units of the Hawaii Government Employees Association, the union announced Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

Thousands of state employees to get 4.25% raise as part of arbitration settlement. Hawaii News Now.

A tentative agreement has been reached between the Hawaii Government Employees Association Unit 6 and the state, which includes a salary raise of 13.53 percent over the next four years. Hawaii News Now.

On Friday, HGEA’s Unit 6, which represents educational officers, will vote cast ratification votes for a four-year contract made with the employer, which includes a salary increase of 13.53%. KHON2.

Hawaii public school teachers overwhelmingly voted in favor Thursday of a contract that will boost their pay by 13.6 percent over the next four years. Star-Advertiser.

Teachers voted to ratify a new contract in overwhelming fashion Thursday. Hawaii News Now.

Public school teachers voted to ratify contract that gives them a 14% raise in the next four years. KITV.

Public school teachers ratify new contract, will receive 13.6% raise over four years. KHON2.

Lawmakers are once again eyeing a possible reorganization of the state Senate to try to clear the way to provide more funding for the city’s embattled rail project. Star-Advertiser.

A new twist in the rail drama is unfolding as lawmakers prepare to meet to decide how much longer to extend the half percent excise tax. KITV.

State lawmakers scrambled to move dozens of bills ahead of a Thursday night deadline for gaining approval from key House and Senate negotiators on measures that don’t carry a price tag. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii lifeguards will lose immunity from lawsuits this summer after the Senate announced Thursday night that they are going along with a House bill that allows the protection to expire. Hawaii News Now.

A committee of Hawaii lawmakers is moving forward with a bill that would allow the Honolulu Police Commission to hire a chief from out of state and permit Micronesian immigrants to serve on state boards and commissions. Civil Beat.

Lawmakers prepare to take final vote on bill that holds child care providers accountable. KITV.

Critics: Water Bill Could Hurt Customers And The Environment. The Sierra Club is mounting a last-minute push amid worries the measure will remove private water distribution companies from state regulation. Civil Beat.

Neither Linda Chen or Christina Kishimoto, the two finalists for state schools superintendent, have ever worked in Hawaii's public education system – or even lived here in the islands. Hawaii News Now.

Defenders and opponents of Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands are moving back into their familiar battle stations as Republican President Trump reopens the review process that led to the preserve’s expansion by President Obama last summer. Civil Beat.

A handful of police misconduct cases came to a close this week with a $30,000 legal settlement, a not guilty verdict and a 10-year prison sentence. Civil Beat.

First Hawaiian Bank’s loans rose to a record high but net income fell 13.4 percent in the first quarter because of $25.7 million in securities sales made in the year-earlier period. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

By a 5-4 margin, the Honolulu City Council gave preliminary approval Wednesday to a bill that lifts the ban on using property taxes to finish the city’s $10 billion rail project. Star-Advertiser.

A measure that is key to moving ahead on a replacement for Aloha Stadium goes down to the wire at the Legislature today. Star-Advertiser.

Elections are underway for members of the island’s 33 neighborhood boards. Civil Beat.

More than 1,000 people stood in line in Chinatown on Thursday to get on a waiting list for an affordable apartment. Hawaii News Now.

Native Hawaiian practitioners are vowing to try to stop what they've dubbed the 'Coca Cola fence.'  Hawaii News Now.

An ambitious plan will soon get underway to restore a long-lost native forest near Laie by replanting massive numbers of koa, milo and sandalwood trees. Civil Beat.

The International Market Place’s newest dining concept, The Street, A Michael Mina Social House, will bring 13 food and beverage vendors together in a 6,900-square-foot space that is slated to open next month. Pacific Business News.

Eddie Flores Jr., founder of L&L Hawaiian Barbecue, donated $1 million to the Shidler College of Business at the University of Hawaii Manoa. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Hawaii County could get a better view of its budget gap today as legislators meet one last time over how much of the hotel tax to share with the counties. Tribune-Herald.

Hilo Councilwoman Sue Lee Loy wants the council to get a heads-up when the administration hires people on nonemergency 89-day contracts worth $5,000 or more monthly. West Hawaii Today.

