Smoking ban coming to Oahu beaches and parks, federal report blasts JPAC, Hawaii Army National Guard on furlough, federal agent's murder trial starts today, Kauai addresses beach bathrooms, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Waikiki beach scene (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

Lawmakers could get one step closer to making it harder to light up in Oahu. This week two smoking bills face final readings. Smoking at all city and county public parks could become illegal. KITV4.

A new state law allowing proof of ancestry to be taken from several sources is expected to make it easier to expand the roll of Native Hawaiians - a move that could help them form their own government. Associated Press.

Monday will not be a work day for some 1,100 full-time members of the Hawaii Army National Guard. It will be a furlough day, thanks to federal sequestration budget cuts. Hawaii News Now.

The Pentagon's Hawaii-based effort to account for tens of thousands of Americans missing in action from foreign wars is so inept, mismanaged and wasteful that it risks descending from "dysfunction to total failure," according to an internal study suppressed by military officials. The report paints a picture of a Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command, a military-run group known as JPAC and headed by a two-star general in Hawaii, as woefully inept and even corrupt. Associated Press.

Mere hours before the world was introduced to Edward Snowden, more than 400 people, many of them from Hawaii’s intelligence community, gathered for a gala inside the hangar of the Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor at Ford Island. Civil Beat.

A Civil Beat review found at least eight high-level Public Utilities Commission employees who have left in the past several years for jobs at HECO, other utilities the commission regulates or law firms representing those companies.  The turnover is troubling in and of itself, but it’s of particular concern when PUC employees head down the street to Hawaiian Electric Co.

An arbitration panel has awarded a six-year contract with increases staggered in the fourth through sixth years of its term for members of the State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers. Maui News.

The state’s first performance contract with public charter schools will give the schools’ governing commission the authority to do more than threaten to revoke a school’s charter, the commission’s executive director said this week. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii teachers often struggle to incorporate art into their classes because of severely limited public funding and the demands of federal and state education requirements that place an emphasis on testing in core subjects such as math and reading. Civil Beat.

The number of initial unemployment claims filed in Hawaii dropped by 15.4 percent last week compared to the same week of 2012, according to the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. Pacific Business News.

State roundup for July 8. Associated Press.

Oahu

The trial for a federal agent charged with murder in the shooting death of a man at the Waikiki McDonald's begins Monday morning. Hawaii News Now will be live streaming the proceedings starting Monday at 10 a.m.

A mega church is changing the landscape of West Oahu. They are moving forward with purchasing more than 200 acres of Kunia farmland and building an entire church community. KHON2 sat down with the pastor of New Hope Leeward in an exclusive interview to find out what this $30 million expansion plan entails.

Hawaii

Hawaii Island is poised to become a major player in the U.S. oyster industry, as growers on the mainland wrestle with the effects of climate change. Tribune-Herald.

Now that each County Council member gets a $98,877 contingency fund, Hilo Councilman Dennis Onishi wants to be sure the money goes for district necessities rather than donated to nonprofits. West Hawaii Today.

The Hawaii County Council Planning Committee will hear two bills proposing reforms to the Planned Unit Development process at a 9:15 a.m. Tuesday hearing in Hilo. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The Maui County Council voted Friday to move forward with a formal investigation into the potential misuse of county funds appropriated for rehabilitation of the Old Wailuku Post Office.Maui News.

Agreeing that Maui County residents are "increasingly frustrated" with Maui Electric Co., Mayor Alan Arakawa has written to Public Utility Commission Chairwoman Hermina Morita to thank the commission for its recent decision to lower power rates. Maui News.

The Maui County Council gave initial approval on Friday to a bill that seeks to rename the Waiheʻe Ball Park on Halewaiu Road to the Richard “Pablo” Caldito Sr. Park. Maui Now.

Kauai

In response to the growing concern over the bathrooms at county parks, Mayor Bernard Carvalho has assembled a multi-agency team to address repairs and upgrades to county parks. Garden Island.

State officials are proposing nighttime construction to mitigate traffic impacts and fast track a project to improve flow for more than 27,000 vehicles that cross the old Lihue Mill Bridge daily. Garden Island.

Hawaii loses congressional clout, plans Inouye's funeral, Ethics Commission wants tighter laws, Ritz-Carlton coming to Waikiki, Kauai seeks balanced budget, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii's leading ladies: Gabbard, Hanabusa, Hirono (c) 2012 All Hawaii News

Mazie Hirono, who will be sworn in to the Senate on Jan. 3, must immediately begin to fill the void left by Hawaii's loss of 72 years of seniority — Inouye's 50 years and Akaka's 22 years — and lead a congressional delegation that will be among the least experienced in Washington. Star-Advertiser.

Was Ed Case Right About Senate Transition? Civil Beat.

First District of Hawaii Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa submitted her application papers Wednesday to the Democratic Party of Hawaii to fill the seat of the late Sen. Daniel Inouye, who died Monday in a military hospital in Bethesda, Md. Pacific Business News.

Even without a letter from U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye stating his "last wish," U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa probably would be the most likely and best qualified candidate to replace the senator, political analysts say. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii loses economic engine with Inouye’s passing. Associated Press.

Careful planning and preparation is underway for Senator Daniel Inouye's memorial service Sunday at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl. KHON2.

As Hawaii and the nation mourn the loss of Sen. Daniel Inouye, who passed away Monday at the age of 88, he is being memorialized with high honors that are reserved for presidents and eminent historical figures. Hawaii News Now.

'Go For Broke' veterans of the 442nd remember Inouye. Hawaii News Now.

The Hawaii Ethics Commission wants to widen its net next legislative session to ensure the state conducts its business above-board. Civil Beat.

Oahu

There will be no resolution on where to put Oahu’s trash this year. The fight to close the Waimanalo Gulch landfill has dragged on for a decade, through three administrations, and will now become mayor-elect Kirk Caldwell’s problem. Civil Beat.

