Kealoha power couple found guilty in conspiracy trial, new law blocks firearms for emotionally unstable, tourism up but spending down, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Katherine and Louis Kealoha, from Facebook

Kealohas are found guilty on all counts of conspiracy and obstruction. Honolulu’s former Police Chief Louis Kealoha and his wife, former Deputy Prosecutor Katherine Kealoha, once trusted leaders of the city’s law enforcement system, were found guilty Thursday of using their positions and power to frame a family member and enrich themselves. Star-Advertiser.

Kealohas, 2 Honolulu officers found guilty of conspiracy in massive public corruption trial. After deliberating for less than nine hours, a jury of seven men and five women found former law enforcement power couple Louis and Katherine Kealoha guilty Thursday of conspiracy and other counts in one of Hawaii’s most closely-watched public corruption trials. Hawaii News Now.

Jury Convicts Kealohas And 2 HPD Officers Of Conspiracy. Honolulu’s former police chief and his prosecutor wife, along with two police officers, were found guilty Thursday in one of the biggest corruption cases in Hawaii history. Civil Beat.

Verdict In: Louis and Katherine Kealoha Guilty In Corruption Case. A jury has found a former Honolulu prosecutor and her now-retired police chief husband guilty in a plot to frame a relative to silence him from revealing fraud that financed their lavish lifestyle, a case that shook the top levels of law enforcement. Associated Press.

Jury finds Kealohas guilty of conspiracy in Kealoha Trial, KHON2.

Jury finds Katherine and Louis Kealoha guilty of conspiracy. A verdict has been reached in the Kealoha corruption trial. KITV.

Here’s why prosecutors want Katherine Kealoha behind bars as she awaits sentencing. In a strongly-worded brief Thursday, the government argued newly-convicted felon Katherine Kealoha should be placed in custody immediately as she awaits sentencing this fall. Hawaii News Now.

Reaction pours in after Kealoha guilty verdicts. Star-Advertiser.

Verdicts help restore faith in the system, many say. The quick guilty verdicts in one of the state’s largest public corruption trials brought a wide range of reaction Thursday, with some saying the case underscored the inability of local officials to police themselves. Star-Advertiser.

Legal troubles not over for Kealohas. Thursday’s verdict is not the end of the legal troubles for Louis and Katherine Kealoha. The couple faces two more trials. Star-Advertiser.

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Gov. David Ige has approved a new law that enables family members, co-workers or police to obtain court orders blocking access to firearms for people who show signs they could pose a danger to themselves or others. Star-Advertiser.

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State Auditor Dings DLNR’s Special Land Fund. Absence of long-range planning leaves staff without “expertise, resources, and options” to effectively manage portfolio. Civil Beat.

Audit: DLNR mismanaged state land. A division of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources responsible for millions of acres of state-owned property is being run without coherent policies or guidelines by a staff that is incompetent to the point that it misunderstands its own funding, according to a report released Thursday by the Hawaii State Auditor. Garden Island.

Audit conducted of DLNR's Special Land Development Fund. The Hawaii State Auditor says, "absence of long-range planning has left the Land Division staff without the expertise, resources, and options to actively and effectively manage its land portfolio." KITV.

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More tourists visit Hawaii but they spend less. May marked the seventh month in a row that more visitors came to Hawaii than in the previous year while creating less economic benefit. Star-Advertiser.

Disappointing declines in visitor spending continue in May. The takeaway from May’s tourism numbers was a familiar one: Visitors came in droves but spent less on average. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii visitor statistics released for May 2019. Visitors to the Hawaiian Islands spent a total of $1.39 billion in May 2019, a decrease of 2.1% compared to the same month last year, according HTA. KITV.

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Mayors at summit in Honolulu commit to electric vehicles. Dozens of mayors gathered in front of an electric bus at the University of Hawaii-Manoa campus Thursday to announce a collaborative commitment to purchasing electric vehicles for their city fleets. Star-Advertiser.

Filling A ‘Massive’ Need To Provide Glasses For Hawaii’s Kids. The state law requiring regular hearing and vision screening has been ignored for nearly 25 years, leaving nonprofits to cover at least part of the gap. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Kym Pine: ‘Strongly Considering’ Running For Mayor. The Honolulu City Councilwoman is reaching out for support and donations. Civil Beat.

Following a recent trip to Singapore, State Senator Stanley Chang remains committed to adapting the island nation’s public housing model for Hawaii. The idea, which would use state land along the planned Honolulu rail transit line, aims to build low-cost, high density, residential developments. Hawaii Public Radio.

