USS Arizona Memorial to reopen Sunday, Gabbard misses presidential debate cut, ex-IBEW boss pleads not guilty, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

USS Arizona Memorial PC:National Park Service

USS Arizona Memorial To Reopen Sunday After Lengthy Repairs. The National Park Service, which oversees the site, announced Wednesday that contractors completed the final phase of construction this week. Hawaii Public Radio.

Reopening of USS Arizona Memorial to walk-on access scheduled for Sunday. The National Park Service said today that the much-awaited reopening of the USS Arizona Memorial to walk-on access will take place this Labor Day weekend on Sunday after a 15-month closure. Star-Advertiser.

USS Arizona Memorial set to reopen after being closed for more than a year. Hawaii News Now.

After more than 1 year, the USS Arizona set to reopen to the public. Since May 2018, the National Park Service has been restoring the dock's anchoring system after it cracked. KITV.

USS Arizona Memorial reopens Sunday. West Hawaii Today.

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Gabbard forges ahead despite not qualifying for debate. Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard is forging ahead with her campaign for president despite missing the cut for the third Democratic primary debate. Star-Advertiser.

Tulsi Gabbard Misses 2020 Presidential Debate Threshold. The Hawaii congresswoman didn’t qualify for the September debates due to her low poll numbers, but she hopes to be back on stage in October. Civil Beat.

Gabbard falls short in qualifying for third Democratic presidential debate. U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard will not be in the next Democratic presidential debate, a campaign spokesperson said. Hawaii News Now.

10 Democrats Set For Next Debate As Gabbard, Others Miss Cut. Struggling Democratic presidential candidates, including Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, are facing the bad news that they are not among the 10 who have qualified for the next debate, a predicament that is likely to spell doom for their campaigns. Associated Press.

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Lawsuit Planned Over Backroom Deal to Downsize University Board of Regents. A former University of Hawaii regent plans to sue over what he calls an unconstitutional reduction of the university’s governing board. Hawaii Public Radio.

Monsanto Could Soon Be Facing Dozens Of Lawsuits in Hawaii Over Pesticide. Massive damage awards in previous cases are triggering a new onslaught against the chemical company. Civil Beat.

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Ex-IBEW union boss and family plead not guilty. Ex-union boss Brian Ahakuelo, and his wife and sister-in-law — also union employees — pleaded not guilty in federal court to a 70-count indictment of criminal conspiracy and wire fraud for using union money for personal expenses, rigging a vote to increase union dues, embezzlement and money laundering. Star-Advertiser.

All three indicted in IBEW case plead not guilty. It’s a case nearly five years in the making. KHON2.

Former union leader accused of misusing funds pleads not guilty. The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1260′s past business manager was released on a $50,000 bond. Hawaii News Now.

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TMT Protest Movement Spurs Enrollment In Immersion Schools. Several Hawaiian immersion schools are seeing a spike in interest this year from parents energized by opposition to construction of a telescope on Mauna Kea. Civil Beat.

Hawaiian Air flight attendants picket over contract negotiations. Hawaiian Airlines flight attendants took to the picket lines at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport Wednesday to protest extended contract negotiations. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaiian flight attendants hold third airport protest. Hawaiian Airlines flight attendants held a major labor demonstration on Wednesday at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport over protracted negotiations for a new contract. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Airlines flight attendants hold 'informational picket' over pay & benefits. Nearly a hundred flight attendants and supporters marched outside the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport echoing that message. KITV.

Oahu

Dozens of firefighters battled a blaze early Thursday at the H-Power plant in Kapolei that officials say was sparked by welding work. The Honolulu Fire Department said it took crews four hours to extinguish because it was difficult to reach all the hot spots in the pile of rubbish. Hawaii News Now.

Kapolei’s second affordable housing tower to rise. It’s not done yet, but the tallest building in Kapolei is slated to soon connect with a sister tower providing homes for Hawaii residents with low incomes. Star-Advertiser.

Dignitaries broke ground Wednesday on the second phase of an upcoming senior housing complex in Kapolei. Hawaii News Now.

‘Sentry Aloha’ training has skies buzzing. The Hawaii Air National Guard is once again conducting its large-scale Sentry Aloha fighter exercise, with this iteration running from Aug. 21 through Sept. 4. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s system for listing people on a registry of child abusers “makes no sense” and may have resulted in a “great injustice,” according to an opinion by a U.S. appellate court judge. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

TMT vice president says project partners concerned over inaction. Although the deadline to begin construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope was pushed back until 2021, project authorities believe a decision about the project’s future will have to be made soon. Tribune-Herald.

Gov. Ige explains why he couldn’t grant Mayor Kim’s wish of delaying TMT construction. After receiving the letter, Ige said he told Kim that it was too late for a timeout. Hawaii News Now.

Important Lava Recovery Measures Go Before Council Next Week. The Hawaii County Council will consider a grant to establish another temporary road and a resolution to adopt an Interim Recovery Strategy. Big Island Video News.

Kohanaiki Shores wins tax appeal: Kona resort one of hundreds lobbying to get amounts reduced. West Hawaii Today.

Kealakehe Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrades delayed. Completion of upgrades to the Kealakehe Wastewater Treatment Plant to produce R1 recycled water and the ability to move that water to customers has been pushed back “significantly.” West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Mahi Pono Needs Water, But Isnʻt Sure of How Much. During a contested case hearing that drew a decent audience at the UH Maui College earlier this evening, Mahi Pono representatives said they are unsure of how many gallons of water they will need to divert for their crops. Maui Now.

Mahi Pono Wants to Divert Water from Wailuku Streams. Mahi Pono, the Maui agricultural venture, is asking to divert stream water originally sought by the old Hawaiian Commercial and Sugar Company that it never got. Hawaii Public Radio.

Petitions Delivered Urging County to Settle Lahaina Injection Well Case. A petition signed by over 15,000 members of the Sierra Club and Surfrider Foundation was delivered to Maui County Council Chairwoman Kelly King today. Maui Now.

In a stunning turnabout, the Economic Development and Budget Committee of the Maui County Council voted 6-3 to cut already allocated bond funds for the Wailuku Parking Garage from $42 million to $27.7 million. Maui Watch.

Calls for police reform strengthened in light of misconduct allegations in MPD. Maui Police Officer Brandon Saffeels was suspended last year after a woman complained to Internal Affairs that he was trying to exchange information for sexual favors. Hawaii News Now.

Maui Organizations Make Effort to Curb Overtourism. From leading the state in hotel performance, to experiencing growth in visitor arrivals, Mauiʻs tourism industry has been making noticeable strides. Maui Now.

Chairwoman’s decision to remove tapestry criticized. Issues of cleanliness of the 45-year-old art piece led to its removal, says King. Maui County Council Member Riki Hokama is taking issue with council Chairwoman Kelly King’s decision to remove a more than 45-year-old tapestry that has hung in Council Chambers since 1972 and replace it with the county seal. Maui News.

