Hawaii national parks reopen, congressional delegation points fingers; Hawaii, Kauai counties pass anti-GMO bills; fracking ban passes Hawaii County; kids to start kindergarten later; Abercrombie aide resigns; Omidyar starts new media venture, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park will reopen today after being closed for more than two weeks because of the partial government shutdown. Tribune-Herald.

With the government shutdown coming to a close, many people are anxiously awaiting the green light for federal facilities like national parks to open up again. Tour groups are counting on parks to be open again on Friday. Hawaii News Now.

After voting to reopen the government and avoid default Wednesday, Hawaii's congressional delegation said they were exasperated about how close the nation came to being unable to meet financial obligations and underscored the importance of moving forward. Star-Advertiser.

The University of Hawaii administration plans to ask the Board of Regents today to give the go-ahead on a proposed $27.5 million facility to house the congressional papers of the late U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye. Star-Advertiser.

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz's advisers have prepared a campaign status memo for potential donors that depicts U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa's campaign as "badly foundering" and not up to the rigors of a U.S. Senate race. The memo argues that Schatz has built a winning campaign that leads Hanabusa in fundraising and endorsements. Star-Advertiser.

Hanabusa Camp: Schatz Memo Is ‘Cynical, Mechanical Political Calculation’ Civil Beat.

The state will be able to help pay for an extra year of preschool for only a quarter of the estimated 5,000 4-year-olds who will be affected next year when junior kindergarten is eliminated at public schools and the state's higher age requirement for kindergarten takes effect. Star-Advertiser.

Starting next school year, students must be at least 5 on July 31 to enter kindergarten the same year. Previously, children could enter kindergarten if they turned 5 by December 31. The Senate and House committees on education held a briefing Wednesday on what's being done to prepare families and preschools for the change. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Health Connector running smoother. KHON2.

Officials claim that HawaiiHealthConnector.com, the online Obamacare exchange designed to provide individuals and small businesses with information about health care plans, federal subsidies and tax credits, is now fully operational. But that wasn't the case yesterday for some who tried to log on. The website went live Oct. 1 after a great deal of media hype, but for two weeks, the exchange had no information on the 95 health insurance plans it would eventually offer, including pricing. Hawaii Reporter.

University of Hawaii engineers unveiled a new robotic boat Wednesday designed to explore potentially dangerous disaster zones before first-responder personnel. Star-Advertiser.

Louise Kim McCoy, who has served as Gov. Neil Abercrombie's communications director and press secretary since November, is leaving the post. Star-Advertiser.

The Aloha State ranks near the bottom when it comes to providing access to records at a reasonable cost, according to a 2012 report from the Center for Public Integrity that measured government transparency and accountability throughout the U.S. Hawaii’s poor score is in large part because of the fees associated with searching for records and reviewing them for information officials believe should be withheld. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation awards new contract to DC lobbying firm. From April 2007 through July 2013, Dwyer's firm Williams & Jensen has been paid $1.43 million by HART. KITV.

Honolulu City Councilman Stanley Chang has raised nearly twice as much as his nearest competitor in the race for Hawaii's 1st Congressional District. But another councilman, Ikaika Anderson, may have the bragging rights coming out of the latest fundraising cycle. Civil Beat.

Omidyar

Pierre Omidyar said Wednesday that after looking into buying The Washington Post over the summer, he’s in the early stages of creating a new mass media organization that will cover general news utilizing independent journalists. Pacific Business News.

Pierre Omidyar: My Next Adventure in Journalism. Civil Beat.

For years, tech billionaire Pierre M. Omidyar has been experimenting with ways to promote serious journalism, searching for the proper media platform to support with the fortune he earned as the founder of eBay. Omidyar also confirmed that he would be personally financing just such a new "mass media" venture, where he will be joined by journalist Glenn Greenwald of The Guardian, the British daily, who reported news about the NSA leaked by Edward Snowden. New York Times/Star Advertiser.

Unusually high tides may be largely responsible for recent episodes of severe erosion at Sunset Beach and Waikiki Beach, a coastal scientist said Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

A former Honolulu police major faces sentencing for lying to FBI agents and filing a false tax return. Carlton Nishimura is scheduled for sentencing Thursday. Garden Island.