Ward Village developer Howard Hughes Corp. considers shake-up and sale. The Ward Village community in Kakaako could see a new master developer under a possible shake-up of Howard Hughes Corp. Star-Advertiser.

State to charge for street parking next to Kalihi school. People have been parking on a side street in Kalihi for a number of years. Now the state will be charging them for it. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

Salary Commission weighs pay hikes, other incentives to keep top officials. The county Salary Commission is considering bonuses as one way to attract quality candidates to head county departments. West Hawaii Today.

Will This Year’s Confrontation At Mauna Kea Become Hawaii’s Standing Rock? Protestors say they’ll remain nonviolent, but fear the state and county’s response to their planned activism. Civil Beat.

Mauna Kea Land Set Aside Draws DU, Land Title Concerns. A public hearing was held on a proposal to withdraw lands in the Mauna Kea Forest Reserve and set aside to the County of Hawaii and the DOT. Big Island Video News.

AC installation for dorm moves forward. The University of Hawaii at Hilo’s newest dormitory, Hale Alahonua, is closer to being cooler with the upcoming installation of an air conditioning system. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui traffic livestreamed. Real-time traffic cameras installed at 10 intersections. Maui drivers won’t have to guess about travel times on some state highways with new real-time traffic monitoring cameras going up at 10 state roadway intersections. Maui News.

Mayor prepares to release housing plan. Mayor Michael Victorino declared Wednesday that there’s a dire need for housing units in Maui County and that all options are open as his administration is poised to present its Strategic Housing Plan to the Maui County Council. Maui News.

Shoreline access pact reached with Napili condos. Lawsuits claim trails not being maintained per permits. Community groups who sued three condominium complexes over beach access have reached a settlement with the final two condos that will restore a public access trail to the Napili shoreline. Maui News.

Settlement Reached to Restore Beach Access at Honokowai. Maui Now.

Kauai

A new deal. There is a new collective bargaining agreement for Kauai firefighters through 2021 as the Kauai County Council passed a bill that will usher in a new area for first responders with a 5-2 vote Wednesday during the council meeting at the Historic County Building. Garden Island.

Gov. Ige meets with Trump, Gabbard makes DNC debate cut, taxing vacant homes, Zuckerberg property lawsuit dismissed, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Gov. David Ige with President Trump PC:White House

Ige and Trump find common ground on some policies. Gov. David Ige found common ground with President Donald Trump on Thursday during a working lunch at the White House to discuss issues relating to workforce development, occupational licensing laws and child care policies. Star-Advertiser.

Ige, other governors meet with Trump to talk workforce development. Gov. David Ige, along with seven other governors, met with President Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday to discuss workforce development. Hawaii News Now.

Gov. Ige Sits Down With President Trump At White House Lunch. Big Island Video News.

Ige Meets with Trump on Workforce Development. Gov. David Ige joined seven other governors for a discussion on workforce development with President Donald Trump and Secretary of Labor Alex Acosta at the White House today. Maui Now.

Full remarks at governors' meeting with President Trump. White House.

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Gabbard In Lineup For First DNC Presidential Debate. The Hawaii congresswoman is among some two dozen Democrats running to succeed Donald Trump. Civil Beat.

Gabbard Earns Place On National Democratic Debate Stage. The Democratic Congresswoman from Hawaii met the criteria to qualify for the national debate stage, along with 19 other candidates for the party nomination. Big Island Video News.

Tulsi Gabbard makes the cut for first DNC presidential debate. Hawaii News Now.

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Most Of Legislature’s Major Bills Are Still Sitting On Ige’s Desk. The governor must decide on taxing vacation rentals and real estate investment trusts, decriminalizing possession of small amounts of pot and all-mail voting. Civil Beat.

Hawaiian and Pacific Islander students are suspended more days than U.S. average. Students in Hawaii miss nearly twice as many school days due to suspensions as their peers nationally, and children with disabilities, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders are hardest-hit, according to an American Civil Liberties Union analysis of federal data. Star-Advertiser.

ACLU Says Hawaii Schools Are Suspending Too Many Students. Not only is there a racial disparity in suspensions, but the days lost to that punishment in the islands far exceed the national average, according to a new analysis. Civil Beat.

Task force to examine rules of involuntary hospitalizations. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii Marine faces discharge over racist online posts. A Hawaii-based Marine is receiving an “other than honorable” discharge for posting racist and pro-Nazi material on social media. Star-Advertiser.