A third Maui establishment has been hit with a red placard in the span of a week due to an apparent rodent infestation. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

Property tax bill goes to mayor. Families that have lived on their properties for generations but whose names are not on title are one step closer to applying for the same tax exemptions other owner-occupants enjoy. Garden Island.

Waimea Huakai Housing Development will feature 67 units. The project, the Waimea Huakai Housing Development, is a partnership with Kauai Habitat for Humanity, the Ahe Group and the County of Kauai. Garden Island.

Hawaii roads among the worst, Honolulu homeless face court-ordered treatment, Maui police officer arrested, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Saddle Road on Hawaii Island ©2019 All Hawaii News

Hawaii remains 47th worst in assessment of state highways. The worst urban interstate pavement conditions in the country and a low mark for spending per mile left Hawaii ranked 47th among states in a recent survey of highway performance. Star-Advertiser.

Expert: Trade war could impact Hawaii construction projects. The escalating trade war between the U.S. and China could lead to a shakeout in Hawaii construction industry, a real estate expert predicts. Hawaii News Now.

Air Travel’s Carbon Footprint Takes A Big Environmental Toll In Hawaii. Carbon emissions from planes are only now starting to get some of the attention as other troubling side effects caused by soaring numbers of tourists. Civil Beat.

Fewer Students in UH Classrooms Than a Decade Ago. It was back to school Monday for nearly 50,000 University of Hawaii students across the state. Total enrollment has been declining over the last decade, and officials have been trying to reverse the trend. Hawaii Public Radio.

Fixed Broadband Speeds Up in 2019. The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Cable Television Division has issued its 2019 Report on Fixed Wireline Broadband Speeds, which builds upon data included in the 2018 Report on Fixed Wireline Broadband Speeds released in June of 2018. Big Island Now.

Hawaiian-Emperor Seamounts ecosystems recovering after trawling, report finds. For decades the sunken islands northwest of Hawaii proved a popular draw for fishing and trawling, with crews dragging heavy nets across the fertile peaks. In the process, the nets scraped the real estate to devastating effect. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Homeless people with mental illness to get court-ordered help. Officials with the city, state and the Institute for Human Services are teaming up on a new approach to deal with homeless people with mental health issues by trying to get court-ordered help for the first of potentially hundreds of homeless people on Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Invests $500,000 To Reach Hardest-To-Serve Homeless People. The mayor is hoping state and federal agencies will help fund the effort to help homeless people, whether they want it or not. Civil Beat.

State’s only psychiatric street medicine team gets $500,000 from city. The city has awarded the state’s only psychiatric street medicine team $500,000 to help get more homeless people with mental illness off the streets and into treatment. Hawaii News Now.

City aims to help mentally ill, addicted homeless. KHON2.

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Katherine Kealoha’s Relatives Demand New Civil Trial Because Of Her Alleged Fraud. A motion seeks to overturn a $658,000 judgment in favor of the former city prosecutor, who was recently convicted of trying to frame her uncle. Civil Beat.

Katherine Kealoha’s relatives point to her conviction in bid for new civil trial. Hawaii News Now.

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State agency approves 80-acre solar project near UH West Oahu. The state Public Utilities Commission has approved a 12.5-megawatt solar project with a 50-megawatt-hour energy storage system in West Oahu, according to the Hawaiian Electric Co. Star-Advertiser.

City and County to hold workshops on sea level rise and climate change. The Department of Planning and Permitting is holding a series of pop-up workshops to gather input on how climate change and sea level rise will affect the area between Kahala and Pearl City, also known as the Primary Urban Center. KHON2.

Kailua Town Farmers’ Market finds temporary home. The popular Kailua Town Farmers’ Market is moving to the Pali Lanes parking lot, starting this Sunday, after getting booted from the elementary school parking lot it had been using for years. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu’s first bikeshare is raising its fares. After more than two years in operation, Bikeshare Hawaii, the nonprofit that manages Biki, has raised some of its fares while extending a new discount to low-income residents. Star-Advertiser.

One neighborhood’s loss is another’s gain as HPU moves its Downtown campus. Hawaii Pacific University students headed back to school Monday to a very different downtown campus. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

First accomplice sentenced in fatal shooting of police officer. The man who tipped off police to Justin Waiki’s whereabouts, witnessed the fatal shooting of Hawaii Police Department Officer Bronson Kaliloa and then gave the suspected shooter a ride from the scene last summer was sentenced to prison. West Hawaii Today.

Naalehu sewer bill scofflaws reap fines, warrants. Some Naalehu residents who haven’t been paying their sewer bills have found themselves slapped with fines and penalties, and even warrants taken out against them. West Hawaii Today.

First day of contraflow ‘very smooth’. A new traffic pattern on Highway 130 did not cause significant delays Monday morning despite previous complaints about the project. Tribune-Herald.

Mauna Kea Access Attempt Denied. A handful of Hawaiian beneficiaries in vehicles, and some on foot, were blocked from traversing the Mauna Kea Access Road on Monday morning. Big Island Video News.

Maui

Maui police officer arrested following reports of inappropriate conduct, abuse of authority. Maui police arrested one of their own tonight at the Kahului Airport on the strength of an arrest warrant based on information gathered in an ongoing criminal investigation. Star-Advertiser.

Maui Police Arrest Officer Brandon Saffeels, Victims’ Attorney Says Women Need to Step Forward. Maui Now.

Maui officer accused of misconduct arrested after stepping off flight. A Maui police officer accused of attempted perjury among other charges has been arrested amid an ongoing criminal investigation, Maui police confirmed Monday evening. Hawaii News Now.

Maui police officer arrested for perjury and witness tampering. KITV.

Maui Police Chief releases statement on the arrest of Maui PD officer. KHON2.

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Repairs for beach groins grow closer. Final assessment released for project, repairs expected in fall. Maui News.

Hawaii Group Seeks Block Of Federal Policy On Immigrants. A Hawaii community action agency has requested governmental help in blocking a new national policy that would affect immigrants across the islands, officials said. Associated Press.

Kauai

County buys 417 acres on the Westside. County buys 417 acres on the Westside. Garden Island.

County of Kauai acquires over 400 acres in Waimea from Kikiaola Land Company. The County of Kauai is announcing the purchase of 417 acres of agriculture land from the Kikiaola Land Company Ltd. on Monday. KHON2.

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Mayor signs 10th emergency proclamation. Mayor Derek S. K. Kawakami has signed a 10th supplementary emergency proclamation on Monday for the County of Kauai, extending the emergency relief period for damages sustained during the April 2018 flood. Garden Island.

