Repairs coming to Diamond Head summit, Waimanalo park opponents file lawsuit, feds pan Honolulu rail property purchases, Mauna Kea telescope decommissioning delayed, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Visitors crowd Diamond Head summit ©2019 All Hawaii News

State to demolish crumbling tower at Diamond Head State Monument. A year ago, the state Land Department started getting reports of the crumbling tower. Hawaii News Now.

=====

Opponents of Sherwood Forest construction threaten further legal action at rally in Waimanalo. An attorney for a group that opposes the city’s plan to develop a portion of Waimanalo Bay Beach Park said today he plans further legal action, including filing for an injunction to stop the project and for relief to get it returned to its pre-construction condition. Star-Advertiser.

Waimanalo Park Opponents Are Settling In For A Long Fight. Protesters returned to the site just two days after being arrested by police for blocking access to the area. Civil Beat.

More than a hundred turn out to support lawsuit to stop controversial park development in Waimanalo. Protesters lined the entrance to Waimanalo Bay Beach Park, also known as “Sherwood Forest,” Saturday morning. Hawaii News Now.

Protectors at Sherwoods in Waimanalo file federal lawsuit against the City. Those opposed to construction of a new playing field at Waimanalo Bay Beach Park, also known as Sherwoods, have filed a lawsuit against the City to stop the project. KHON2.

Protester arrested in Sherwood Forest confrontation says Mayor's plan is not compromise. Pilialoha Callahan says the fight over Sherwood Forest isn't over. KITV.

=====

Duane ‘Dog’ Chapman says he was diagnosed with pulmonary embolism. Duane “Dog the Bounty Hunter” Chapman has announced he was diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism earlier this month, and is undergoing treatment. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Mayor Caldwell’s approval ratings drop to all-time low. Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s approval numbers continue to slip to new lows as he approaches his final year in office — probably not exactly what a guy who is expected to run for governor in 2020 would want to see. Star-Advertiser.

=====

HART overpaid some property owners and shortchanged others. The Honolulu rail authority apparently shortchanged 16 tenants or property owners who were relocated to make way for the city’s 20-mile rail line, and made overpayments or ineligible payments to 28 other property owners, according to an intensive federal review of Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation relocation records. Star-Advertiser.

Feds Say Honolulu Rail’s Relocation Payments Are A Mess And Must Be Redone. HART first self-reported its “potential problems” last year. A new federal report shows just how bad those violations actually were. Civil Beat.

FTA: Honolulu rail project botched program to relocate homes, businesses. The federal government says the city’s $9 billion rail project botched its program to relocate homes and businesses along the route. Hawaii News Now.

=====

Kapiolani Boulevard is becoming a magnet for new hotel projects. No one is redrawing the edge of Waikiki, but a growing number of planned hotel projects on Kapiolani Boulevard promise to stretch the primary urban zone for vacation accommodations on Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

OCCC guard, deputy sheriff will not be prosecuted in fatal shootings. The state Department of Public Safety had zero fatal shootings in the past 10 years until Feb. 18, when a deputy sheriff shot in the back a small, disabled, homeless man who had been drinking beer at the state Capitol rotunda. Star-Advertiser.

Power bills topping $1,000 draw ire of residents at gated West Oahu community. Residents in a gated Ewa Beach community are demanding answers after they were hit with shockingly high electricity bills this month. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Board votes to leave UH-Hilo observatory in place — for now. The University of Hawaii’s Maunakea Management Board on Friday voted against decommissioning the former site of an educational telescope on Maunakea until there is a firm plan to reinstall the telescope elsewhere in Hawaii. Tribune-Herald.

Mauna Kea Board Fails To Advance Hoku Kea Telescope Decommissioning. The board did not approve a Notice of Intent to Decommission the small, educational telescope on Mauna Kea, although the TMT permit requires it to come down. Big Island Video News.

Mauna Kea CSO Decommissioning Update. The CSO Decommissioning Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment, and Hazardous Materials Report, have been approved by the Mauna Kea Management Board. Big Island Video News.

=====

Barry Taniguchi: ‘He had a tremendous amount of love and aloha for the community’. Since the passing of Barry Taniguchi on Sept. 20, plaudits for the late chairman and CEO of KTA Super Stores and condolences to his family have poured in from leaders of Hawaii’s business, government, health care, education and nonprofit sectors. Tribune-Herald.

Tour companies in Kona try to curb use of full-face snorkel mask. As concerns rise about the safety of full-face snorkel masks, more and more Hawaii Island tour companies are following the example of their island neighbors by banning the use of the masks on their boats. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Kahului Airport Ranked “Dead Last” in US for Traveler Satisfaction. Kahului Airport has the lowest satisfaction rating compared to similar-sized airports nationwide. That's according to a study from global marketing company J.D. Power, which ranked Kahului Airport last on a list of 16 “medium” airports throughout the country. Maui Now.

Pineapple perseveres on small farms on the Valley Isle.  It’s easy to see Hawaii’s connection to pineapple farming at Maui’s main airport, where plush toys, picture frames, candy and other items made in the oblong fruit’s image are for sale along with three-packs of the real thing for $29.95. Star-Advertiser.

Maui Emergency Management Agency Accidentally Calls County Residents. The Maui Emergency Management Agency accidentally called thousands of county residents from a (999) 999-9999 number shortly before 9 a.m. today. Hawaii Public Radio.

S. Maui families deal with flooded homes, debris. Families in a Maui Meadows neighborhood were dealing Saturday with the aftermath of a localized storm that dumped 1 to 2 inches of rain per hour over the area a day before, leaving homes flooded and debris in yards and on streets. Maui News.