Ex-Schofield Barracks employee charged in bribery conspiracy. Investigators claim Victor Garo leaked information over the last decade to help a Maine company get at least $12 million in contracts from the U.S. Department of Defense. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Could A Tax On Empty Homes Work In Honolulu? At around 12 percent, urban Honolulu has one of the highest rates of home vacancy in the country. Honolulu’s mayor wants to levy an extra tax on those vacant properties, an idea that has seen some success in one of Canada’s largest cities. Hawaii Public Radio.

No One Knows How Many Homes Are Sitting Empty Despite Housing Shortage. There’s a big discrepancy between city and federal estimates of vacancy rates. Civil Beat.

Businessman hopes ‘Seabins’ are solution to Ala Wai Harbor’s trash problem. Seabins are floating garbage bins with a pump that filters out debris and plastics. Hawaii News Now.

Ka Iwi Coast opened to the public for the second time in 40 years. Non profit Livable Hawaii Kai Hui and other groups worked together to buy the 182 acre land. KITV.

Tow truck driver who plowed into 10 cars has dozens of traffic violations. The 52-year-old woman who was driving a tow truck that plowed into 10 other cars Wednesday has dozens of traffic violations dating back a decade, records show. Hawaii News Now.


Hawaii Island

Vacation rental applications trickling in. Vacation rental registrations are coming in faster than workers at the county Planning Department can process them. West Hawaii Today.

New Outdoor Warning Sirens Coming To Three Hawaii County Parks. Construction on three new warning sirens will begin on June 14 at different public locations in the Hilo area. Big Island Video News.

Maui

Maui Affordable Housing Needed Now, Identified as Top Priority. A council member on Maui has put forth a proposal to “stop the talk” and start building affordable rental housing. Maui Now.

Maui council member pushes for affordable housing. Council member Michael Molina today put out a "Call to Action" in the hopes that more affordable housing projects become a reality sooner rather than later. KHON2.

Craft breweries back sample sizes, larger 16 ounce ‘standard’. Liquor panel looking at defining drink size, other rules. Maui News.

A public forum on Maui’s renewable energy future will be held on Wednesday, June 26, 2019 at the J. Walter Cameron Center Auditorium from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Maui Now.

Kauai

Kuleana case dismissed. A Fifth Circuit judge on Thursday dismissed a lawsuit filed earlier this year against Carlos Andrade, a retired history professor who recently bought four kuleana land parcels on Mark Zuckerberg’s property for just over $2 million. Garden Island.

People still residing at Coco Palms. Near the Coco Palms resort concrete ruins that line the north side of Kuhio Highway, on 14 acres of state land, a house overflows with trash, and derelict vehicles sit outside. Garden Island.

Ige pressured to veto vacation rental tax bill, FBI investigates false tsunami alert, Kealoha trial to begin, Caldwell signs perks for affordable rentals, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii vacation rental ©2019 All Hawaii News

Coalition Pressures Ige To Veto Vacation Rental Bill. A new television ad warns of legitimizing illegal vacation rentals. Civil Beat.

Governor Mulls Passed Bills for Signature or Veto. Governor David Ige has one month to let lawmakers know which bills he intends to veto. His staff is currently reviewing other bills for him to sign or for passage without his signature. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii has seen a 50% jump in tourists since 1989, but spending has remained flat. Last year, the state had a record number of nearly 10 million tourists. That’s a 50 percent jump in 30 years. But spending is unchanged at $18 billion. Hawaii News Now.

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PTWC, FBI investigating false tsunami alert over international system. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center is investigating a false tsunami alert that startled some Tuesday. Hawaii News Now.

It was not as widespread as the false ballistic missile threat of last year -- but it was just as fake. Just before 4:30 this afternoon, a false tsunami threat was spread around the world through official channels. KHON2.

Fake Tsunami Report Issued on Fabricated Large Quake. Authorities with the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center are calling an email report that was distributed at around 4:33 p.m., a false tsunami message.   The email appeared to be from an email address at the warning center. Maui Now.

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Hawaii among states suing over Trump’s anti-abortion rule. Hawaii Attorney General Clare E. Connors today joined a coalition of 23 cities, states, and municipalities, in filing a lawsuit against a set of revised rules issued by the Trump Administration that the plaintiffs said would allow businesses and individuals to refuse health care on the basis of religious beliefs or moral convictions. Star-Advertiser.

Debate over abortion laws hits the streets of Honolulu with supporters and opponents. Hawaii activists rallied Tuesday both for and against new abortion laws sweeping across states on the mainland. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Kealohas’ trial set to start today. It’s put-up-or-shut-up time for federal prosecutors in the conspiracy trial of retired Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha and his wife, former Deputy Prosecutor Katherine Kealoha. Star-Advertiser.