Council to consider ‘highway safety’ bills. Two bills pertaining to “highway safety” will be presented for potential inclusion in the 2020 Hawaii State Association of Counties Legislative Package and the 2020 County of Kauai Legislative Package. Garden Island.

Thirty Meter Telescope almost 20% done, UH Board of Regents approves group to study Mauna Kea management, money in politics, police salaries, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Tropical Depression Flossie at 5 a.m. Aug. 5 NOAA

Tropical Depression Flossie Continues to Weaken. At 5 a.m., Tropical Depression Flossie was located about 155 miles E of Hilo and 225 mile ESE of Hana, Maui (near latitude 19.7 North, longitude 152.7 West). Maui Now.

Tropical Depression Flossie expected to bring high surf, heavy rain and thunderstorms. KHON2.

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TMT almost 20% done: Despite ongoing protest on Maunakea, work continues around the world. Although no construction equipment has been able to ascend Maunakea for three weeks due to the ongoing protest by some Native Hawaiians, the Thirty Meter Telescope is nearly 20% complete. Tribune-Herald.

UH Board of Regents Approve Forming Investigative Group For Mauna Kea. A new University of Hawaiʻi Board of Regents group will be investigating the school's role in managing Mauna Kea. Hawaii Public Radio.

Fact-Checking Environmental Concerns About The Thirty Meter Telescope. TMT officials say the world’s largest telescope will be a zero-waste facility, while the state has determined  it doesn’t pose a risk to the Big Island’s water supply. Civil Beat.

Claims about TMT’s impact on watershed are just plain false, according to expert, EIS. The most vocal opposition to the Thirty Meter Telescope project has come from the perspective of the rights of indigenous people and the cultural significance of the site. Tribune-Herald.

Mauna Kea protests seen as generational shift, pivot point. As they enter their fourth week, the protests against the Thirty Meter Telescope are beginning to look like something new and powerful in Hawaii politics, a magnetic and growing movement that has captivated thousands, including even some committed Hawaiian supporters of the TMT. Star-Advertiser.

Mauna Kea Radio Broadcasts Defy FCC. A low power radio station broadcasting from the base of Mauna Kea is just one of the many media efforts supporting the opposition to the Thirty Meter Telescope. Big Island Video News.

Conflict on Mauna Kea 'Where it Stands’ mini-documentary. The conflict on Mauna Kea is about to enter its fourth week with no end in sight. Hawaii News Now.

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Hawaii’s homegrown teachers step up to the plate as efforts target teacher shortage. As students head back to public schools across Hawaii today, the first cadre of newly licensed teachers in the “Grow Our Own” initiative are stepping to the front of their classrooms. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Efforts To Stop Youth Vaping Stalls As Use Increases. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ranks Hawaii number two among states for children grades 6 to 12 who are vaping. Hawaii Public Radio.

$2.7B Weinberg Foundation re-balancing Hawaii real estate empire. Recently, leaders of the Baltimore-based Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation have made major changes to the organization’s Hawaii operations, leading some local business leaders to worry whether the foundation’s historic role in the state would be diminished. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Councilwoman’s use of city funds to pay PR firm is scrutinized. Honolulu City Councilwoman Heidi Tsuneyoshi is using her taxpayer-funded Council contingency account to pay a Honolulu public relations and advertising firm for community and media outreach and marketing. Star-Advertiser.

Rail Faces More Uncertainty As Council Leader Tries To Abolish HART. After years of missteps it’s time for the rail agency to be replaced by city control, Honolulu’s City Council chairman argues. HART says that’ll only make things worse. Civil Beat.

DHHL land deal under fire. Two parties are raising questions about the commission practice of turning over land from the department’s 203,000-acre land trust to nonbeneficiaries, typically through long-term leases or short-term rights of entry. Star-Advertiser.

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In wake of pedestrian crash, state to look at building parking for Laniakea Beach Park. Under pressure from the North Shore community, the state Department of Transportation said it will now look at moving parts of Kamehameha Highway near Laniakea Beach inland to provide limited parking on the makai side of the highway. Hawaii News Now.

Laniakea task force urges state to improve pedestrian safety. Members of the Laniakea Task Force are urging the state to prioritize adjustments to Kamehameha Highway to help avoid future accidents like the one involving a 10-year-old boy just days ago. Star-Advertiser.

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Hawaii Salary Database 2020: We’re Kicking Off This Year’s Report With HPD. A legal challenge by the police union held up release of officers’ names for years but a recent court ruling found disclosure is required under public records law. Civil Beat.

Fort Street Mall satellite city hall relocating to bigger location. The city says the location will close this coming Friday and will reopen Monday around the corner at the Chinatown Gateway Plaza. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Money in politics: Lawmakers fundraise during legislative session. Elections are more than a year away — and for some senators three years away — but that hasn’t kept state lawmakers from holding fundraisers during the legislative session and collecting money from the very people who are trying to influence their votes. West Hawaii Today.

DLNR declines settlement offer for grave damage. More than a year after the state Department of Land and Natural Resources sought to fine the Edwin C. Olson Trust No. 2 for damage allegedly done to a plantation camp cemetery by heavy machinery, a settlement still has not been reached. Tribune-Herald.

New marketplace to open next year. A larger Safeway being built as part of the Niumalu Marketplace is on track to open up in summer 2020, the project’s developers said Wednesday. West Hawaii Today.

More than the mountain: New tours offered to fill stargazing gaps. Big Island tour companies are increasingly learning not to put all their eggs in one basket, as even temporary closures of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and the Maunakea summit play havoc with tour groups’ plans. West Hawaii Today.

University of Washington starting physician assistant program in Hawaii. The UW School of Medicine’s MEDEX physician assistant program is investing up to $1 million to open a training center at the former Kaiser Permanente Clinic in Kailua-Kona. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

HIOSH ordered Maui Police Department to conduct internal investigation. The letter states that MPD had until July 30th to conduct an internal investigation. KITV.

New Partner Joins Maui-Based Consulting Firm. Skog Rasmussen LLC, a Maui-based consulting firm, announced that Melissa Unemori Hampe has joined the firm as a partner. Maui Now.

Fire fully contained; work to quell hot spots in 5,300-acre Pukalani blaze will continue. Maui News.

Kauai

An infrastructure project to replace the Hanapepe River Bridge is well behind schedule, and construction has been at a virtual standstill for months. Garden island. Construction on a replacement for the 80-year-old bridge began earlier this year, and already the project has been delayed five or six months, said Larry Dill, district engineer with the state Department of Transportation. Garden Island.

Bridge meeting set. The state Department of Transportation, in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration and WW Clyde and Co., has scheduled a public meeting to provide an update on the construction of the Hanapepe River Bridge replacement. Garden Island.