Budget chairwomen for the House and Senate allocated $1 million earlier this week to the state Department of Health to combat rat lungworm disease, but in doing so they diverted hundreds of thousands of dollars in hoped-for funding away from researchers at the University of Hawaii at Hilo who have been leading research into the disease and spearheading public education efforts. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

Maui mayor demands halt after mountains of sand stripped, shipped for Oahu development. KHON2.

Maui Electric Co., a subsidiary of Hawaiian Electric Co., has been named one of the top utilities in the nation for connecting energy storage to the grid, according to the Smart Electric Power Alliance. Pacific Business News.

When the state Supreme Court convened in the Baldwin High School Auditorium on Thursday morning to hear arguments in a Molokai drunken-driving case, more than 500 high school students were in the audience. Maui News.

Kauai

The United States Postal Service is reconsidering a plan to relocate its operations of the Lihue post office from Rice Street to the annex facility near the airport. Garden Island.

The Department of Parks and Recreation will hold a meeting next week regarding the Anahola Village Park playground. Garden Island.

Lanai

The state Land Use Commission on Thursday adopted a hearings officer’s recommendation and found that Lanai Resort Partners did not violate a condition regarding golf course irrigation set by the commission in 1991. Maui News.

University of Hawaii unveils longevity drug, Trump travel ban back in Honolulu court today, Marines digging up WWII remains, protestors camp at Kauai Coco Palms site, state taxpayers get low ROI, Kakaako development controversy, Maui hospital money may return to budget, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

David Watumull, Cardax Pres and CEO; Bradley Willcox, MD; Richard Allsopp, PhD. during news conference, courtesy University of Hawaii

A gene associated with longevity shifted into high gear in mice fed a diet rich in astaxanthin, a pigment and antioxidant, holding out promise of a possible anti-aging therapy for humans, University of Hawaii medical school researchers announced Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

The University of Hawaii’s John A. Burns School of Medicine and Honolulu-based life sciences company Cardax Inc. have announced the results of an animal study evaluating the effectiveness of the naturally-occurring chemical astaxanthin that holds promise in anti-aging therapy. Pacific Business News.

University of Hawaii

Researchers at the University of Hawaii John A Burns School of Medicine believe they've cracked the code as to why some live longer than others. KITV.

University of Hawaii researchers are touting a potential breakthrough in the study of aging. UH researchers and a local business teamed up to find out if a natural compound could affect the so-called "longevity gene" in mice. Hawaii News Now.

University of Hawaii reports Astaxanthin can activate the FOX03 “Longevity Gene” in mammals. News Release .

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President Donald Trump’s reversal of President Barack Obama’s Clean Power Plan does not bode well for Hawaii’s burgeoning renewable energy industry. Pacific Business News.

A federal judge in Hawaii who temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s revised travel ban planned to hear arguments Wednesday on whether to extend his order until the state’s lawsuit works its way through the courts. Associated Press.

Hawaii will be back in federal court Wednesday to argue against President Donald Trump's revised travel ban. Hawaii News Now.

A House bill that would eliminate the use of fossil fuel vehicles on Hawaii’s roadways by 2045 hit a speed bump in the Senate on Tuesday. The Senate Committee on Ways and Means deferred HB 1580, which would establish the 2045 target. Star-Advertiser.

Military and Veterans Affairs officials are digging up the remains of 94 unidentified Marines and sailors killed on a remote atoll in the Pacific during one of World War II’s bloodiest battles. Star-Advertiser.

State struggles to provide services to students with autism. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii is one of the worst states in the country for taxpayer return on investment, according to a new report by WalletHub. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

More than 100 concerned citizens have asked Gov. David Ige to reject a list of nominees sent to him by the City Council for filling two board seats on a state agency regulating development in Kakaako, following an unusual selection process last week. Star-Advertiser.

Several dozen people attended a public hearing held Tuesday on proposed changes to rules for producing affordable housing in Kakaako, but the state board contemplating the overhaul wasn’t there to listen. Star-Advertiser.