A federal judge has scheduled a hearing in March on the request by members of De-Occupy Honolulu for an injunction to block the city from seizing their property from city sidewalks. Star-Advertiser.

Ritz-Carlton has hooked up with a developer to manage a planned Waikiki condominium-hotel tower that will give the luxury hotel operator its first presence on Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii received a long-awaited $1.55 billion check from the U.S. Department of Transportation Wednesday, a major milestone in paying for a commuter rail line that is the largest public works project in Hawaii history meant to relieve some of the vexing congestion along the H-1 freeway. Star-Advertiser.

Galbraith Estate: The Back-Story. Hawaii Public Radio.

ICE agents busted a Chinatown retail store on Hotel and Maunakea Street on Tuesday, dragging out box after box of fake versions of more than a dozen well-known brands. KITV4.

Hawaii

The final leg of Saddle Road, linking the cross-island route from Hilo to the Waikoloa resorts, is one of several Hawaii Island projects that could find its funding in jeopardy following the death Monday of U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii County now owns the northern portion of the Mamalahoa bypass through the Hokulia development — or will, once the Bureau of Conveyances records the transaction. West Hawaii Today.

Clayton Honma is now the Parks and Recreation director. West Hawaii Today.

This week, Verizon Wireless announced the availability of its HomeFusion Broadband service in Hawaii. Initially launched in select locations around the country in March, the service is tailor-made for residential customers who can’t access cable, DSL and other “hard line” Internet sources, said Ken Watts, district manager for Verizon Wireless retail. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Gov. Neil Abercrombie's request for state lawmakers to budget $130 million for construction of a Kihei high school stands apart as the administration's largest single capital project in its proposed biennium budget, said Kalbert Young, director of the state Department of Budget and Finance. Maui News.

Just in time for the busy holiday travel season, a $3.2 million expansion of Kahului Airport's security screening checkpoints was dedicated Tuesday, with the project aimed at alleviating long lines while assisting security officials check passengers. Maui News.

Kauai
County General Funds revenues have dropped four years in a row, while expenditures keep climbing, according to an independent audit presented to the Kaua‘i County Council Tuesday morning. Garden Island.

The lives of everyday folks on the Garden Island come shining through in a new collection called Kaua’i Stories.  HPR’s Noe Tanigawa offers this visit with the book’s editor, Pamela Varma Brown. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii coffee production drops, Waikiki restrooms no longer 24/7, human remains could change Honolulu train route, Maui groups sue to stop development, endangered shearwater rebounding on Kauai, Kilauea lava lake popping, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii coffee cherries (c) 2012 All Hawaii News

Hawaii coffee farmers suffered production setbacks this past season due to bugs and dry weather, but higher prices offset some of the decline, according to a preliminary estimate in a government report tracking the industry. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Governor Gets F Grade in Cato's Fiscal Reform Study. Hawaii Reporter.

Hokulea, the famous Hawaiian canoe that has navigated the Pacific, will soon have a sister to help it sail farther than ever. Civil Beat.

In the almost five years he headed the University of Hawaii athletic department, Jim Donovan and his staff spent more than $800,000 in private discretionary donations on a wide range of goods and services, including taking staff members to the NCAA Final Four basketball tournament, paying for dinners to entertain donors and corporate sponsors, and hiring a limousine service to ferry Norm Chow around town when he was introduced as UH's new football coach, according to expenditure records. Star-Advertiser.

Documents released by the University of Hawaii show former UH Athletics Director Jim Donovan spent more than $622,000 of donated UH funds on travel, meals, drinks and other events for himself, his staff, the media, supporters and athletic boosters over the last four and a half years. Hawaii News Now.

State roundup for October 10. Associated Press.

Oahu

The city of Honolulu said it will no longer keep any public restrooms in Waikiki open around the clock, fueling debate over how the city's park closure law affects tourists and residents in the state's top destination. Star-Advertiser.

More human remains were found Friday and Saturday at two sites in Kakaako along the route of the city's rail project, and one of those sets of remains is a complete burial that might prompt the city to design the rail line around the site to avoid it. Star-Advertiser.

More human remains have been discovered along the Honolulu rail route. Civil Beat.

More human remains were found late last week during archaeological survey work along the route for Honolulu's rail-transit project, according to a report by the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation. Pacific Business News.

More human remains have been found along Honolulu's rail route -- this time they include a completely intact burial. KHON2.

Archeologists surveying the 20-mile route of the planned Honolulu rail transit line over the weekend discovered what appears to be ancient Hawaiian burial sites in Kakaako. Hawaii Reporter.

Human remains were found at two sites on the route of the city's rail project in Kakaako on Friday and Saturday, according to the State Historic Preservation Division. KITV4.

The expansion at the Honolulu Program of Waste to Energy Recovery or H-POWER, which broke ground on Dec. 21, 2009, added another boiler capable of burning 300,000 tons of mass per year. Hawaii News Now.

A second attempt to force the Hawaiian Humane Society to announce publicly its intent to euthanize animals failed to garner enough support before the City Council Parks and Recreation Committee on Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

The Department of Homeland Security's Inspector General has finished an audit looking into the improper screening of checked baggage at Honolulu International Airport. KHON2.

Former Hawaii Gov. and mayoral candidate Ben Cayetano has a knack of getting people to come to his defense.Civil Beat.

Aviation enthusiasts, history buffs and military veterans fear that Ford Island is under a new threat. The Navy plans to use a swath of the famous airfield for a solar power plant with 60,000 photovoltaic panels. Los Angeles Times.

The vog that obscured views over the long weekend lay in a heavy band over Oahu before largely dissipating Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Hawaii County is owed more than $4 million in past-due landfill fees and sewer bills, a number that’s creeping upward even as Environmental Management officials implement new procedures to recoup the bad debt. West Hawaii Today.