One tropical storm down, one to go, Honolulu vacation rental law spurs lawsuits, wildfire scorches 2,500 acres on Maui, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Tropical Storm Flossie 5 a.m. Aug. 2 NOAA

Tropical Storm Erick passes south of Big Island as Flossie nears Central Pacific. though Tropical Storm Erick continued to weaken overnight on its path south of the islands, it brings with it a plethora of adverse weather conditions. Star-Advertiser.

Flossie maintained strength as a tropical storm and is expected to cross into the Central Pacific on Friday, forecasters say. At 5 a.m. Friday, the National Hurricane Center said Flossie — still packing winds of 70 mph or higher — was about 1,145 miles east of Hilo and moving west-northwest near 17 mph. Hawaii News Now.

Tropical Storm Erick weakens while Tropical Storm Flossie maintains strength. KHON2.

Tropical Storm Flossie moving fast but will slowly weaken as it approaches the islands. Flossie has winds at 70 mph. KITV.

Erick rapidly weakening south of the Big Island. Moisture associated with Erick will spread over portions of the Hawaiian Islands through Saturday. KITV.

Experts say look long term when taking precautions for upcoming storms. That will keep you prepared for the long hurricane season. KHON2.

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‘Success’ bonus sparks criticism about use of taxpayer money. The board of the Hawaii Strategic Development Corp. approved a “success bonus” of at least $52,827 for the government agency’s outgoing President Karl Fooks in June, raising concerns in the Legislature as to whether the unusual payment for a public-sector worker was an appropriate use of government funds. Star-Advertiser.

Head Start Preschool Program In Hawaii Gets Federal Boost. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will award nearly $10 million to three Hawaii nonprofits that operate the Head Start preschool program. Civil Beat.

Thirty Meter Telescope supporters Thursday rallied at the state Capitol for the second week in a row, and like last week, they were greeted by a sizable group of TMT opponents. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

City’s new vacation rental law faces at least 2 legal challenges. The city’s new law regulating the vacation rental industry went into effect Thursday and is already facing two legal challenges. Hawaii News Now.

Vacation rental operators file suit against the city. The Hawaii Vacation Rental Owners Association filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court today against the city over its new law prohibiting advertising of unpermitted short-term vacation rentals. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu new law in effect, banning unpermitted short-term vacation rentals. A group of vacation rental owners calls the rule 'unconstitutional' and filed a lawsuit against the city. KITV.

Short-Term Rental Owners Consider Options: Lease, Sell Or Leave It Vacant? Early indications suggest the legislation is working as intended to limit tourists in residential areas and make units available to residents. Civil Beat.

Measuring Tourism Impacts in Windward  Oahu. University of Hawaii researchers are asking how precisely are visitors affecting local neighborhoods – like those in Windward Oahu. Hawaii Public Radio.

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City and state officials missed a Wednesday deadline to reach an agreement that would have given them access to $220 million in federal funding to shore up the Ala Wai Canal and its watershed to protect Waikiki and several other Oahu neighborhoods from flooding. Star-Advertiser.

Moderately priced units in a planned Kakaako condo is attracting many buyers. All the affordable condos — one- and two-bedroom units with 511 to 799 square feet of living space — are reserved for Hawaii residents with moderate incomes and are priced from $312,600 to $657,100. Star-Advertiser.

Hale Nani health care workers to strike Friday. About 200 health care workers at Hale Nani Rehabilitation & Nursing Center are expected to participate in a one-day strike Friday over low wages and understaffing. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

UH regents to discuss Maunakea group. The University of Hawaii Board of Regents is expected to hear a motion this morning to consider the formation of a group that would advise the board on issues related to the university’s governance of Maunakea. Tribune-Herald.

University of Hawaii President David Lassner has been one of the Thirty Meter Telescope’s most vocal supporters. But in a recent interview Lassner said he’s struggling with how the project is dividing the university and broader community. Hawaii News Now.

Puna community mulls six possible bus hub sites. More than two dozen people gathered Wednesday night in Pahoa to discuss the merits of six locations identified around the community for a proposed bus hub. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Pukalani Fire Scorches 2,500 Acres, Pulehu Still Closed. Maui Now.

Maui firefighters were battling flames and difficult weather conditions Thursday night as they scrambled to bring a large brush fire in Pukalani under control. Hawaii News Now.

Brush fire near Pukalani, more than 2,500 acres burned. Pulehu Road is closed at Hansen Road and at Omaopio Road due to the fire. KITV.

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All 19 West Maui beaches sampled are ‘impaired’. All 19 sampled beaches in West Maui are “impaired” and exceed the state standard for allowable amounts of sediment and potentially harmful runoff nutrients in coastal waters, according to data collected by the Hui O Ka Wai Ola program. Maui News.

County is now taking applications for its first-time homebuyers program. The County of Maui currently is accepting applications for its First-Time Home Buyers Down Payment Assistance Program. Maui News.

Kauai

14 Days Of Emergency Supplies? Who Has That? Health department surveys provide the most detailed assessment yet of how people are responding to new state preparedness recommendations. Civil Beat.

King Tides, black moon. Another set of the year’s highest tides reached the archipelago Wednesday and Thursday, combined with swells from incoming Tropical Storm Erick and the beginning of a “black moon.” Garden Island.

Ige declares state of emergency amid Hawaiian protests, 33 arrested, Kealoha civil suits could cost Honolulu $40M, Maui wildlife arson suspect arrested, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Mauna Kea Thirty Meter Telescope protest camp during quieter times ©2019 All Hawaii News

Ige issues emergency edict as number of TMT protesters balloons. Gov. David Ige issued an emergency proclamation on Wednesday afternoon as the number of people gathered at the base of Mauna Kea to protest the Thirty Meter Telescope swelled to roughly 1,000 and crews were blocked for the third day in a row from accessing the telescope construction site. Star-Advertiser.

Ige Issues Emergency Proclamation For Situation On Mauna Kea. Governor David Ige signed an emergency proclamation, saying it will give law enforcement the additional tools that they need on the mountain. Big Island Video News.

Mauna Kea under state of emergency as TMT protest stretches into 4th day. Thirty-three people were arrested on day three of the TMT protest. Hawaii News Now.

Governor Ige issues emergency proclamation in response to Mauna Kea events. Hundreds gathered Wednesday morning as it was anticipated that there would be movement on the third day of the standoff between state officials and kanaka maoli. KHON2.

Dozens of kupuna arrested on third consecutive day of TMT protest. Thirty-three opponents of the Thirty Meter Telescope were arrested Wednesday on the Maunakea Access Road during an ongoing protest that prompted Gov. David Ige to sign an emergency proclamation. Tribune-Herald.

Gov. Ige signs emergency proclamation amid protests, arrests near TMT site. Despite the large presence in opposition to TMT construction, officials continued operations, with about a dozen large trucks toting construction equipment heading to Mauna Kea from a staging area in Waikoloa. Pacific Business News.