‘The Mailbox Trial’: Prosecutors prepare to make public corruption case against the Kealohas. In June 2013, a mailbox was plucked from its post in the middle of the night outside then-Police Chief Louis Kealoha’s home in Kahala. Hawaii News Now.

In what would be an unprecedented move, several Honolulu City Council members want to take the Honolulu Police Commission to court over whether the city should pay former Police Chief Louis Kealoha’s legal fees. In what would be an unprecedented move, several Honolulu City Council members want to take the Honolulu Police Commission to court over whether the city should pay former Police Chief Louis Kealoha’s legal fees. Star-Advertiser.

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Mayor signs Affordable Rental Housing Bill. Bankers, builders and housing advocates flanked Mayor Kirk Caldwell as he signed the Affordable Rental Housing Bill into law Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Affordable Housing Pilot Program Signed Into Law. A measure to promote the building of affordable rental units in Honolulu is now a law. Mayor Kirk Caldwell signed Bill 7 Tuesday after it passed the City Council earlier this month. Hawaii Public Radio.

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It’s Too Soon For A Pedestrian Safety Commission, Council Panel Decides. Honolulu’s transportation chief says the city should first consider a newly released plan to protect pedestrians. Civil Beat.

There’s Still No Word On How Much Honolulu Rail Will Cost —To Ride. Interim service looms next year, but city officials don’t know what the fares will be, and no formal proposals have been made. Civil Beat.

Rezoning preservation land for Kaneohe homes draws community ire. A developer's proposal to turn Kaneohe preservation land into a housing development has cleared key steps toward re-zoning. KHON2.

Dillingham Ranch back on the market. A California company has put Oahu’s Dillingham Ranch up for sale after positioning the 2,721-acre property for subdivision with homes in the face of heated community opposition. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Big boost for nonprofits: Council votes to increase grants to $2.5 million. Hawaii Island nonprofits could soon see a big boost in county grants, thanks to action Tuesday by the County Council. West Hawaii Today.

Why Bikini Islanders Bought Land On The Big Island. The Micronesians have been nomads since the U.S. tested nuclear weapons there in the 1940s and 1950s. Civil Beat.

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Power poles at Puna geothermal plant are ‘smoldering’. Four wooden power poles installed by Hawaiian Electric Light Co. a week ago along a new road opened by the Puna Geothermal Venture are “smoldering” due to residual heat from last year’s Kilauea Volcano eruption. Star-Advertiser.

After residual underground heat caused four wooden poles on Puna Geothermal Venture property to smolder, the utility said it will immediately replace them with steel poles. Big Island Video News.

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Dolphin swimming ban under final review. Approaching and swimming with Hawaiian spinner dolphins is moving closer to being a thing of the past as federal officials work toward finalizing a rule outlawing the practice that’s created a booming tourism industry in West Hawaii and around the state. West Hawaii Today.

County OKs plans for former Hilo Lanes. The county approved a Hilo businesswoman’s plans to turn the former Hilo Lanes building into a fitness gym and commercial center. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

County fears settling injection well case could lead to more suits, fines. Council members want county to settle, pull it from US Supreme Court. Maui News.

Conservation Leadership Program Accepting Applications. Applications are now being accepted for Na Hua Hoohuli i ka Pono, a service-learning program designed to help develop Maui’s next generation of conservation leaders. Maui Now.

Kauai

Pesticide pushback grows. While Kauai beekeepers celebrated the canceled registration of some pesticides in the Federal Register, some remain concerned about threats to their honey. Garden Island.

Former homeowners sue Bank of America. Three people who lost their homes on Kauai are suing Bank of America for purportedly using deceptive, unethical and illegal business practices to manipulate the outcome of foreclosure auctions. Garden Island.

Hawaii Navy busy in South China Sea, vets irked over CBS tour of secret NSA facility, low-income housing turned over to private partnership, Maui council mulls Clean Water Act settlement, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

USS Preble at Pearl Harbor PC: U.S. Navy

Hawaii Navy ships step up operations in South China Sea. The Pearl Harbor destroyer USS Preble on Monday conducted its third “freedom of navigation” operation in the South China Sea since February in what so far has been four such Navy challenges to China’s claims this year. Star-Advertiser.

Bills On Ige’s Desk Could Be ‘Game-Changer’ For Criminal Justice Reform. Laws that cleared the Legislature would open up jails and courts to more scrutiny and give people a better chance at a get-out-of-jail-free card. Civil Beat.

Energy efficiency bill awaits Gov. David Ige’s signature. Hawaii legislators have passed a bill establishing energy efficiency standards for state appliances sold in the state. Star-Advertiser.