The state agency in charge of managing development in Kakaako held a public hearing Tuesday to take testimony on highly criticized proposed rule changes that seek to make housing in the urban district more affordable. There was just one problem: Not a single board member showed up. Civil Beat.

The state is proposing to change affordable and work force housing rules for Kaka’ako. Hawaii Public Radio.

Honolulu police, SWAT, fire fighters and paramedics responded to a barricade situation just before sunset Tuesday, to house on Paakai Street in Honakai Hale on Oahu's leeward coast. KITV.

A security guard at Honolulu International Airport fatally shot a family's dog on Tuesday evening, after the pet apparently got loose in an open area. Hawaii News Now.

Nesting native bird delays multimillion-dollar project in downtown Honolulu. KHON2.

Large-scale Hawaii sugar cane farming ceased in December after 181 years with the closure of a Maui plantation that once was among more than 150 in the islands. But deep in a Windward Oahu valley, a vestige of the industry remains deeply rooted. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii State Federal Credit Union, one of the largest credit unions in the state, is selling the former Acme Fender & Paint Shop property it purchased in 2014 in the Honolulu neighborhood of Kakaako that was supposed to be its flagship branch, Pacific Business News has learned.

Demand for the Waikiki Community Center’s preschool has grown so much that the nonprofit is closing its longtime thrift store next month to allow its keiki program to expand. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii


The Coast Guard is requiring boaters to keep their distance from the Kamokuna Kilauea lava ocean entry where lava flows into the sea. Tribune-Herald.

A significant segment of Kona coffee farmers and the largely immigrant population they employ are unnerved by recent reports of increased U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity on Hawaii Island. West Hawaii Today.

A national comparison of counties released early this morning reveals troubling news about Hawaii County’s teenagers and young adults. Seventeen percent of 16- to 24-year-olds in the county are not in school or employed, according to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, which funded the report. Tribune-Herald.

The county Water Board gave preliminary approval Tuesday to a $54.2 million operating budget and $26.3 million capital improvement budget after a public hearing where no members of the public testified. West Hawaii Today.

Contracts for three different water well repair projects in North Kona were approved by the Hawaii County Board of Water Supply on Tuesday. Big Island Video News.

The 82-year-old owner of Ahualoa goat farm puts it up for sale. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

State lawmakers said Tuesday that funds for the future operation of three Maui County hospitals under Kaiser Permanente likely will be returned to the budget, after the House Finance Committee removed it earlier this month, concerning hospital officials. Maui News.

The most recent little fire ant infestation in Kapalua in November appears to be under control as the ant population has not spread to nearby areas, an official with the Maui Invasive Species Committee said Wednesday. Maui News.

A groundbreaking scientific data collection program to expand the measuring of water quality off 18 West Maui shoreline sites has been forged between the state Department of Health and Maui community groups involved in the protection of the island’s nearshore waters. Maui News.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources has issued a notice of animal control activities and temporary closures of Maui forest reserves and natural area reserves on six dates. Maui News.

Commentary: Plan to close golf course spells doom for Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai

A group has taken up residence on the Coco Palms property, saying they are descendants of people who once called the area home. The  unexpected protesters are not expected to delay the project. The $175 million hotel is expected to open by the end of 2018. Garden Island.

The state is looking into another dumping ground for Kauai’s waste this week after numerous reports and complaints. The spotlight is on an unencumbered state parcel at Wainiha on Route 560 between mile marker 7 and Alamihi Road, and some are dubbing the area “The Wainiha Landfill.” Garden Island.

Kauai residents say the General Plan needs to address affordable housing and future growth. Garden Island.

Allan Smith, James Mayfield and Dee Crowell were installed Tuesday as directors for Kauai Island Utility Cooperative. Each will serve a three-year term and join six other board members governing Kauai’s energy cooperative. Garden Island.