Some Hawaiian Airlines passengers using the Honolulu Airport's interisland terminal's check-in kiosk were surprised to find a TSA PreCheck symbol on their boarding pass that allowed them to bypass the normal security line and speed through a separate queue without having to remove their shoes, coats, belts, liquids or laptop computers. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

With a sense of urgency largely unseen over the last five months, the Hawaii County Council expeditiously passed an amended bill to restrict GMO, or genetically altered crops during its first reading Wednesday. Tribune-Herald.

The Hawaii County Council today gave preliminary approval to a bill restricting the use of genetically modified crops on the Big Island. Big Island Now.

Fracking won’t be coming to Hawaii County. County Council members unanimously approved a bill banning hydraulic fracturing, a controversial process by which fluids, including water and sometimes chemicals, are injected deep into the ground to access resources. West Hawaii Today.

A task force formed to evaluate the fairness of property taxes across the county plans to finally start its business next week, more than 18 months after its formation was recommended by an outside assessment. The task force, one of 40 recommendations in a 99-page March 2012 report by the International Association of Assessing Officers, plans to meet at 9 a.m. Oct. 25 in Hilo council chambers. West Hawaii Today

Maui

Maui police are increasing officer presence during Halloween festivities in Lahaina this year in anticipation of a larger crowd projected at between 30,000 and 35,000–up from the 28,000 revelers who attended last year, officials tell Maui Now.

A Maui County Council committee Tuesday advanced bills to fund the design of a new building to replace the old Wailuku Post Office that was demolished in a controversial process earlier this year. Maui News.

The Transportation Security Administration’s PreCheck service was expanded and implemented at several neighbor-island airports this week, enabling low-risk passengers to move more quickly through checkpoint screening. The addition of the program on Maui is part of a larger national effort to expand the program from 40 to 100 airports across the US this week. Maui Now.

Kauai

The Kauai County Council has voted to require large agribusinesses operating on the island to disclose pesticide use and the presence of genetically modified crops. The measure was approved shortly after 3:30 a.m. Wednesday following a marathon meeting that began Tuesday. Associated Press.

Legislators on the island of Kauai in Hawaii have approved a bill that would restrict the use of pesticides by companies developing genetically modified crops there. New York Times

After 14 hours of discussion and public testimony, the Kauai County Council approved a measure early Wednesday requiring large agribusinesses to disclose the types of restricted-use pesticides they spray on fields and implement buffer zones around schools, dwellings, medical facilities, public roadways and waterways. Star-Advertiser.

In a marathon special meeting that lasted 19 hours, Kaua'i County councilmembers voted to approve a controversial GMO disclosure bill around 3:30 Wednesday morning. Officials say some residents lined up around 3 p.m. Tuesday to participate in the discussion. Hawaii News Now.

It’s approved. At 3:35 a.m. Wednesday, nearly 19 hours after Tuesday’s special meeting kicked off, the Kauai County Council voted 6-1 to approve controversial legislation that will allow the county to regulate pesticides and genetically modified crops. Garden Island.

What are the thoughts on the street about Bill 2491 passing? Garden Island.

GMO, pesticide bill passed on Kauai, AG gives nod for state Legislature to pass gay marriage, Board of Education wants $65M more, Hawaii council to raise tobacco sale age, mystery guests on Lanai, Health Connector goes online, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Kauai anti-GMO rally file photo

The Kauai County Council voted 6-1 to approve an amended bill that calls for mandatory disclosure of pesticides use and genetically modified crops by large agribusinesses on the island. Shortly after 3:30 a.m. today, the council approved Bill 2491 after a 14-hour discussion. Star-Advertiser.

After a marathon hearing, the Kauai County Council passed a hotly debated bill on Wednesday that could lead to prison time or fines for employees of agricultural companies if they don’t divulge specifics about pesticide use, abide by strict setback rules for spraying chemicals or disclose when they grow genetically engineered crops. Civil Beat.

Hawaii’s attorney general issued a legal opinion Tuesday saying state lawmakers can act to legalize gay marriage without amending the Hawaii Constitution. Attorney General David Louie said the Legislature “unquestionably” has the constitutional authority to consider and enact a bill during a special session later this month. Associated Press.

Several states with gay marriage laws have religious exemptions that apply to public accommodations, a step Hawaii lawmakers drafting a bill for special session are reluctant to take. Star-Advertiser.

The state's public school system wants about $40 million in additional operating funds for next year that would help boost teaching staff at most schools and another $25 million in capital funds to start cooling classrooms with air conditioning. Star-Advertiser.