For the last few nights, visitors to the Thomas A. Jaggar Museum overlook at the summit of Kilauea have been hearing constant “booming and popping sounds” from the glowing lava lake. Tribune-Herald.

Kona Community Hospital ended last fiscal year with $1.6 million in revenue, its first positive bottom line since 1997. West Hawaii Today.

A large metal container found on a remote Ka‘u shoreline last week, possibly debris from the Japan tsunami, may not be going anywhere soon. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Two environmental and cultural groups have gone to court to challenge the Maui Planning Commission's approval of a final environmental impact statement for the Honua'ula project in South Maui. Maui News.

Maui hotel rooms were occupied at a rate of 75 percent in August, a 3.9 percent increase over the same month in 2011, Hospitality Advisors reported. Maui News.

Widespread haze is in the forecast for yet another day as voggy conditions prevail across much of Maui. Maui Now.

Kauai

The Kaua‘i Planning Commission on Tuesday approved a farm-worker house at Ned and Marta Whitlock’s 28.5-acre organic farm in Moloa‘a. The Whitlocks are the first farmers on Kaua‘i to benefit from a  bill that the Kaua‘i County Council passed more than two years ago. Garden Island.

At least 11 breeding or prospecting pairs of ‘A‘o, or Newell’s Shearwater, have been recorded at the Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge this year, the highest number ever found on the refuge. Garden Island.

Waikiki street performers face arrest, Hirono and Lingle debate today, Hawaii seeks No Child Left Behind waiver, UH reaches record enrollment, House committee mulls gun control, Maui 2nd domestic destination, HELCO wants to lower fuel costs, Kauai plugs $1M budget hole, more news from all the Hawaiian islands

Waikiki street performer (c) 2012 all Hawaii News

Waikiki street performers suspect the Hawaii Police Department in recent weeks has been cracking down on them at the request of a Waikiki business group, citing a series of arrests that caught many of the entertainers off guard. A group of performers plans to gather at the Sept. 11 Waikiki Neighborhood Board meeting to discuss the incidents. Civil Beat.

Former Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle and U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono are facing each other in the first of five general election debates in their race to replace U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka. Associated Press.

The University of Hawaii’s systemwide enrollment has reached a record 60,633 students, university officials reported. Pacific Business News.

A Civil Beat analysis of campaign spending and primary election results shows a vote last month cost most major candidates in major races between $10 and $20 apiece, though the range was from $3 to $90. Those who spent more in total were more likely — though not guaranteed — to win. Civil Beat.

The state plans to file an application today for a waiver from key provisions of the federal No Child Left Behind law in a bid to overhaul its accountability system for schools and focus more on academic growth and less on the results of a single annual test. Star-Advertiser.

Rep. John Mizuno used a hearing on violence Wednesday to make nice with gun rights groups. Civil Beat.

The House Human Services Committee conducted an informational briefing today on ways to improve nonviolence and peace in Hawai’i.   The discussion primarily focused on the need for more or less gun control legislation. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Democrats are contesting the standing of another candidate who is running under their banner. Civil Beat.

Candidate complains primary winner was not a registered Democrat. KHON2.

The State Senate Wednesday scheduled a special hearing to investigate the University of Hawaii's Stevie Wonder blunder while the UH Board of Regents approved a special committee to evaluate the school's financial and management practices. Hawaii News Now.

The state Senate Special Committee on Accountability has scheduled a Sept. 24 meeting to review the University of Hawaii's handling of the Stevie Wonder concert fiasco. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii hotels have set a new room revenue record of $310 million, according to data released Tuesday by a tourism industry consultant company. Associated Press.

Oahu
A Honolulu businessman accused of illegally importing some of the confiscated fireworks that exploded and killed five men in a Waikele storage bunker in 2011 was found not guilty of all charges Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

The University of Hawaii Board of Regents approved approved a short-term cash advance for UH-West O‘ahu construction on Wednesday as a bridge until an $18 million loan is delivered. Star-Advertiser.

After two critical audits, the man in charge of maintaining the University of Hawaii campus was fired in July, sources said. Hawaii News Now.

Kaimana Beach, also known as San Souci Beach, is a small haven for locals along the Waikiki shoreline, an international tourist destination that attracts several million tourists annually. Civil Beat.

An Oahu group is adding a high-technology alternative in its war against coqui frogs, an alien species that has infested an estimated 60,000 acres on Hawaii island, threatened its native environment and lowered some property values and visitor occupancy. Star-Advertiser.

It was the second time in recent days EMS and police helped deliver a baby on the H-1 freeway. KITV4.

Hawaii

A Hawaii County Council committee is urging Hawaii Electric Light Co. to do something company representatives say they really want to do anyway — bring down the price the utility pays for alternative energy from independent suppliers. West Hawaii Today.

A critical link in the island’s cross-island highway is one year away from completion. Tribune-Herald.

The fate of new proposed rules for agri -tourism ventures may be decided later this month. Tribune-Herald.

The state department that owns the Old Kona Airport Park still hasn’t transferred the property to Hawaii County. West Hawaii Today.

Carol Ignacio calls it her “green project” — salvaging 20 housing units that were slated for the landfill, moving them across island and turning them into homes for low-income senior citizens. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui is making waves as the second most popular domestic destination for the remainder of the year, behind Las Vegas – bumping ever-popular Orlando to number three. Maui Now.

Mokulele Airlines and the Travassa Hana hotel have formed a partnership to launch twice-daily service between Kahului and Hana starting Oct. 1, restoring what officials say has been a decadelong hiatus in daily scheduled service to rural East Maui. Maui News.

Hopes are being raised for restored health of one of the most severely impacted coral reefs in the state in West Maui, with the signing Tuesday of a $3 million state and federal cost-sharing agreement to develop a watershed plan for the West Maui "Ridge to Reef" Initiative. Maui News.