Full text of Gov. David Ige's emergency proclamation. Governor's Office.

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Highway closed, 33 arrested as TMT protests ratchet up. Protesters forced the closure of the Daniel K. Inouye Highway on Hawaii island for more than three hours Wednesday and 33 kupuna, or Hawaiian elders, were arrested in a sit-in intended to block construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope. Star-Advertiser.

Another ‘Truce’ After A Day Of Arrests On Mauna Kea. After 33 kupuna were removed and cited, police in riot gear descended on the scene of the TMT protest. But they later backed off. Civil Beat.

Latest Developments On TMT Protests At Mauna Kea. State officials estimated 1,000 people gathered near the intersection of Daniel K. Inouye Highway and Mauna Kea Access Road Wednesday as the protests against the Thirty Meter Telescope ramped up following the arrests of over 30 native Hawaiian elders and others opposed to the observatory project. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kupuna Arrested, Saddle Road Closed – Mauna Kea Update. Big Island Video News.

Astronomers: ‘We’re sort of dead in the water’. The protests surrounding the construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope on Maunakea and the closure of the Maunakea Access Road affects not only the future of astronomy, but its present, as well, according to astronomers who use the telescopes already in place on the mountain. Tribune-Herald.

OHA trustee arrested at TMT protest on Mauna Kea. Among those arrested was Office of Hawaiian Affairs Trustee Carmen Hulu Lindsey, who has represented Maui since January of 2012. KITV.

In wake of TMT arrests, scores gather to call for UH president’s resignation. Students, faculty, and staff at UH-Manoa who oppose the Thirty Meter Telescope held a rally Wednesday to call for President David Lassner’s resignation. Hawaii News Now.

UH faculty demand Lassner resign after 33 kupuna arrested on Mauna Kea. Tensions ran high after the state reported at least 33 kupuna were arrested by police on Mauna Kea early Wednesday morning. Emotions exploded on Oahu and triggered cultural practitioners to organize a rally at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. KITV.

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Hawaii Governor Keeps His Official Visitor List Under Wraps. David Ige’s office says he does not keep track of his visitors, raising transparency concerns. Civil Beat.

Climate Change Proposals Headed For Second Round In Hawaii Legislature. State officials are fine-tuning proposals that aim to mitigate the effects of climate change in the state. Civil Beat.

Hawaiian Electric makes push toward renewable energy. The Hawaiian Electric Companies announced Wednesday its plans to put out requests for proposals for its largest and most ambitious push for renewable energy ever. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Electric Company said they’re preparing to kickstart the largest-ever renewable energy push in the state as they close down coal and oil-fired power plants. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Oahu activists demonstrate after TMT arrests. Oahu experienced a taste of Hawaii island’s Thirty Meter Telescope protest Wednesday as Native Hawaiian sympathizers demonstrated at the state Capitol courtyard, held a sit-in at Gov. David Ige’s office and slowed traffic on the H-1 Freeway and at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, among other actions. Star-Advertiser.

Ethics Commission, former director spar over handling of Kealoha probes. The Honolulu Ethics Commission met Wednesday to “set the record straight” about how it handled the Kealoha investigation. Hawaii News Now.

Former Ethics Commission leader rips members for lack of support. The former director of the Honolulu Ethics Commission told the panel’s members Wednesday that they violated the public’s trust by pulling him and his staff off from their investigations of ex-Police Chief Louis Kealoha and his wife, then-Deputy Prosecutor Katherine Kealoha. Star-Advertiser.

Defiant Ethics Commission Defends Decisions On Kealohas. The chair of the Honolulu Ethics Commission pushes back on criticism that the commission short-circuited a probe of the former police chief, his wife and other cops. Civil Beat.

Attorney: 4 Kealoha era lawsuits could cost city up to $40 million. The attorney for the man framed by the Kealohas in the so-called mailbox theft case said four civil rights violation lawsuits against the couple and HPD could cost the city up to $40 million. Hawaii News Now.

Canoe club: Homeless camp is putting young paddlers’ safety in jeopardy. Canoe clubs at Keehi Lagoon are growing more frustrated with a relatively small group of squatters they say are a danger to families who use the park. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Council members report gifts, trips. County Council members reported gifts ranging from a $100 Southwest Airlines card to a trip to Portugal in their most recent gift disclosures. West Hawaii Today.

Rat Lungworm Disease’s Silent Victims: Cats, Dogs, Centipedes, Toads, Coqui Frogs and Horses. So far this year six people have contracted rat lungworm disease. But researchers on the Big Island have also begun to study the presence of the infection in animals. Civil Beat.

Maui

Maui police arrest arson suspect in massive wildfire. Maui police on Monday arrested a 28-year-old man suspected of setting the 9,000-acre wildfire in South Maui, resulting in the evacuation of thousands of residents. Star-Advertiser.

Man arrested in connection with 9,000-acre wildfire. Holden Bingham was arrested Monday night in connection with a wildfire that burned 9,000 acres in Central Maui and north Kihei. Maui News.

Maui police arrested 28-year-old Holden Bingham on Monday on suspicion of arson in connection with a fire that sparked 9,000 acres on Maui last week. Maui Now.

Battling 9,000-acre blaze cost $400K. Mahi Pono lands suffer the bulk of damage with about 5,000 acres burned. Maui News.

Kauai

In an emotional meeting Wednesday, Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami and new police chief Todd Raybuck called an impromptu “listening meeting” at the County Civic Center Rotunda, after recent protests over the proposed Thirty Meter Telescope on Mauna Kea. Garden Island.

Crosswalks to be added near Kekaha School. The council went over several agenda items including a resolution that would establish two crosswalks on Kekaha Road and repeal an existing crosswalk near Kekaha School. Garden Island.

Mauna Loa volcano alert level raised, illegal firearm seizures soar, Ige signs prostitution protection bill, Kealoha lawyer quits, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hiking Mauna Loa ©2019 All Hawaii News

Federal officials raised the alert level Tuesday for the world’s largest active volcano, Mauna Loa on the Big Island, which last erupted in 1984. After Kilauea erupted last year, another Big Island volcano is experiencing 50 to 75 eruptions a week. Associated Press.

No cause for alarm despite Mauna Loa’s heightened alert level. Several months of small earthquakes and signs of magma movement underground at Mauna Loa prompted scientists Tuesday to raise the alert level by a notch for the massive volcano. Star-Advertiser.

HVO raises Mauna Loa alert level to “advisory”. Today’s increase in the Mauna Loa alert level — from “normal” to “advisory” — came just over one year after it was downgraded from advisory to normal in June 2018. Tribune-Herald.