The state Board of Education will seek a $100,000 increase of the salary cap lawmakers placed on the school superintendent position back in 2001. The board approved a recommendation Tuesday to draft legislation raising the cap to $250,000 from $150,000. The proposal will be made during the upcoming legislative session. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s health insurance marketplace under President Barack Obama’s federal health care overhaul began offering plans for sale on Tuesday, more than two weeks after the start of open enrollment. Hawaii Health Connector Executive Director Coral Andrews said at a news conference that consumers can now review and buy plans offered on the exchange’s website. Associated Press.

Hawaii residents were able to compare health plans and enroll in medical coverage under the federal Affordable Care Act for the first time Tuesday, two weeks after the scheduled start of open enrollment. Star-Advertiser.

A federal judge in Honolulu is expected to rule soon on whether Hawaii’s conduct of primary elections and a state constitutional provision protecting the “secrecy of voting and choice of political party affiliation or nonpartisanship” are unconstitutional. The case, filed by the Democratic Party of Hawaii in June, argues the state’s “open primary” system unconstitutionally infringes on the exclusive right of the party and its members to decide who should be eligible to nominate the county, state and federal candidates who will represent the Democrats in general elections. Civil Beat.

As Congress scrambled Tuesday for a way out of the budget conundrum, the government shutdown continued to take away millions from Hawaii's economy and negatively affect military engagement in the Asia-Pacific region. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii's Public Records: Citizens Are Paying the Price for Disorganized Agencies? Civil Beat.

Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui has been put in charge of Hawaii’s sports development initiative, which aims to build the state’s sports industry, Gov. Neil Abercrombie said Tuesday. Pacific Business News.

Commercial boat operators are invited to a series of public hearings being held across the state to comment on proposed rule changes. State officials with the DLNR Boating Division say the hearings will focus on rule amendments to, “bring parity to all catamaran registration certificate holders.” Maui Now.

Starting Nov. 1, more than 700 safety check stations across the state will be required by law to conduct vehicle safety checks via a new, high-tech system that includes an iPad, wireless router, and printer. KHON2.

Hawaii epidemiologist Dr. Sarah Park plans on garnering more sustainable funding for the state’s annual Stop Flu at School Program that started Tuesday. The program, which provides free flu vaccinations for 300 public, private, and charter schools statewide until Nov. 27, continues to struggle for funding, despite entering its seventh successful year. Tribune-Herald.

Oahu

State and county officials will meet today to discuss possible solutions to the severe erosion that has exposed a large concrete foundation below Waikiki's Kuhio Beach. The erosion is occurring in an area that was part of the $2.4 million beach replenishment project between Kuhio Beach and the Royal Hawaiian groin in May 2012. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii senators are asking Gov. Neil Abercrombie to fill two vacancies on a board that is in the process of vetting big development projects in Kakaako. State Senate leaders sent a letter to Abercrombie on Tuesday saying that two positions in the Kakaako board of the Hawaii Community Development Authority have been vacant for several months and urging him to appoint members. Civil Beat.

Nowel Alana is a third-generation Hawaiian homesteader who says the Department of Hawaiian Home Land is icing out native Hawaiian businesses like hers. Hawaii News Now.

The Plaza Assisted Living, a senior housing community, is planning on expanding into Waikiki with the company's fourth Oahu location. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

A bill that would prohibit selling tobacco products to people 18 to 21 years old got a unanimous, positive nod from the Hawaii County Council’s Public Safety and Mass Transit Committee. West Hawaii Today.

The Hawaii County Council will return at 1 p.m. today after it heard more testimony on a bill to restrict genetically modified crops Tuesday during the first meeting since members gave it a positive recommendation while in committee. Tribune-Herald.

The National Park Service’s efforts to protect the groundwater supply in North Kona, where thousands of homes are slated for development, could effectively be sidelined for the foreseeable future because the federal government shutdown is preventing employees from addressing the issue. Civil Beat.

The University of Hawaii has requested that the Department of Land and Natural Resources cancel its existing lease for 11,288 acres on the summit of Mauna Kea, and issue new 65-year leases, according to documents acquired by The Hawaii Independent.

Students rally against censorship of Mauna Kea message. Hawaii Independent.

Soldiers from 209th Aviation Support Battalion, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, conducted a training rotation at Pohakuloa Training Area on the Island of Hawaii during September. Hawaii Reporter.

Maui

Maui generates more than 450 tons of waste per day, more than half of which is not recycled and ends up in the Central Maui Landfill, and Maui County Council members are weighing various options and proposals that may revolutionize the way waste is handled in the future. Maui News.