No police reform in 2017 Legislature; Honolulu taxpayers fund police chief PR campaign, legal fees; Hawaii one of worst states for doctors; Canary Island more appealing to Thirty Meter Telescope board; immigrants an issue at Kona coffee farms; Ellison changes Lanai energy advisor, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii police © 2017 All Hawaii News

Hawaii lawmakers so far haven’t had much of an appetite for passing police reform legislation this year, despite widespread concerns both locally and nationally about the need for more accountability of law enforcement. Civil Beat.

The chairwoman of the Hawaiian Homes Commission is asking federal authorities whether the state’s long-standing and exclusive agreement with embattled telecommunications provider Sandwich Isles Communications Inc. might run afoul of federal law. Star-Advertiser.

Lawmakers are moving forward on a bill that would allow hundreds of low-income Hawaii students to attend college for free. Tribune-Herald.

Doctors in Hawaii live in one of the worst states to practice medicine, according to a new study by WalletHub. The personal finance website placed the Aloha State toward the bottom of its list of best states to be doctor, in 43rd place. Pacific Business News.

Interest slows for Hawaiian Electric's pilot rate program. Pacific Business News.

The president's proposed budget includes deep cuts to a number of federal agencies, and federal workers fear in the islands fear that could translate into layoffs, furloughs and big impacts to services for residents. Hawaii News Now.

Condo boards brace for medical marijuana smoke complaints. KITV.

Hawaiian Airlines flight HA47 from Oakland to Honolulu was diverted to Kahului on Monday due to an odor of smoke in the cabin, according to the airline. KITV.

A rare collection of Hawaiian and Polynesian artifacts will be going up for auction in Paris. Hawaii News Now.

Commentary: Money Talks To Lawmakers During Legislative Session. Numerous legislators continue to hold campaign fundraisers at the same time they’re making decisions on their benefactors’ issues. Civil Beat.

Oahu

A just-ended, $125,000 one-year contract with a downtown public relations firm netted the Honolulu Police Department about a dozen training classes for top HPD officials, a department wide communications plan and a customized, seven-page “crafting your message” strategy guide. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu City Council on Wednesday approved payment of up to $10,000 to a private law firm to represent former Police Chief Louis Kealoha in yet another lawsuit against both him and the city. In December the Council had authorized up to $150,000 be paid to three law firms to represent Kealoha in four other civil cases that name him (in his capacity as chief) and the city. Star-Advertiser.

HPD accepts recruit applications, looks to fill more than 100 vacancies. KHON2.

The Honolulu Rail Transit Project is facing an April 30th deadline to come up with a funding source to complete the downtown segment of the 20-mile system. Hawaii Public Radio.

A $900,000 settlement for the family of an elderly woman struck and killed by a Honolulu garbage truck in 2013 was approved Wednesday by the Honolulu City Council. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu might seem crowded these days, especially during the morning commute. But new Census figures show the island's population actually shrank in 2016. Hawaii News Now.

Residents in a Mililani neighborhood are worried as a nonprofit prepares to open a group home for mental health patients. Hawaii News Now.

Hilton Garden Inn hotel workers ratified their first union contract between management and Unite Here Local 5. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

One year out from the time Thirty Meter Telescope officials are insisting that construction must begin, the TMT International Observatory board is making the case for why a mountain in the Canary Islands will be an “excellent” alternative site for the $1.4 billion next-generation telescope. Star-Advertiser.

ICE officials deny any ‘large scale enforcement actions’ around Kona coffee farms. West Hawaii Today.

A lack of staff has pool hours reduced at the Kona Community Aquatic Center — a temporary set back the county says it hopes to remedy by April although some people are skeptical they’ll get the extra lane time back. West Hawaii Today.

Repairs to a century-old bridge in Hakalau valley might have to wait until October to avoid the Hawaiian hawk’s breeding season. West Hawaii Today.

VIDEO: Lava Fire Hose Fizzles, New Delta Forming. Big Island Video News.

Maui

The Maui County Democratic Party will hold its annual convention Saturday in the Maui Waena Intermediate School Cafeteria. Maui News.

Kauai

The Department of Land and Natural Resources is accepting proposals for projects or programs submitted by public or private agencies or organizations to increase water security in Hawaii. Garden Island.