Mauna Loa Volcano Alert Level Raised To YELLOW ADVISORY. The United States Geological Survey has raised the alert level for Mauna Loa, the largest active volcano on Earth. Big Island Video News.

Alert level increased to ‘advisory’ for Mauna Loa. Scientists have raised the alert level for Mauna Loa from normal to advisory. KHON2.

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Seizures of illegal firearms soar in Hawaii, feds say. U.S. law enforcement authorities Tuesday voiced concern about the dramatic increase in illegal firearms seized in Hawaii and the growing use of devices that can convert ordinary handguns into machine gun-like weapons. Star-Advertiser.

Authorities raise alarm about illegal use of gun conversion device in Hawaii. Federal officials are trying to crack down on criminals in Hawaii using a device that turns a semi-automatic handgun into a fully automatic weapon. Hawaii News Now.

Local Police and federal agents work to stop the use of illegal guns in Hawaii. The Project Safe Neighborhood brings all levels of law enforcement together for one goal. KHON2.

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Hawaii becomes first state with protections for those convicted of prostitution. Hawaii’s laws against sex trafficking victims eased slightly with the signing of SB1039 Tuesday. Hawaii News Now.

Ige Signs First-In-Nation Law On Clearing Prostitution Convictions. The bill removes a requirement that a person be a victim of sex trafficking to have a prostitution conviction erased. Associated Press.

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Hawaii lawmakers, others urge passage of asset forfeiture bill. State Rep. Joy San Buenaventura of Puna said Tuesday civil asset forfeiture reform legislation she sponsored is in response to “innocent people whose property was seized because of legalized theft by the government.” Tribune-Herald.

Debates Over, But Gabbard’s Poll Numbers Still Dismal. Sens. Harris and Warren, meanwhile, see big gains while Biden’s popularity drops. Civil Beat.

HPD launches murder investigation into a deadly shooting of an OCCC inmate. The Honolulu Police Department is now conducting a murder investigation into the shooting death of an Oahu Community Correctional Center inmate in March. It’s the second murder investigation involving a shooting by a Department of Public Safety officer. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Kealoha attorney withdraws, citing ‘irretrievable breakdown in the attorney-client relationship’. Katherine Kealoha’s court-appointed attorney today asked to be removed from defending Kealoha, citing “an irretrievable breakdown in the attorney-client relationship, which cannot be reconciled.” Star-Advertiser.

Attorney Cites Ethical Concerns In Motion To Drop Katherine Kealoha As Client. Cynthia Kagiwada says she no longer wants to represent the former city prosecutor, who was convicted and incarcerated last week but faces additional charges. Civil Beat.

Katherine Kealoha’s attorney cites ethical issue in request to withdraw as counsel.  Citing an “irretrievable breakdown” in their relationship, and a state rule of professional conduct, court-appointed defense attorney Cynthia Kagiwada is seeking to withdraw as Katherine Kealoha’s counsel. Hawaii News Now.

Katherine Kealoha’s attorney has filed to withdraw as her counsel. KHON2.

Louis Kealoha likely to find it hard to visit wife in prison. Convicted former Police Chief Louis Kealoha likely will find it difficult to visit his wife in federal prison, where former Deputy Prosecutor Katherine Kealoha is awaiting sentencing after the couple and two Honolulu Police Department officers were found guilty last week on corruption and obstruction charges. Star-Advertiser.

Prosecutor’s Safe House For Abuse Victims To Close As Questions Swirl. The City Council cut funding for the facility, a favored project of the Honolulu prosecutor, and now it faces allegations of civil rights abuses from residents. Civil Beat.

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Honolulu Watches As California Cities Challenge Utility, Push Renewable Electricity. Both Hawaii and California share a goal of generating 100 percent renewable electricity by 2045, and the success of some California cities in meeting that goal ahead of schedule via CCA has generated some interest in Hawaii. Hawaii Public Radio.

Bulky item mountains line the streets, but city still calls appointment-based system a ‘success’. From a littered landscape in Liliha to piles of bulky trash in Kalihi, residents are crying foul over the city’s one-month-old appointment-based bulky pickup pilot from Foster Village to East Honolulu. Hawaii News Now.

Barriers added to protect King Kamehameha III’s Nuuanu summer palace. In Nuuanu, the state has made a few changes to protect King Kamehameha III summer palace after several acts of vandalism in recent years. KHON2.

No trespassing at Kamehameha summer palace. The Department of Land and Natural Resources is adding barriers around Kaniakapupu Ruins, also known as King Kamehameha's Summer Palace. The 175-years-old ruins have been trespassed and vandalized multiple times in recent years. KITV.

Safety upgrades planned for Manoa Falls Trail. For nearly two decades the Honolulu Fire Department has identified the upper portion of the Manoa Falls Trail as a hotbed for hiker injury. Star-Advertiser.

Group rallies to reopen well-known Haiku Stairs. It’s now or never, according to Friends of Haiku Stairs, a nonprofit that has been advocating for years to save the Stairway to Heaven. Star-Advertiser.

City seeks public comment regarding fate of Haiku Stairs. A decision over what to do with one of Hawaii's most well-known trails is just a few steps away. KITV.

Hawaii Island

UH-Hilo welcomes new chancellor. With drums, dance, laughs and lei, dozens gathered Tuesday morning at the University of Hawaii at Hilo for kipaepae ceremonies to celebrate the arrival of new Chancellor Bonnie Irwin and bid farewell to Interim Chancellor Marcia Sakai. Tribune-Herald.

Ceremony Honors Incoming, Outgoing UH-Hilo Chancellors. A traditional Native Hawaiian appointment ceremony was held for Chancellor Bonnie D. Irwin, whose first day on the job was July 1, 2019. Big Island Video News.

Sayres donate firetruck – gifting ceremony Saturday in Waimea. Over the years, the Daniel R. Sayre Foundation has donated ATVs, lifeguard PA systems, jaws of life, Billy Pugh nets and all kinds of other life-saving equipment. Now it’s donating a firetruck. West Hawaii Today.

Maui
Budget director: Maui County is able to pay bills. Crew worked over weekend; council budget reports still under review. Maui News.

Rapid Ohia Death Confirmed in Single Tree on Maui. Ceratocystis huliohia, the less aggressive strain of the fungal disease called Rapid Ohia Death was recently detected in a single tree on private property in East Maui, according to new information released today by the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Maui Now.

Fungus responsible for killing ohia trees spreads to Maui in first confirmed case. Rapid Ohia Death fungus is spreading — and according to the Department of Land and Natural Resources, it’s now on the Valley Isle. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

King tides bring new sand. The King tides are supposed to peak July 2 and 3, but the effects were already being felt days prior at the Salt Pond Beach Park. Garden Island.