Wailuku Main Street Association may have violated county grant agreements and federal tax requirements and failed to follow its bylaws and did not keep close tabs on its executive director, who should be fired, according to a report from the state attorney general's office. Maui News.

The Hawaii Supreme Court’s recent decision in a longstanding water dispute goes beyond the issue of how to fairly allocate the flow from four Maui streams. It also underscores a yawning, ongoing disconnect between state law and decisions made by the state Commission on Water Resource Management. Honolulu Weekly.

Kauai

The Kaua‘i County Council, following a recommendation last week from its Committee of the Whole, approved two bills Wednesday to address an almost $1 million imbalance in the budget for Fiscal Year 2013, which started July 1. Garden Island.

The County of Kauai in Hawaii will pay $120,000 to settle a federal charge of race harassment filed with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency announced today. Hawaii Reporter.

The Kaua‘i County Council approved a request for the Kaua‘i Police Commission for an additional $20,000 to be used in special counsel in a 5th Circuit Court complaint against Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. Garden Island.

The future of a Kilauea Agricultural Park took precedence at the Kilauea Neighborhood Association meeting Tuesday. Garden Island.

Single-family home prices on Kauai inched up nearly 3 percent in August, while the median price of a condominium jumped nearly 20 percent, according to statistics from Hawaii Information Service. Pacific Business News.

Molokai

Molokai residents are frustrated with Oceanic Time Warner Cable, the island’s only provider of cable television (CATV) and broadband Internet services. Many claim that though they pay the same price as on other islands for Internet, they get only half the speed. Molokai Dispatch.

Waikiki tourism nears record, no-bid education contract disputed, Gabbard charges Hannemann with campaign violation, Hawaii tour company lacked permit for area where teen swept out to sea, Japan tsunami debris halfway to Hawaii, electric rates dip, but still nation's highest, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Waikiki Beach (c) 2012 All Hawaii News

The resurgence in tourism has put Waikiki hotels on track for a record year. Star-Advertiser.

Reducing, Reusing and Recycling in Hawaii, One Hotel at a Time. Civil Beat.

Should Congresswoman Mazie Hirono, (D-Hawaii) win the U.S. Senate election this November, she will help select Hawaii’s next federal judge. Hawaii Reporter.

The 2nd Congressional District race heated up Monday as City Councilwoman Tulsi Gabbard filed a complaint against former Mayor Mufi Hannemann, charging that he is not complying with federal election laws by failing to disclose all his expenditures, among other things. Star-Advertiser.

Gabbard Files FEC Complaint Against Hannemann. Civil Beat.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie is appealing a ruling ordering the state to pay nearly $70,000 in Honolulu Star-Advertiser attorney fees and costs after the newspaper prevailed in a lawsuit over the release of names of judicial finalists. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie will sign into law a bill requiring drivers to move over when they're passing an emergency vehicle on a highway. Associated Press.

The College Board, a nonprofit that administers the college-entrance exam SAT, has taken issue with the state's plan to forgo competitive bidding and seek a sole-source contract with its competitor, Iowa-based ACT Inc. Star-Advertiser.

Residential electricity bills fell on all islands in July from June, the state's two power utilities reported Monday. Star-Advertiser.

Sperm Banks For Coral -- One Scientist's Unusual Plan To Save The Species. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii interisland airline go! is adding flights on three existing routes between Maui and Kauai, Honolulu and Maui and Honolulu and the Big Island. Pacific Business News.

Sea Dragon crew finds Japanese boat halfway to Hawaii. KITV4.

State roundup for July 10. Associated Press.

Oahu

Mayor Peter Carlisle raised $198,000 toward his re-election bid during the first six months of 2012, according to a report filed Monday with the state Campaign Spending Commission. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii may be one of only two states that prohibit gambling — even bingo and lotteries — but casino-type video games at several Oahu stores have one longtime lawmaker concerned. Civil Beat.

Archers hope their message on Monday night hit the target. A popular range has been off-limits for months due to a stray arrow, but the city will soon decide whether it is safe to re-open the facility with some changes. Hawaii News Now.

SARS, antibiotic-resident tuberculosis, dengue fever and other infectious diseases could someday be diagnosed in a laboratory the UH wants to build. Hawaii News Now.

After much anticipation following last season's cliff-hanger, the cast and crew of Hawaii Five-0 is preparing for its third season. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii
The island’s three leading mayoral candidates agree on some things but disagree on others, including funding future health care costs for retirees, establishing open space at Ooma and handling the island’s trash situation, among others. West Hawaii Today.

The tour company that took a group of teenagers on a hike where a New York teen was swept out to sea didn’t have a permit to be in the tide pool area where the incident happened, State officials said Monday. Associated Press.

On their final day of searching Monday, fire rescue crews yielded no signs of a 15-year-old New York boy who was reportedly swept from the shoreline last week near Kealakekua Bay. West Hawaii Today.

A federal grant totalling more than $17 million to erect a new aircraft rescue and firefighting building is en route to Kona International Airport, state and federal officials said Monday. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii is getting a $17 million grant from the Federal Aviation Administration to build an aircraft rescue and firefighting building at the Kona International Airport on the Big Island. Pacific Business News.

Maui

Hawaii's Vanishing Voter: South Maui Is The Worst For Voter Turnout. Civil Beat.

Real estate data for Maui County for the first half year of this year "is really about the same" as the same period last year, according to a Realtors Association of Maui official. Maui News.

Curbside recycling will be coming to all of Maui Meadows and other parts of South Maui beginning with deliveries of two new colored carts Saturday. Maui News.

MECO’s 15% Solar Threshold Raises Questions. Maui Now.

Kauai

In preparation for road resurfacing in Kapa‘a, a Public Works crew will be doing roadside work in three Kapa‘a subdivisions — Kawaihau and Wai’ale’ale estates and Kapa‘a Meadows. Garden Island.