Mayor Alan Arakawa made it official Tuesday night: He's running for re-election next fall. Arakawa actually will be seeking his third term as mayor. Maui News.

For the 20th year in a row, Maui earned the top spot in Condé Nast Traveler magazine’s list for top islands. Maui Now.

Attempting to hit home runs on a dusty parcel in Waikapu, county and state officials gathered for a mock softball game Monday afternoon on the future site of the county's Central Maui Regional Park complex. Maui News.

Kauai

Kauai Community College is holding a blessing and dedication this week for a building newly renamed after the late Sen. Daniel Inouye. Inouye's wife, Irene Hirano Inouye and his son, Ken Inouye, are both due to attend Friday's ceremony for the Daniel K. Inouye Technology Center. Garden Island.

A decision on the controversial Bill 2491 wasn’t reached by deadline Tuesday. Garden Island.

Over the last year and a half, Surfrider collected and stockpiled 17,600 pounds of nets hauled from Kauai beaches, according to Barbara Wiedner, founder and coordinator of the foundation’s Net Patrol. Garden Island.

Lanai

Lanai has gained a lot of attention these days since billionaire Larry Ellison bought the island last year, and now it seems that even coqui frogs are interested in Hawaii’s Pineapple Island. Pacific Business News.

Some pretty important guests are on the island of Lanai this week, with the posh Four Seasons Resort Lanai at Manele Bay fully booked for an exclusive buyout from Wednesday through Saturday. Pacific Business News.

Smoking ban looms for Honolulu, group wants Dems to drop closed-primary lawsuit, Maui dumps wind power from the grid, solar owners get big break, tax review panel gets off the ground, new home for Hawaii Five-0, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Waikiki beach scene (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

Lighting up cigarettes and other tobacco products at bus stops and city-run parks and beaches would be illegal come Jan. 1 under bills the Honolulu City Council passed unanimously on Wednesday. Mayor Kirk Caldwell said he expects to sign both bills, assuming they clear routine legal reviews. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu City Council is moving to ban smoking at city parks, beaches and bus stops. The council passed two bills covering the bans on Wednesday. Mayor Kirk Caldwell is expected to sign the measures. Associated Press.

The Honolulu City Council is sending a strong message against smoking. The nine members unanimously approved two measures that bans lighting up at all bus stops and city parks, beaches, athletic fields and facilities. Hawaii News Now.

With nine ayes for the two laws banning smoking in more public areas, it was clear Wednesday morning that the city is aiming for a cleaner environment. KHON2.

A national organization representing independent voters is calling for the Democratic Party of Hawaii to withdraw its federal lawsuit that seeks a closed primary election system. The lawsuit filed in federal court last month claims Hawaii's primary system that allows every registered voter to participate in the party's nomination process is tantamount to forced political association and is unconstitutional. Associated Press.

The Hawaii Department of Health says the availability of tuberculosis testing solution is returning to normal. Health department clinics statewide will resume providing tuberculin skin tests on Monday. Associated Press.

Does the University of Hawaii even need a new president? That’s the argument being raised by the university’s faculty union — the University of Hawaii Professional Association. UHPA has for years urged UH to overhaul its governance structure, including eliminating the president's post, so it can better manage its finances and establish clearer, more efficient lines of authority. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii Ethics Commission is taking a whack a free golf outings for state officials. In a July 3 advisory letter, the commission said that dozens of state contracting officials and lawmakers have accepted complimentary entry and green fees to charity golf tournaments from companies that do business with the state. Hawaii News Now.

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced $1,204,918 in grant awards to 14 Hawaii health centers operating 79 sites to enroll the uninsured in new health coverage options made available by the Affordable Care Act.  In Hawaii, health centers served 144,427 patients last year, 24 percent of whom were uninsured. Hawaii Reporter.

HECO Says Residents With Solar Aren't Paying Their Fair Share of Costs. Civil Beat.

The Federal Communications Commission has fallen short in its effort to reform a government program that subsidizes telephone service in rural areas, including Hawaiian Home Lands, according to a report released Wednesday by a Las Vegas-based think tank. Star-Advertiser.

Car booting is now banned statewide.  It is illegal for any person, business—even the police department— to clamp a boot on vehicles.  The bill passed through the Hawai'i State Legislature in April and became law Tuesday without the Governor's signature. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii’s military still follows green building standards, despite 2012 law. Pacific Business News.