On the Garden Isle, two people are born and one person is moving to the island per day, according to census data. Garden Island.

A Hawaii estate once owned by actor Sylvester Stallone has been sold for $11 million. In 1990, Stallone paid $401,800 for the property on Kauai’s North Shore and sold it in 1998 for $875,000, public records show. Pacific Business News.

Lanai

Billionaire Oracle Corp. founder Larry Ellison is not using the expertise of an energy veteran and Punahou School alumnus to lead his sustainability efforts on the Hawaiian island of Lanai that he purchased for $300 million in 2012, the company heading operations on the island on behalf of Ellison confirmed to Pacific Business News.

Win for Hawaii attorney general as judge halts Trump travel ban, nobody wants to be Honolulu top cop, Hawaii House passes $28B budget, Amazon to start collecting Hawaii taxes, snorkeling masks studied after drownings, radios go online on Big Island, Kauai mayor touts tax hike, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Attorney General Doug Chin, left, with staff leaving federal courthouse Wednesday, Facebook photo

Rejecting arguments from the government that President Donald Trump’s revised travel ban was substantially different from the first one, judges in Hawaii and Maryland blocked the executive order from taking effect as scheduled today, using the president’s own words as evidence that the order discriminates against Muslims. Associated Press.

In a case of legal deja vu, President Donald Trump’s new executive order on immigration suffered a major setback Wednesday, when a federal judge in Honolulu issued a temporary restraining order to keep the travel ban from taking effect nationwide. Civil Beat.

President Donald Trump says a federal judge in Hawaii demonstrated “unprecedented judicial overreach” when he ordered a temporary halt to Trump’s revised travel ban earlier today. Star-Advertiser.

PC: Joshua Wisch

For the second time, a federal court on Wednesday blocked President Donald Trump’s efforts to freeze immigration by refugees and citizens of some predominantly Muslim nations, putting the president’s revised travel ban on hold just hours before it was to take effect. Associated Press.

Hours before it was to take effect, President Donald Trump’s revised travel ban was put on hold Wednesday by a federal judge in Hawaii who questioned whether the administration was motivated by national security concerns. Associated Press.

A federal judge Wednesday granted a temporary restraining order filed by the State of Hawaii that puts the revised travel ban signed by President Donald Trump on hold. KHON2.

The judge who halted President Donald Trump’s revised travel ban is the only Native Hawaiian serving on the federal bench. Associated Press.

View the full opinion here.

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The Hawaii House passed the state’s $28 billion two-year budget at a time when state revenue projections are falling. Associated Press.

Using words like “prudent,” “cautious” and “conservative,” the Hawaii House on Wednesday unanimously passed the state’s operating budget, sending it over to the Senate for its review. Civil Beat.

Amazon said Wednesday it will begin collecting general excise tax on items sold in Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

A tax credit that's offered to producers to film motion pictures and television shows in Hawaii may come with new requirements, including one to show respect and compliance with Hawaii's cultural beliefs and the environment. Hawaii News Now.

The Republican who chairs the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources has teamed up with a congresswoman from American Samoa to lobby President Donald Trump to open all marine monuments, including those in the Hawaii area, to commercial fishing. Civil Beat.

Counties To Track Equipment Used In Snorkeling Deaths. A woman’s drowning spurs officials to consider the possible hidden dangers of full-face snorkeling masks. Civil Beat.

Investing in a college education pays off with substantially higher earnings over a Hawaii graduate’s lifetime, according to a newly released report by economists at the University of Hawaii that underscores the value of a college degree. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

More than two weeks after the forced retirement of Honolulu's top cop, the department has not received any applications to become the city's next police chief — at least not yet. Hawaii News Now.

The city says an estimated $5 million from an approved charter amendment will help the Honolulu Zoo enhance its programs and its budget. Star-Advertiser.

Millennials in Honolulu pay some of the highest taxes in the nation compared to their counterparts in other cities, according to a new report by SmartAsset. Pacific Business News.

US soldiers train for jungle warfare at Hawaii rainforest. Associated Press.