If you are still thinking about voting, now is the time to make up your mind. The primary election will be held Aug. 11, but the deadline to register to vote is this Thursday. Garden Island.

At 60 registered youth, the Hanalei Junior Lifeguard program was the biggest yet, said Bruce Stine, one of the program’s instructors, Monday. Garden Island.

Molokai

This coming weekend, the Moloka’i 4H Livestock Expo opens at the ball field in Kaunakakai. Hawaii Public Radio.

Tourism ticks up, U.S. tests new weapon from Kauai, Hawaii Supreme Court allows Hawaiian Homelands to sue for state funds, Honolulu voters won't get to decide rail transit, Maui bus system struggling, Big Island marijuana advocates lose in court, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Waikiki Beach (c) 2012 All Hawaii News

Hawaii will host a record 7.8 million tourists this year, leading to 2.2 percent growth in the state's economy, according to a recalibrated government forecast released Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s state economists have revised their forecast upward for tourism in the state, predicting the number of visitors to the Islands will increase by 6.5 percent to top 7.7 million by the end of 2012. Pacific Business News.

The state, in violation of the Hawaii Constitution, has failed to adequately fund the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, according to a unanimous ruling by the Hawaii Supreme Court on Wednesday. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that Native Hawaiians can sue the state to provide sufficient funding for administrative and operating expenses for the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, but not for the development of homestead lots. Star-Advertiser.


President Barack Obama's announcement Wednesday that he supports same-sex marriage — and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney's response that marriage is for heterosexuals — is rippling through Hawaii politics. Civil Beat.


For the second time in four months, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has bought television ad time in Hawaii to support former Republican Gov. Linda Lingle's run for U.S. Senate. Star-Advertiser.

Linda Lingle

 Former Governor Linda Lingle, candidate for Hawaii's open U.S. Senate seat, released the following statement today regarding the endorsement she has received from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Hawaii Reporter.


With Hawaii's Aug. 11 primary election three months away, several candidates in state and local races have stockpiled sizable campaign war chests, according to a Civil Beat analysis of campaign finance data. Civil Beat.


The state's chief negotiator is asking the teachers union to return to contract talks, and says the state "remains committed" to reaching a new agreement. Star-Advertiser.

After months of what's often been characterized as tedious and difficult hearings, the Hawaii Labor Relations Board finally heard from the union's most critical player in the convoluted negotiations over the famously failed teachers contract. Civil Beat.

Hawaii was among 16 states whose eighth-graders saw gains on a national science test in 2011, but students in the islands continued to score well below their peers nationally, results scheduled for release today show. Star-Advertiser.


Gov. Neil Abercrombie has released $37.5 million to address highway damage caused by stormy weather in March. Associated Press.

Donne Dawson has returned to State service as Film Industry Development Manager for the Hawai‘i Film Office. KHON2.

The U.S. Postal Service announced Wednesday it is set to cut hours at 13,000 rural facilities -- 12 of them in Hawaii -- instead of closing thousands of post offices across the country. KITV4.

The Marine Corps in Hawaii is officially transforming its Sea Stallion helicopter squadron into an Osprey aircraft squadron. KHON2.

Oahu

A proposed ballot question to ask voters whether the year-old Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation should be abolished failed Wednesday to win approval from the City Council. Star-Advertiser.

Attempt to Dismantle HART Fails. Hawaii Public Radio.

The City and County of Honolulu is thinking about setting aside 0.5 percent of its budget for charity, now that the Honolulu City Council has put a proposed charter amendment on the ballot for November despite objections from Mayor Peter Carlisle. Civil Beat.

A bill banning all commercial activity at Kailua Beach Park got the second of three needed approvals from the City Council Wednesday evening. Star-Advertiser.

Mayor Peter Carlisle today announced a new City effort to address homelessness in urban Honolulu by creating specially focused transitional housing. Hawaii Independent.


Hawaii

Five Big Island post offices could see a reduction in their operating hours under new cost-saving measures proposed by the United States Postal Service. Tribune-Herald.

Patients spending time within Kona Community Hospital’s medical and surgical unit will rest a little more comfortably with the addition of 30 state-of-the-art beds this summer. West Hawaii Today.


One company has survived and is on track to serve the island with up to 5.5 million gallons of biodiesel per year, or 16,000 gallons a day. Tribune-Herald.

Keauhou mauka Kona coffee farmer Dave Bateman has announced he will run for the state House District 5 seat, representing Kona and Ka‘u. Bateman pulled papers May 9 making his official entry into the House 5 race. West Hawaii Today.

A Third Circuit judge has rejected a lawsuit filed against a host of county officials that accuses them of not fulfilling the requirements of a 2008 ballot initiative making the personal use of marijuana the “lowest law enforcement priority.” Big Island Now.


The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) has closed the remote Muliwai Trail in North Kohala for public safety, effective yesterday through Friday May 11 and Monday May 14 through Thursday, May 17, while it conducts annual trail and campground maintenance and repair. Associated Press.


Maui

Maui County's public transit system is straining to meet the growing demand of bus riders. Maui News.

A forum on flooding in South Maui titled "Stormwater: Can a Problem Become a Resource?" will be held Friday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Maui News.

The funds released by Gov. Neil Abercrombie include $2 million for improvements to the Hana Highway between Uakea Road and Keawa Place.  The CIP project includes widening to provide two-way traffic flow, facilitating emergency vehicles responding from the nearby Hana Fire Station. Maui Now.

Kauai

missile courtesy NAVAIR Photo Point

The United States destroyed a target missile near Hawaii in the first successful test of a new defense tool. Hawaii News Now.

Starting today, the Kaua‘i County Council begins a four-day review of the supplemental budget for Fiscal Year 2013 submitted Tuesday evening by Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. Garden Island.