Federal officials say studies of white shark populations along the West Coast show no need to list the animal as threatened or endangered. West Hawaii Today.

Oahu

The surveillance video that captured an altercation and subsequent fatal shooting at a McDonald's restaurant in Waikiki early Nov. 5, 2011, was shown Wednesday to help a Circuit Court jury decide whether U.S. State Department special agent Christopher Deedy murdered a 23-year-old Kailua man or shot him in self-defense. Star-Advertiser.

A Honolulu police officer who testified in the Christopher Deedy murder trial was accused of bias Wednesday after defense attorneys found he'd posted information about the case to his Facebook page. Civil Beat.

Jurors in the murder trial of federal agent Christopher Deedy on Wednesday were finally able to view a much-talked-about security video of the shooting of Kollin Elderts inside a Waikiki McDonald's. But the video is of such poor quality that it does little to help jurors see what really happened in the early morning hours of Nov. 5 when the two men scuffled and Deedy shot and killed Elderts. Civil Beat.

As George Zimmerman’s second-degree murder trial for the killing of Treyvon Martin crawls to a close in Florida, Hawaii is in the midst of its racially charged murder trial. Claims of self defense and the right to bear arms are central in both cases. Hawaii Reporter.

With the cost of public worker pay raises expected to surge during the next fiscal year, Mayor Kirk Caldwell wants to begin a dialogue with Oahu residents about the creation of a tiered system for property taxes. KITV4.

The Honolulu City Council gave the go-ahead for the long-awaited update Ewa Development Plan on Wednesday but not before some three hours of heated testimony, mostly against the controversial 12,000-home Ho‘opili housing project. Star-Advertiser.

Six months after announcing an ambitious push to fix the city streets in most need of repair, Mayor Kirk Caldwell says work remains on course to repave 300 lane miles of degraded road on Oahu this year. Star-Advertiser.

Filming of the new season of "Hawaii Five-0" got underway Wednesday with the Hawaiian blessing of the production at the show's new home at the Hawaii Film Studio near Diamond Head. Star-Advertiser.

UH West Oahu, HCC Offer New Cybersecurity Degree. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii

Big Island residents will find themselves with a bigger bill the next time they register their car or truck. The Hawaii County Council on Wednesday voted 8-1 to approve higher vehicle taxes and registration fees, a move intended to support infrastructure and make costs more comparable with other counties. Tribune-Herald.

The confirmation Wednesday of Bobby Jean Leithead Todd as Environmental Management director hinged on the definition of “related field.” West Hawaii Today.

The fifth time proved to be the charm Wednesday, when the County Council finally agreed on the makeup of a task force to make recommendations on revamping the county’s property tax code. The resolution, introduced in December, was debated at four previous council sessions before its unanimous vote.  West Hawaii Today.

Hilo’s Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy will retain its accreditation following a late June meeting of the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

In the first five months of this year, more than a quarter of collected wind energy reported from three wind farms that deliver electricity to Maui Electric Co. has been dumped from the grid, according to the utility's website. Maui News.

The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation, Harbors Division announced plans to host an informational meeting to discuss proposed improvements to Hāna Pier in East Maui. Maui Now.

Billionaire Larry Ellison's purchase of Island Air and his interest in go! airlines has garnered most of the headlines in recent months but flying under the radar has been Mokulele Airlines, which has been growing and expanding its reach and operations. Maui News.

The Hōlua area of Haleakalā National Park will be closed on Thursday evening July 11, 2013, as park biologists work to control the spread of non-native Argentine ants, officials said. Maui Now.

Kauai

Just when it appeared that Coco Palms would never be rebuilt, there seems to be new hope for the iconic Wailua Beach resort. “A new, Hawaii-based group of investors has stepped up and is willing to restore the property to its former glory,” states an online petition launched by the Save Coco Palms Committee Wednesday.Garden Island.

Planning Director Michael Dahilig on Tuesday gave the Kauai Planning Commission an outline of efforts to enforce transient vacation laws. The Kauai County Council passed four ordinances in the last five years to stop new TVRs in residential neighborhoods and agricultural lands, and grandfather those that could prove they were operating in those areas and paying their taxes prior to March 2008. Garden Island.

Molokai
The 36-passenger Safari Explorer yacht begins a new itinerary in the Hawaiian islands that includes one-way travel between Molokaʻi and Hawaiʻi Island, company officials announced today. Maui Now.

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.