$67M federal disaster aid coming, Hawaii joins Big Pharma lawsuit, jury selection begins in Kealoha trial, CO2 levels hit record, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Lava overtakes houses in this May 7, 2018 aerial PC: Mick Kalber

Hawaii is set to receive about $67 million in new federal disaster relief to help the state recover from torrential rainfall that caused severe flooding on parts of Kauai and Oahu in April 2018, Tropical Storm Lane and the eruption of Kilauea on Hawaii Island. Star-Advertiser.

State to receive $67 million in federal disaster relief funding. The grant, totaling $66.9 million, was awarded in part because of efforts of U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, who said “the vast majority” of the grant will be awarded to Hawaii County in an effort to aid recovery following the various disasters that struck the island last year. Tribune-Herald.

2018 Storms, Lava Cost More Than Half A Billion Dollars. The latest $67 million in federal disaster recovery aid was announced Monday. Civil Beat.

$67 Million In Federal Funding On The Way For Hawaii Disasters. The new funding reportedly brings total federal disaster relief funding for Hawai‘i to more than $429 million. Big Island Video News.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced Monday that Hawaii will receive $66.9 million in new federal disaster relief funding. Garden Island.

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CO2 levels measured in Hawaii hit milestone not seen in human history. Carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere -- measured at a facility atop Mauna Loa -- hit an alarming new daily baseline above 415 parts per million Saturday. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii joins states suing drug companies. Attorney General Clare E. Connors joined 42 states and Puerto Rico, led by Connecticut Attorney General William Tong in announcing a lawsuit against Teva Pharmaceuticals and 19 of the nation's largest generic drug manufacturers alleging a broad conspiracy to artificially inflate and manipulate prices, reduce competition and unreasonably restrain trade for over 100 different generic drugs. KITV.

Hawaii Delegation To Look For Affordable Housing Solutions In Singapore. State Sen. Stanley Chang will lead a group of about 40 people to learn more about the city-state’s approach. Civil Beat.

University of Hawaii proposes tuition freeze for undergrads, cut for graduate students. University of Hawaii President David Lassner wants to freeze undergraduate tuition at all 10 campuses for three years and reduce graduate tuition at UH-Manoa, to attract more students and keep college affordable. Star-Advertiser.

University of Hawaii proposes tuition changes for next year. UH is looking to stop undergraduate tuition from increasing and cut tuition for graduate students at Manoa starting in Fall 2020. KHON2.

In Hawaii 4 of the top 6 jobs in demand are in the medical field. While managers and operations managers are among the top five most in demand jobs in Hawaii, four of the top six are in the medical field and three of them are in nursing. KITV.

Gov. Ige’s aide Ford Fuchigami to return to Hawaii transportation department in civil service job. Ford Fuchigami, who has served as a principal advisor to Gov. David Ige since November 2017, is returning to the state Department of Transportation to take a civil service job. Star-Advertiser.

USPS to honor USS Missouri with new Forever stamp. The U.S. Postal Service will issue a stamp honoring the famous World War II battleship the USS Missouri that was the site of Japan’s unconditional surrender on Sept. 2, 1945, in Tokyo Bay. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Potential Kealoha jurors gather at Blaisdell. Some 413 potential jurors filled the Neal S. Blaisdell Center’s Pikake Room Monday in an extraordinary federal court proceeding to select jurors in the corruption trial for former Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha, his ex-deputy prosecutor wife Katherine and three current and former Honolulu Police Department officers. Star-Advertiser.

Hundreds Of Potential Jurors Screened On Opening Day Of Kealoha Trial. The prosecution and defense will now work to narrow the list of potential jurors to 12, which could take up to 10 days. Civil Beat.

Jury Selection Has Begun In High Profile Corruption Case. Associated Press.

With jury selection for Kealoha trial underway, attorneys now look to get an advantage. Jury selection for the Kealoha trial got underway Monday at the Blaisdell Center with more than 400 potential jurors. KHON2.

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Contractor gets prison term for bribery. The president of Honolulu civil engineering company Lyon Associates Inc. and former Honolulu Zoning Board of Appeals member Frank James Lyon is going to federal prison for paying bribes for government contracts. Star-Advertiser.

Kunia veterans blame possible exposure to toxic pesticides for mystery illnesses. A group of more than 100 Kunia veterans are suffering from neurological issues, cancer, birth defects and other illnesses after they say they were exposed to toxic pesticides. Hawaii News Now.

Board Restates Support For Beach Park Redevelopment In Face Of Opposition. Hundreds attend a neighborhood board meeting where many wanted to stop a project to build ball fields at Waimanalo Bay Beach Park. Civil Beat.

Waimanalo residents are deeply divided over a park development in the works. After about a decade of planning, city leaders are now trying to convince families in Waimanalo to accept $32 million dollar park project. Hawaii News Now.

Midrise affordable rentals opening in Kakaako. The developer of the largely state-financed $53 million Hale Kewalo project reserved for low-income households hosted a blessing ceremony Monday. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

'What heroes represent'; Kaliloa, other Big Island officers who gave their lives in line of duty honored. The Hawaii Police Department’s annual National Police Week ceremony, always solemn and poignant, was especially so Monday.  Tribune-Herald.

Police Week Ceremony Held In Hilo, Officer Kaliloa Added To Memorial Wall. The name of fallen Officer Bronson Kaliloa, killed last year in the line of duty, has been added to the memorial wall, Ka Malu Aloha. Big Island Video News.

Community veterans center clears environmental hurdle. The West Hawaii Veterans Council remains on a mission to build the West Hawaii Community Veterans Center, even though state grant-in-aid funding did not come through this legislative session. West Hawaii Today.

Alii Drive culvert replacement project nearing start. Officials have slated a community meeting to prepare the public for the upcoming replacement of a deteriorating culvert on Alii Drive, a project that’s likely to snarl traffic on the main thoroughfare for months. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Maui County ending abandoned vehicle auctions. Officials say last year, the auctions were getting more expensive than the revenue generated. KHON2.

Maui nonprofit organizations secured $4.5 million in Capital Improvement Project Grant-in-Aid funds.These CIP grants are provided to local organizations serving the public and working to improve the state of Hawaii, and are awarded for the purpose of construction projects or the acquisition of fixed assets such as land or buildings. Maui Now.

Kauai

Balancing access and safety. Nobody has been cited for trespassing at Queen’s Bath since the fence and gate went up across the trailhead in September 2018. Garden Island.

Kauai’s legislators will take a look back at the 2019 session at the Lihue Business Association meeting on May 30 at Duke’s Canoe Club, Kalapaki. Garden Island.

Trump Jones Act waiver could save Hawaii shipping billions, scrambling at state Capitol as legislative session nears end, UH volleyball coach Wade accused of sexual misconduct, Maui mulls $832M budget, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Matson shipping courtesy photo

Possible Trump waiver to Jones Act watched closely. The Trump administration is said to be considering a 10-year waiver to the Jones Act to allow foreign-flagged vessels to deliver natural gas to Puerto Rico — and possibly nationwide — creating the latest dust-up over the controversial century-old maritime law. Star-Advertiser.