The University of Hawaii Manoa has questioned the latest U.S. News & World Report graduate school rankings, saying the Washington, D.C.-based publication did not consider the complete data for its business school ranking. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

A long awaited overhaul of the communication systems used by Hawaii County’s public agencies began rolling out this week as the Hawaii Police Department switched its radios to a new bandwidth. Tribune-Herald.

The Intermediate Court of Appeals has sided with former County Council Chairman Dominic Yagong and former County Clerk Jamae Kawauchi in a 2012 defamation lawsuit filed by Elections Administrator Pat Nakamoto and one of her staff. West Hawaii Today.

A notice to proceed on the Lako Street extension could be issued later this year. West Hawaii Today.

Monk seal dies in fish pen off Big Island. KITV.

Maui

The proposed $354.5 million mixed-used Makena Resort project narrowly received enough votes from the Maui Planning Commission on Tuesday to allow the project to move forward without needing to prepare a lengthy environmental impact statement. Maui News.

The Hawaii Board of Agriculture on Tuesday expanded the coffee berry borer quarantine to Maui, effective May 1. West Hawaii Today.

Maui’s biggest coffee farm wants to double or triple in size, and would like some state help to get there. Star-Advertiser.

Kmart — the first big-box store to open on Maui over two decades ago — will close June 11 after sales have been cut in half since the opening of Target, a store manager said Tuesday. Maui News.

Kauai

The county administration is seeking a $14 million increase and proposing tax hikes for the next fiscal year’s operating budget. Garden Island.

The mayor is seeking over $200 million for the operating budget and just under $15 million for capitol improvements. Garden Island.

The Department of Health says high levels of a harmful bacteria called Clostridium Perfringens -- an indicator of human and animal wastes -- were found during recent water testing in Waikomo Stream on Kauai's South Shore. Hawaii News Now.

Honeybee pollen study yields positive results. Some chemicals found in pollen raises concerns. Garden Island.

Caldwell stresses affordable housing in State of the City speech, minimum wage hike advances in Legislature, state attorney general persists in travel ban opposition, foam food container ban back on table, Kauai seeks control of historic trail, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell State of the City address, courtesy photo

Mayor Kirk Caldwell made his pitch for more affordable housing and finishing the city’s troubled rail project at his fifth State of the City address Thursday evening. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell called Thursday for cooperation from other governments, the private sector, unions and nonprofits to help the city “turn the corner” on its affordable housing shortage. Civil Beat.

Mayor Kirk Caldwell unveiled a his plan to re-invigorate affordable housing construction on Oahu in his fifth State of the City address Thursday evening. Hawaii News Now.

Emphasizing the need for more affordable housing, Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell delivered his fifth State of the City Address. KITV.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell delivered his fifth State of the City address Thursday evening. KHON2.

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A state Senate committee has passed a bill to increase the state minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2019, but three other bills to incrementally raise the state minimum wage have been deferred in the House. Star-Advertiser.

Town Square: Sit-Down With Governor David Ige. Hawaii Public Radio.

State department delays mail-out of tax booklets. The state advised Hawaii businesses seeking to fill out their general excise tax returns to head online or to district offices before Monday’s deadline. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Stands Ready To Challenge Trump’s Promised New Order. The president said he would rescind his earlier travel ban — now stalled in court — and instead issue another one. Civil Beat.

The world's oldest known seabird has a new chick. Associated Press.

Oahu

Local rail officials and Hawaiian Electric Co. say they’ve agreed to a cheaper fix for many of the utility-line clearance problems that have plagued Oahu’s elevated transit project, saving about $140 million. Star-Advertiser.

Mayor Kirk Caldwell has allowed a bill limiting the operation of tour buses, limousines and related commercial vehicles in most Waimanalo beach parks to become law without his signature. Star-Advertiser.

A local lawmaker is calling for the consolidation of administrative positions at the University of Hawaii at Manoa after a nationwide search for a new Chancellor came up empty. Hawaii News Now.

Investigation launched after Waikiki hotel diverts storm water into ocean. KHON2.