The Kauai Planning Commission is approving a plan to nearly double the size of the Kauai Veterans Cemetery in Hanapepe. Associated Press.

Representatives of RSVP, Foster Grandparents and Senior Companions programs took to the street following a visit with Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. to bring their traffic safety messages to the public, traversing along Rice Street fronting the Kaua‘i Museum and First Hawaiian Bank’s Lihu‘e Branch. Garden Island.

Molokai

Construction of the new Kawela Bridge is scheduled to continue through January 2014, according to a statement from Goodfellow Bros., the Molokai company contracted to complete the work. The $8.4 million project is being paid for with $6.5 million in federal funds, $1.6 million in state money, and some additional funding, according to DOT spokesperson Michael Moscati. Molokai Dispatch.

Improved Waikiki Beach greets Japanese 'Golden Week,' Honolulu sewer moratorium halts development, Oahu travel agent disappears with Arkansas band's money, Molokai group fights undersea cable, Kauai regulates ag solar, Hannemann stumps in Kona, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Waikiki Beach (c) 2012 All Hawaii News

Beach users gave good reviews Thursday to the just-completed sand replenishment proj­ect that widened Waikiki Beach from the Duke Kahanamoku statue to the Royal Hawaiian Hotel. Star-Advertiser.

Riding on three months of strong momentum, Hawaii's tourism industry is already anticipating a healthy summer. Star-Advertiser.

A 27 percent gain in visitors from Japan last month bodes well for this weekend’s start of Golden Week, traditionally a high-volume period for Japa­nese tourists in Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

The official at the center of the General Services Administration scandal over a lavish Las Vegas conference was reprimanded in 2011 for appearing in a campaign ad for Sen. Daniel Ino­uye, Roll Call, a Washington, D.C., magazine, reported Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

Legislature

State House and Senate negotiators were still working late Thursday to reach an agreement on the state budget, a stalemate that left dozens of bills in limbo ahead of tonight’s procedural deadline to complete work before the legislative session ends. Star-Advertiser.

Passage of the single-most important bill at the Hawaii Legislature is being held up by the single-most controversial bill before lawmakers this session. Civil Beat.

A measure that would bring most of Hawaii's 1,600 mainland-incarcerated prisoners back is nearing key deadlines at the Capitol. The trend is already starting. KHON2.

The state Legislature will be voting on Hawaiian language mandates in the coming week. Associated Press.

Legislators effectively killed a bill Thursday that would have extended the University of Hawaii's controversial exemption from the state procurement code, a move hailed by some as a victory for government fairness and transparency but which UH lamented as likely to increase construction costs. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii lawmakers are poised to pass two bills to overhaul the state's charter school system. But the focus has centered more on what the proposed law says charter schools don't have to do than any new requirements or expectations. Civil Beat.

Selling or smoking the synthetic drug "spice" is now a felony in Hawaii. KHON2.

Laura Thielen

Civil Beat has obtained portions of an email exchange between members of the party's State Central Committee conducted between April 10 and April 13 — the latter date just four days before Laura Thielen announced that she would run in the primary without the party's blessing. Civil Beat.

The International Longshore and Warehouse Union has its first woman president. Hawaii Public Radio.

About 9,000 U.S. Marines stationed on Okinawa will be moved to Hawaii, Guam and other locations in the Asia-Pacific under a U.S.-Japa­nese agreement announced Thursday. Associated Press.

Hawaii is one of only two states where consumers won’t see a piece of an estimated $1.3 billion in rebates from health insurers who spent more on administrative expenses and profits than allowed by the federal health care reform act, according to a new analysis by the Kaiser Family Foundation. Pacific Business News.

State roundup for April 27. Associated Press.

Oahu

The City and County of Honolulu Department of Environmental Services has issued a moratorium on new sewer connections from Halawa to Pearl City. Hawaii News Now.

The state granted owners of the Hale‘iwa Farmers' Market a second extension to vacate the site where they've held the popular weekend event for three years. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu City Councilmember Ann Kobayashi has introduced a bill to amend the historic residential property tax exemption. Hawaii Reporter.

The plastic bag ban is still three years from starting, if Mayor Peter Carlisle approves it, but the movement toward biodegradable bags has already begun. Hawaii News Now.

Public housing getting modern renovations with private help. KITV4.

Nearly four decades since starting a renowned cookie empire, Wally Amos is poised to launch a company using the original recipe that made him Famous Amos. Star-Advertiser.

Officials at Southside High School in Fort Smith, Ark., have contacted the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Justice after an Oahu travel agent told them via email he had lost $267,500 paid by the school for a summer trip to Waikiki. KITV4.

Hawaii

Mufi Hannemann

A U.S. representative’s job, congressional candidate Mufi Hannemann told Rotarians Thursday, is to advocate first for state residents. West Hawaii Today.

The site of the Big Island’s first geothermal power project may once again be put back to use. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii’s Doppler radars will be shut down, one at a time, beginning in May for upgrades to a next-generation system that will allow for better weather forecasts. Tribune-Herald.

We’ve failed: Hawaii County’s air is the second worst, by county, in the country for annual particle pollution, the American Lung Association says. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The new hearing officer in the case challenging a University of Hawaii telescope project on Maui is also UH president M.R.C. Greenwood's personal attorney. Civil Beat.

Maui Electric Co. is installing new, "smart" power meters that will enable the utility to remotely monitor electricity fed to more than 100 residents taking part in the Maui smart-grid demonstration project. Associated Press.

Maui Electric Co. has begun installing new, "smart" power meters in Maui Meadows, enabling the utility to remotely monitor electricity fed to more than 100 residents taking part in the Maui smart-grid demonstration project. Maui News.

Judge Adrianne Heely

The state Senate confirmed Adrianne Heely on Wednesday as a District Family Court judge for Maui's 2nd Circuit Court. Maui News.

Adrianne Heely has been confirmed as a family court judge on Maui. Associated Press.