A Flurry Of Deal-Making At The Hawaii Legislature As End Of Session Looms. Stay tuned. More decisions are coming Friday, the deadline for bills to clear conference committee. Civil Beat.

State Senate poised to accept a proposal to allow vacation rental platforms to collect Hawaii taxes. The state Senate appears poised to accept a bill tonight that would authorize vacation rental platforms such as Airbnb to collect taxes on behalf of the state, a development that triggered a last-minute lobbying push at the state Capitol today by the hotel industry and the hospitality workers union Unite HERE Local 5 to try to block the measure. Star-Advertiser.

Bill to Expand DUI Law Dies. State lawmakers chose to kill a bill that proposed expanding Hawaii’s impaired driving laws after they failed to reach an agreement on the measure in the waning hours of conference committee hearings Thursday. Civil Beat.

Stricter DUI penalties may be on the horizon. The Legislature is set to pass a bill that would significantly stiffen penalties for drunken driving offenses, including making it a felony if a driver is convicted three times of driving under the influence within 10 years — a charge that carries the possibility of up to five years’ imprisonment. Star-Advertiser.

State lawmakers agreed to $19.7 million of extra funds for positions and other programs at state departments over the next two fiscal years. The agreement reached Thursday in House Bill 116 is in addition to a $16 billion spending plan lawmakers approved in March. Civil Beat.

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Funding passes for multiple construction projects. Hawaii lawmakers unveiled a state construction budget for the next two years that totals more than $3.4 billion in projects to be funded with state, federal and other funds, including injections of funding into affordable housing, airport projects and school construction. Star-Advertiser.

$3.4 billion budget agreed for renovations, repairs, construction, land acquisition statewide. Over $3.4 billion was agreed on by the House Finance and Senate Ways and Means Conference Committee today. The bill for the 2020-2021 fiscal years will now move to the full House and Senate for a final vote. KHON2.

House & Senate Committee Agree on $3.4 Billion CIP Budget. The bill now moves to the full House and Senate for a final vote. Big Island Now.

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Fight Over Coffee Labeling Stalls at State Capitol. Hawaii’s coffee farmers have failed again to gain additional protections for their crop. Hawaii Public Radio.

Internal affairs case opened after Public Safety’s head trainer accused of puffing up resume. The Public Safety Department has launched an internal investigation the head of training for more than 1,000 deputy sheriffs and corrections officers statewide. Hawaii News Now.

As HMSA Changes Doctors' Pay To Lower Costs, State Isn't Monitoring. Some of Hawaii doctors say they are struggling financially under the Hawaii Medical Service Association's new payment model, arguing it is exacerbating the state's serious physician shortage and extending wait times for patients. Hawaii Public Radio.

The leadership team of the Sovereign Council of Hawaiian Homestead Associations held a roundtable with Lieutenant Governor Josh Green on April 23, 2019 at the State Capitol. Lieutenant Governor Josh Green asked Hawaiian homeland leaders to identify two sites per island where his office and homestead associations can collaborate to build kauhale, or transitional group homes and affordable rentals. Maui Now.

Ed Case: Some PAC Money Is OK As Long As He Knows Where It’s Coming From. As Democrats renounce corporate PACs, the Hawaii congressman still takes their cash so long as their interests align with his own. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Hawaii Volleyball Coach Accused Of Sexual Misconduct. A nonprofit organization that investigates sexual misconduct for the U.S. Olympic Committee has been looking into allegations that University of Hawaii men's volleyball coach Charlie Wade engaged in sexual misconduct with a former female player. Associated Press.

University of Hawaii stands by volleyball coach accused of misconduct. The University of Hawaii is standing by volleyball coach Charlie Wade as it reviews allegations of misconduct against him. Star-Advertiser.

'Bows volleyball coach ‘strongly denies’ allegations of sexual misconduct. The head coach of the University of Hawaii men’s volleyball team “strongly denies” decades-old allegations of sexual misconduct that have resurfaced in recent days. Hawaii News Now.

UH Manoa responds to allegations against men's volleyball coach. A week ahead of the National Championship tournament, UH men's volleyball head coach Charlie Wade is accused of possible misconduct against a female athlete. KHON2.

UH men's volleyball head coach under investigation for sexual misconduct. Trouble for the head coach of the top-ranked UH Manoa men's volleyball team. Charlie Wade's under investigation by the U.S. Center for SafeSport regarding an allegation of misconduct with a female athlete. KITV.

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Cost of repairing convention center’s roof soars to $50M. That’s almost double what Hawaii Tourism Authority had anticipated it would cost to complete the circa-1998 center’s largest deferred maintenance project. Star-Advertiser.

Waimanalo split over changes to park. Waimanalo residents are being asked to show up at a community meeting tonight to voice support or opposition for athletic fields and other planned improvements at the 75-acre Waimanalo Bay Beach Park, also known as Sherwood Forest. Star-Advertiser.

Estranged wife sues Honolulu police officer and HPD. The estranged wife of a Honolulu police sergeant charged with abuse has filed a civil lawsuit against him and the Police Department. Star-Advertiser.

Over 8 years, nearly 62,000 more people left Oahu for other counties than came in. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Lifeguards have been funded for Kua Bay. Six years after legislators began the effort to bring full-time life-saving personnel to the North Kona state beach known for its beauty and danger, funding was included in the state budget for lifeguards at Kua Bay. West Hawaii Today.

Cardiac funding bill stalls. A bill that would further fund Hilo Medical Center’s interventional cardiac program has stalled in the final stages of the legislative process. Tribune-Herald.

Charter Commission rejects special election. Citing the cost and prospect of a low turnout, the Charter Commission on Thursday rejected the idea of a special election devoted to charter amendments. West Hawaii Today.

Here’s how to watch Merrie Monarch 2019 on air or online. The biggest event in the hula community is here. This week, hula halau across the state will take the stage and compete for top honors in three nights of competition at Merrie Monarch 2019. Hawaii News Now.

Maui

Council committee releases $832M budget and tax proposals. Budget invests in environmental programs, tourism impacts, is $51M more than mayor’s. Maui News.

Maui County hotels led the state overall in revenue per available room at $337, with an average daily rate of $428 and an occupancy rate of 78.6%. The first quarter of 2019 data was compiled in the latest Hawaii Hotel Performance Report published by the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Maui Now.

Kauai

Tourism takes downward turn. Kauai had 123,730 visitors in March, down 1.3 percent from March 2018. For the first three months of the year, Kauai has welcomed 333,961 visitors, down 1.4 percent from the first three months of 2018. Garden Island.