The Hawaii Convention Center today is unveiling $1.1 million in new flooring that can convert its 204,000-square-foot exhibition hall into courts for amateur and professional sporting events in an effort to diversify group business. Star-Advertiser.

A stingray smuggling bust turned into a new display at the Waikiki aquarium. KITV.

Kmart continues to pay American Assets Trust Inc. yearly base rents of $4.5 million for one of its shuttered Hawaii locations, the highest amount of any lease in its retail portfolio, according to public documents filed Tuesday. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

A ban on polystyrene foam food containers is back before a County Council committee, following its close loss last year on a deadlocked vote. West Hawaii Today.

A bill that would have given control of Hawaii Health Systems Corp.’s East Hawaii medical facilities to Hawaii County appears to have died. Tribune-Herald.

The completion date for the long-delayed Komohana Street reconstruction project has again been pushed back. Initially estimated to be finished by February 2016, the work is now set for a mid-April timeline, according to the county Department of Public Works. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii Island’s efforts toward renewable energy and off-grid living took a giant leap with the inception of Ainamalu, a new Waikoloa community that began construction this week. West Hawaii Today.

Salvador Luquin, who owned a popular Mexican restaurant destroyed by last month’s fire, said he has purchased a lunch wagon and hopes to be cooking again in the next few weeks. Tribune-Herald.

A magnitude-4.5 earthquake struck off the coast of the Big Island on Friday morning, but it was not strong enough to generate a tsunami threat. Hawaii News Now.

Maui

A bill for about a $900,000 appropriation to offset costs for emergency repairs related to the September flooding in Iao Valley failed to garner enough votes Wednesday from a Maui County Council committee. Maui News.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has approved dredging of the Lahaina Harbor channel to clear a buildup of material that poses a danger to harbor traffic, West Maui state Rep. Angus McKelvey announced last week. Maui News.

Kauai

State lawmakers are weighing a bill that requires the state to identify the path of the ancient Ala Loa trail on Kauai and recognize it as a public trail. The trail, which generally follows the coast around the island, apparently includes a section that crosses the property of Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg as well as other oceanfront property owners reluctant to open their land. Star-Advertiser.

For the people of Kauai, the Lihue post office is more than just a swinging door for mail. Garden Island.

It’s going to take days and a crew of more than three people to dig out a net that’s implanted in the sand by the river mouth at South ‘Aliomanu Beach. Garden Island.

Legislature mulls free tuition, taxing REITs, Ige appoints campaign manager as judge, Honolulu rail tax falters, Machado returns as OHA chair, Ward Warehouse coming down, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

University of Hawaii at Manoa © 2017 All Hawaii News

Two bills that would appropriate millions for low-income students to attend University of Hawaii schools cleared their first hurdle at a House Higher Education Committee hearing Thursday. Civil Beat.

Mainland Students Could Be An ‘Economic Driver’ For Hawaii. Some lawmakers want the University of Hawaii to attract more out-of-state students who pay higher tuition as well as diversify the campuses. Civil Beat.

Hawai’i’s top economic drivers, tourism and the military, are at or near capacity. But the state has a plan to expand the economy in innovation, the fastest growing sector.  Hawaii Public Radio.

End tax breaks for REITs, real estate investment trusts, local firms urge Legislature. Star-Advertiser.
Former state workers face long wait for payouts despite hefty payroll upgrade. KHON2.

Promising to bring stability to a panel beset with dissension, Colette Machado of Molokai on Thursday was elected chairwoman of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees. Star-Advertiser.

Colette Machado has returned to the seat of power at a state agency supporting Native Hawaiians. In related news, Abigail Kawananakoa filed a lawsuit Thursday challenging the employment of OHA CEO Kamanao’pono Crabbe. Civil Beat.

Hawaii's attorney general wants to add a new plaintiff to the state's lawsuit challenging President Donald Trump's travel ban on people from seven mostly Muslim countries: Ismail Elshikh, the imam of the Muslim Association of Hawaii, whose mother-in-law is a Syrian national living in Syria. Associated Press.