Maui Judge Joseph E. Cardoza today was named Chief Judge and Administrative Judge for the Second Circuit Court. Maui Now.

The long-awaited Courtyard Maui Kahului Airport hotel is set to open in June, a month earlier than previously announced. Maui News.

Kauai

After a few deferrals and various amendments, a bill to regulate solar farms on agricultural lands passed a final vote Wednesday by the Kaua‘i County Council, although some council members wanted more time for scrutiny. Garden Island.

The Kaua‘i County Council on Wednesday unanimously passed a resolution to encourage schools to adopt anti-bullying policies and regulations. Garden Island.

Reid Judson is suing Norberto Garcia and Kaua‘i County for alleged negligence in an officer-involved automobile crash. Garden Island.

Molokai

A high-voltage undersea transmission cable planned for Massachusetts has been killed by one of the nation’s major utilities because it would be a “high-risk” installation, too expensive to construct, with too many severe environmental impacts and too difficult to maintain. Molokai Dispatch.

Waikiki sand project bogs down, Akaka treated for dehydration, PGA announces Hawaii tourney, Maui sued for wastewater discharge, Big Island garbage fight intensifies, Honolulu business group backs rail, Oahu homeless evicted, Dalai Lama ends visit, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Waikiki Beach (c) 2012 All Hawaii News

The state's $2.2 million project to replenish sand on Waikiki beach is running behind schedule and crews are racing to finish it before the summer, according to state officials. KITV4.

U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka

U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka was treated for dehydration on Saturday, but “is fine and headed back to work tonight,” a spokesman for the senator said today. Star-Advertiser.

Sen. Daniel Akaka, 87, is “feeling good” after his family sought medical attention for him “out of an abundance of caution” over the weekend, a spokesman said. Civil Beat.


Former Honolulu mayor Mufi Hannemann continues to be the leading fundraiser in the primary campaign for the open 2nd congressional district seat, although Honolulu City Council member Tulsi Gabbard is holding her own in the race for campaign cash. Civil Beat.

Members of the Native Hawaiian community, legal experts and environmentalists gathered at Iolani Palace Monday to protest a Commission on Water Resources Management appointment. Associated Press.

More than 100 organizations and individuals came together today to oppose Governor Abercrombie’s nomination of Ted Yamamura to the state Commission on Water and Resource Management. Hawaii Independent.

A bill that would have required new performance evaluations for Hawaii teachers has died a few weeks before the end of the state's legislative session. Associated Press.

Wrapping up a whirlwind four-day visit to the islands, the Dalai Lama visited with high-schoolers Monday and urged them to work to make a "happier future" through compassion and nonviolence, before heading to Kua­loa Regional Park to bless the voyaging canoe Hoku­le‘a in preparation for a round-the-world sail. Star-Advertiser.

The Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama said Monday he didn’t know until his latest trip to Hawaii what exactly the word “aloha” meant. Associated Press.


In an extraordinary ceremony at Kualoa Beach Park in Windward Oahu, the 14th Dalai Lama blessed and consecrated the double-hull wayfaring canoe Hokulea. Civil Beat.

The Dalai Lama is visiting Hawai`i to discuss similarities between the Hawaiian spirit of Aloha and the Buddhist spirit of compassion towards others. Hawaii Public Radio.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Division is discussing "concurrent jurisdiction” with the state this year, which means the federal agency may take over many of the state functions. However, both the state and federal government officials involved are refusing to release details about the plan. Hawaii Reporter.

Hawaii Marines are fighting the drug trade in Afghanistan by using helicopters to conduct raids. Hawaii News Now.

The PGA Champions Tour’s Pacific Links Hawaii Championship was officially announced during a press conference at the Plaza Club in downtown Monday with Hall of Fame golfer Greg Norman, who is playing in the event, singing Hawaii’s praises as a great location to tee off. Pacific Business News.

State roundup for April 17. Associated Press.


Oahu

Hawaii Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz

State Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz wants the city's rail system to make money, or at least break even, and is pushing for a bill that would encourage urban development and redevelopment on land around planned transit stations. Star-Advertiser.

About 30 powerful big business leaders formed a group, Move Oahu Forward, in February, with the backing of Hawaii’s Senior Senator Daniel Inouye, and announced their organization members today. They hope to convince the public the rail will improve Oahu. Hawaii Reporter.

City work crews backed by Honolulu police officers are scheduled this morning to clear out the last of up to 200 people who have been living on a 1-mile stretch of vegetated beachfront just northeast of the public portion of Keaau Beach Park. It is the last large homeless encampment on the Wai­anae Coast. Star-Advertiser.

With at least one loose boulder still perched above his Kalihi neighborhood, Keola Cachola made his first foray to the state Capitol on Monday in search of a sympathetic ear — and $250,000 to clear a hillside after two large boulders rumbled down and damaged homes Thursday night. Star-Advertiser.

State officials said Monday they plan to do emergency work on the hillside above homes in Kalihi Valley that were damaged when several large boulders fell late last week. Hawaii News Now.

An erosion problem at Ala Moana Beach is exposing a rocky coastline. Now the city is working on a plan to replenish the sand. Hawaii News Now.


Hawaiian Airlines became the only carrier to offer year-round daily service between Hono­lulu and Fuku­oka. Star-Advertiser.

Work is under way to fix street lights along the H1 and H2 Freeways that have been out for years, after they were hit by copper thieves. KHON2.

Hawaii

A Hawaii County official on Monday acknowledged the county has already started sending most of East Hawaii’s garbage to the West Hawaii landfill, even as debate rages over the best solution to the island’s growing trash problem. West Hawaii Today.

Hunters hired by the Big Island Invasive Species Committee bagged their first axis deer last Wednesday on the southern end of the island, signaling the start of an effort to eliminate their small but potentially destructive population. Tribune-Herald.