Kauai

Maverick: ‘We want to be good neighbors’. Maverick Helicopters wants to spell out its side of a controversy surrounding aerial tours it started last year out of a small airstrip adjacent to the salt beds in Hanapepe. Garden Island.

Caldwell kills Waimanalo sports complex plan after 28 protesters arrested, executive pleads guilty to bribing Schofield managers, OHA paid $39k to help Thirty Meter Telescope opponents, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Waimanalo Beach PC:Drums600 via Wikipedia

Caldwell Tweets: 'We Are Not Building Sports Complex In Waimanalo'. In the wake of the arrest of 28 protesters Thursday blocking access to Waimanalo Bay Beach Park that officials wanted to redevelop, Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell tweeted the city won't build a sports complex planned in the Sherwood Forest area. Associated Press.

Mayor Kirk Caldwell defends plans for Sherwood Forest in Waimanalo after police arrest of 28 protesters. Mayor Kirk Caldwell said today that he respects First Amendment rights after 28 demonstrators were arrested at Waimanalo Beach Park, but he accused the protestors of blocking other community members from accessing the park. Star-Advertiser.

Protesters blocking police and a construction vehicle at the Waimanalo forest cited concerns about culture and overdevelopment issues. More than two dozen protesters blocking police and construction equipment for a contentious renovation project at Waimanalo Bay Beach Park were arrested Thursday morning after a two-hour peaceful standoff on the access road to the park. Star-Advertiser.

Police Arrest 28 Protesters Blocking Construction At Waimanalo Park. The protesters sang and chanted as they passively resisted the officers.  Civil Beat.

City pledges to press forward with controversial Waimanalo park project despite arrests. Officers arrested 28 people Thursday who were blocking construction equipment and crews from accessing a Waimanalo park, where a controversial $32 million redevelopment project is underway. Hawaii News Now.

HPD arrests 28 Sherwood Forest protestors in Waimanalo. Twenty-eight protestors were arrested at the entrance to Waimanalo Bay Beach Park on Thursday, Sept. 26 amid the Sherwood Forest protest. KHON2.

Over 2 dozen arrested after demonstrators block construction crews from accessing Sherwood Forest. Demonstrators were out in Waimanalo protesting Thursday morning. KITV.

=====

Hawaii saw more visitor arrivals and tourism spending in August than last year. Total visitor arrivals and spending rose again statewide in August, which was only the third month both categories have been up since November. Star-Advertiser.

165 Duty Free Hawaii employees will be laid off. DFS Hawaii began the process of cutting down their workforce by deciding on Thursday, Sept. 26, to lay off 165 employees, according to the company. KHON2.

DFS Hawaii laying off 165 workers amid international visitor market declines. DFS Hawaii, which has operated in Hawaii since 1962 and employs 660 people, began taking steps to reduce a quarter of its workforce today in one of the biggest layoffs of the state’s softer tourism cycle. Star-Advertiser.

DFS Hawaii lays off 165 amid decline in tourism from Asia. Retailer DFS Hawaii laid off 165 employees Thursday from three of its Hawaii locations, citing losses due to a softening international travel market. Hawaii News Now.

=====

Some Principals Can Still Earn More Than Top DOE Officials. Civil Beat’s public employee salary database now includes 22,395 employees of the Hawaii Department of Education. Civil Beat.

Ige Picks Environmental Director To Lead Energy Office. As chief executive officer of the Hawaii State Energy Office, Scott Glenn will play an important role in achieving the state’s renewable energy goals. Civil Beat.

Ige Taps Glenn to lead State Energy Office. Big Island Now.

Oahu

Executive pleads guilty to bribing Schofield managers in exchange for contracts. John Winslett admitted giving thousands of dollars in goods, weapons and a vehicle to the managers of the Schofield firing range in return for about $19 million in contracts to improve and maintain the range.  Hawaii News Now.

City Council Bill To Increase Trespass Fines Headed To Public Hearing. A Honolulu City Council committee approved a public hearing for a bill that will increase fines for people who illegally enter watershed areas. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu Windfarm Seeking Increase In Authorized Bat Deaths. Kawailoa Wind, LLC, has been operating five miles north of Haleiwa since 2012. The company is asking regulators to increase the number of endangered species it can legally kill by its presence. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hefty Property Fine? Honolulu Will Happily Settle For 10%. City officials say they’re less interested in raising money than in getting property owners to comply, so are willing to take much less when the violation is corrected. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Office Of Hawaiian Affairs Has Spent $39K To Support Activists On Mauna Kea. The state Attorney General’s office has subpoenaed the information on OHA’s support for demonstrators against the Thirty Meter Telescope. Civil Beat.

Police Are Giving TMT Opponents Space For Negotiations, AG Says. A new poll shows "most voters now oppose the idea of using force to reopen Mauna Kea Access Road to allow construction to move forward". Big Island Video News.

Speakers talk food access, self-reliance at summit. More than a hundred Big Island farmers, gardeners, officials and more gathered in Hilo Thursday for the second annual Hawaii Island Community Food Summit. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Pulama Lanai proposing 200-acre industrial park. LUC to review project's environmental assessment. Maui News.

Bail money returned to Maui officer accused of abuse of power, misconduct. The Maui Police Department charged Officer Brandon Saffeels with hindering prosecution and tampering with a witness, but the Maui Prosecutor’s Office declined charges. Hawaii News Now.

Maui teachers say pay not enough with the cost of living. Housing an issue, some work two jobs. Maui News.

Kauai

‘The Hanapepe Massacre Mystery’. A new documentary by Kauai native, former journalist and Emmy Award-winning documentary filmmaker Stephanie J. Castillo will launch Saturday with a video shoot of researchers searching for the Hanapepe site where 16 Filipino sugarcane workers were believed to have been buried in an unmarked grave in 1924. Garden Island.