Lawmakers are considering adding to the list of illnesses that qualify for the legal use of medical marijuana as the state’s first dispensaries prepare to open in a few months. Star-Advertiser.

A third Hawaii medical marijuana contractor received state approval today to begin legally growing pakalolo. Star-Advertiser.

Dignitaries from Hawaii and Japan gathered at the Kaka'ako Waterfront Park on Thursday to remember those who lost their lives when a U.S. submarine collided with the Japanese ship Ehime Maru. Nine people were killed in the 2001 collision - including 4 teenage students. KITV.

Hundreds of corrections officers called in sick on the day of the NFL’s annual championship game. KHON2.

Oahu

Gov. David Ige announced three appointments to Oahu’s Circuit Court on Thursday, one of whom is his former campaign manager Keith Hiraoka, who resigned from that post last month when he found out that he had been chosen as a candidate by the Judicial Selection Commission. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. David Ige has appointed his former campaign manager, Keith Hiraoka, to fill the 1st Circuit Court seat that Judge Karen Ahn vacated when she retired in June. Civil Beat.

In an unusual move, two state Senate committees on Thursday elected to not vote on that chamber’s primary “vehicle” for funding the over-budget Honolulu rail project. Instead, the measure will be so heavily amended that it will require another public hearing. Civil Beat.

A measure that would extend the half percentage point general excise tax surcharge for the city's rail project is still alive, but with several changes and additions. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell will sign a bill into law providing TheBus riders the option to purchase a one-day pass. Hawaii News Now.

The wrecking ball now has a firm date with Ward Warehouse. Property owner Howard Hughes Corp. has informed the Kakaako retail complex’s roughly 60 tenants that they must vacate in August to make way for residential tower development. Star-Advertiser.

Bicyclists love new bike lane on McCully while residents struggle for parking. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu is the best place in the United States to be a Realtor, according to a recent study by WalletHub. Pacific Business News.

A group representing survivors of sexual abuse and an organization representing the LGBTQ community are urging Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell to rescind his appointment of Marc Alexander to lead the city Office of Housing. Civil Beat.

Disney, Marvel Studios and IMAX are planning to develop a headquarters for Marvel’s next major project — a feature film and ABC television series “Marvels The Inhumans” — in a former Navy facility in Hawaii, the head of the state’s film commission confirmed to Pacific Business News this week.

Hawaii

Mayor Kim Wants To Reduce Two Percent Land Fund. Harry Kim would like to cut the amount set aside for public land purchases by half. Big Island Video News.

Mayor Harry Kim spent Wednesday evening at the Ocean View Community Center quelling wave after wave of frustration from an animated crowd of roughly 60 residents, many of whom feel the county has left them behind. West Hawaii Today.

Two lawmakers want to increase safety at a popular Puna swimming spot and vet the feasibility of a harbor at Kapoho Bay. Tribune-Herald.

With a county voucher program set to expire at the end of next month, Hawaii Island legislators once again are hoping to secure state funding that would help residents combat invasive little fire ants. Tribune-Herald.

The Hakalau Bridge on Old Mamalahoa Highway will be closed starting at 5 p.m. Friday because of public safety concerns, the county Department of Public Works said Thursday. Tribune-Herald.

A Kona District Court judge has disqualified himself from hearing the case of Sean “Peaman” Pagett, who was cited Christmas Day for running an unpermitted race at Kailua Pier. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

For many homeless people, the easiest place to turn for health care is often the emergency room, said Carol Petith-Zbiciak, doctor of nursing practice at the University of Hawaii Maui College. Maui News.

Kauai

Kauai Humane Society is among the animal welfare advocates descending upon the Hawaii Capitol today for Humane Lobby Day at the Legislature. Garden Island.

The Kauai County Council on Wednesday unanimously deferred a proposal to establish pedestrian access and parking easements in Koloa. Garden Island.

Ruth’s Chris Steak House is opening its sixth restaurant in Hawaii and first on Kauai at The Shops at Kukuiula on the island’s South Shore, the owner of the shopping complex confirmed to Pacific Business News Thursday.