Three Kailua-Kona public schools are getting nearly $7.8 million of overdue improvements. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii County elections officials are proceeding with elections preparations, including mailing updated voter registration cards, as though the state’s district maps are finalized. West Hawaii Today.

Big Island woman accused of more than $2 million in false claims. Associated Press.

Maui

Four community groups filed a federal lawsuit today against the Maui County for alleged violations of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act at the Lahaina Wastewater Reclamation Facility. Maui Now.

Four environmental groups filed a federal lawsuit Monday seeking more than $60 million in civil penalties to stop Maui County from continuing to discharge partially treated sewage into injection wells at the Lahaina Wastewater Treatment Plant. Star-Advertiser.

A Maui artist will soon see Pope Benedict XVI as the pontiff blesses one of the Kihei man's bronze Saint Damien sculptures in Rome on Wednesday. Maui News.



Kauai

The North Shore Lion’s Club served more than 700 pancake breakfasts Sunday at a fundraiser for scholarships, scouting, youth basketball and other programs supported by the nonprofit organization. Garden Island.

Waikiki sand project snarls, Honolulu, Hawaii mayors release staus quo election-year budgets, Senate honors 'Descendants' author, more solar for Kauai, new publisher for Pacific Business News, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Waikiki Beach sand groins (c) 2012 All Hawaii News

A monthlong sand-replenishment project undertaken to widen a stretch of Waikiki Beach will be more disruptive than initially planned, officials said Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

Long stretches of the usually majestic Waikiki Beach will be turned into roads for dump trucks and other heavy machines over the next few months while the City makes changes to its plans for replenishing the beach between the Duke Kahanamoku Statue and the Royal Hawaiian Hotel. Hawaii News Now.

The state and visitor industry have to turn to an inconvenient plan "B" on the Waikiki sand project due to a sand-blowers shortcomings. KHON2.

Taxpayers are on the hook for $90,000 following a whistleblower lawsuit claiming state officials failed to comply with environmental laws when issuing dozens of permits for activities at the protected Papahānaumokuākea monument. Civil Beat.

The financial picture for the state's two largest health insurers significantly improved in the fourth quarter, as premiums caught up with actual medical costs after a series of rate hikes over the past year. Star-Advertiser.

Hundreds of kupuna marched at the state Capitol Thursday, fighting to keep Kupuna Care a priority. KITV4.

More steps have been taken to make good on HGEA's favored nations clause, but the state and counties don't yet know how budgets will be affected in this fiscal year. KHON2.

Good news for Hawaii’s fastest growing industry — the state has been ranked fourth for U.S. Renewable Energy Attractiveness. Pacific Business News.

Members of a dissident faction of Democrats who have long opposed Hawaii House Speaker Calvin Say argue that Say is behind new political boundaries that could force some of those dissidents out of office this year. Civil Beat.

Days after returning from the Academy Award in Los Angeles, Kaui Hart Hemmings was recognized by the state Senate for the success of her novel "The Descendants." Hawaii News Now.

Two weeks after emailing questions about email retention to the state's Department of Accounting and General Services — and 10 days after our article ran — we heard back. Civil Beat.

State roundup for March 2. Associated Press.

Oahu

Mayor Peter Carlisle's $1.953 billion operating budget proposal for the next fiscal year would increase city government spending by $28 million compared with last year but does not increase real property tax rates or user fees. Star-Advertiser.

Mayor Peter Carlisle's operating and capital budgets for next year are nearly flat, together up just 2.3 percent from this year's budgets. Civil Beat.

Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle outlined his new spending plan on Thursday for the fiscal year that starts in July. The $1.953 billion dollar operating budget is $28 million higher than the current one. Hawaii News Now.

A bill allowing food trucks and other vendors to operate on city roads and highways for up to three hours at a time advanced from the City Council Transportation Committee Thursday afternoon.Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transit CEO Daniel Grabauskas is now the highest paid city employee. Hawaii Reporter.

Mary Beth Lohman, publisher of Pacific Business News    since December 2009, is resigning. Advertising Director Bob Charlet will succeed her and become publisher on March 2. Pacific Business News.

A group of tech savvy designers in Honolulu wants to hear from people to help design new applications to improve life around the city. It’s called, Code for America. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii

Mayor Billy Kenoi on Thursday unveiled an election year status quo budget that holds the line on property taxes, maintains monthly employee furloughs, eliminates the West Hawaii golf subsidy and again postpones advance payments on health care for retired employees. West Hawaii Today.

Mayor Billy Kenoi is proposing to eliminate the county-operated lava viewing program at Kalapana to save $300,000 in the next fiscal year. Tribune-Herald.

The final settlement terms in the long-running Hokulia bypass saga will be revealed today. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The more than 1.1 million visitors to Haleakala National Park in 2010 spent nearly $75 million in the park and on the island, and supported 861 jobs, a new National Park Service report showed. Maui News.

Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa is eager to grab a piece of the film industry saying the neighbor islands saw only $5 million dollars last year, compared to Oahu's $100 million. KITV4.

Officials with the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands led a presentation on the proposed Public Safety Complex in Puunene before the Council’s Policy Committee on Wednesday. Maui Now.

A nasty virus causing nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and stomach pain has flared up all over Maui, a state heath official said last week. Maui News.

Work on the $21.6 million Science Building at the University of Hawaii Maui College continues on pace for an August completion, in time for next school year. Maui News.

Kauai

Kauai Island Utility Cooperative officials said Thursday that they plan to pursue a second major solar farm of up to 10 megawatts. Pacific Business News.

Within hours of the end of the fifth and final forum on Thursday for Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative Board of Directors candidates, the co-op announced its intent to build a second large-scale solar project in the 8 to 10 megawatt range. Garden Island.

An oversight in the final version of the Lydgate camping ordinance, which took more than six years to be approved, prompted the Kaua‘i County Council to revisit the rules once again. Garden Island.