A partnership now owns about 1,000 mostly low-income apartments. About 1,000 mainly low-income Hawaii households have a new private landlord after a more than two-year effort by the state to shed a portfolio of affordable rental housing. Star-Advertiser.

Some Hawaii Public Housing Tenants Could Be Evicted Under Trump Proposal. The proposed rule would require HUD to check the immigration status of anyone under 62 who receives public assistance including housing. Civil Beat.

Hawaii ranked high in missing persons cases. Hawaii has the eighth highest rate of missing persons per capita in the nation. There are 8 cases for every 100,000 people who live here. KITV.

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz hires new chief of staff. U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) has hired Eric Einhorn to serve as his new chief of staff in his Washington D.C. office, replacing Andy Winer. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Jury pool for the Kealoha trial narrowed down to fewer than 50 people. The final cut to 12 jurors and 4 alternates will happen Wednesday when attorneys exercise their right to eliminate jurors they are concerned about. Hawaii News Now.

Kunia veterans feel ignored, shocked after CBS News gets a tour of top secret NSA facility. CBS News got a rare view of NSA Hawaii in Wahiawa, which opened in 2012. It keeps an eye over America’s adversaries like China. Hawaii News Now.

Owners in one of Hawaii’s most exclusive condos sue over construction defects. There are at least 120 different construction defects at one of Hawaii’s most exclusive condominium towers, according to a lawsuit filed by property owners at the tower -- and a shortage in skilled building laborers may be at least partially to blame. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Assessors with a national accreditation organization gave the Hawaii Police Department a positive report with some suggestions during a mock assessment in April. West Hawaii Today.

Apparently, it’s not how the county spends the money, it’s how it raises the money. A public hearing on the 2019-20 budget drew little interest Monday, but 70% more property owners are appealing their assessments than last year. West Hawaii Today.

Waimea Nui Regional Government Proposal Sparks Discussion. On Monday, a Hawaiian Homes Commissioner went back and forth with a testifier who said she opposed the planned Waimea Nui Homestead Regional Government charter. Big Island Video News.

Time could be running out for the University of the Nations Kona to develop 62 acres once envisioned for affordable housing, a cultural center and an educational facility off Kuakini Highway. West Hawaii Today.

Coral submerged in the typically crowded Kahaluu Bay is amid a reprieve from human traffic, which began Monday morning and continues through today. The purpose of the county-imposed closure is to allow for a coral spawning event scientists predicted was most likely to occur on those two days. West Hawaii Today.

Kilauea could take a decade-plus break, expert says. While Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists are predicting Kilauea’s caldera could erupt “within a few years,” at least one independent expert suggests the volcano might not come to life for perhaps a decade if Hawaii’s undersea volcano, Loihi, is a guide. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

Maui Lawmakers Consider Settlement in Clean Water Act Lawsuit. Members of the Maui County Council on Monday considered a settlement offer in the case of a county wastewater facility. The case is currently scheduled to be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court. Hawaii Public Radio.

Iwi kupuna laws scrutinized by Native Hawaiians. Native Hawaiians gathered for two days on Maui to commemorate the 30th anniversary marking the discovery of 1,200 sets of remains at Honokahua Bay. Hawaii News Now.

County jobless rate at 2.8% in month of April. Hawaii was one of 12 states with unemployment below 3 percent. Maui News.

Twenty attorneys who provided free legal information and 10 court navigators who helped direct courthouse visitors were recognized for their volunteer service that assisted hundreds of people last year. Maui News.

Kauai

EMS stronger together. The mayor was joined by Kauai Council Chair Arryl Kaneshiro with a similar proclamation as Kauai joined the nation in observing National EMS Week that started Sunday and runs through Friday. Garden Island.

Kauai vehicle sales hold steady. There are signs that the market is running out of steam, according to the outlook sponsored by the Hawaii Automobile Dealers Association. Garden Island.

Styrofoam ban advances, sports gambling considered, judge rules against non-solar water heaters, shipping costs rise, Mauna Kea ski video rankles, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Polystyrene 'styrofoam' takeout ©2019 All Hawaii News

Statewide styrofoam ban advances. A bill to ban styrofoam containers for take-out food -- statewide. KHON2.

The House Judiciary Committee today will consider a bill to legalize and regulate sports betting in Hawaii, which is now one of only two states in the nation that has no form of legalized gambling. Star-Advertiser.

Bail-reform legislation, seven years in the making, is moving rapidly through the Legislature. The bills would require public safety officials to make it easier for people to gain release if they are arrested for nonviolent crimes and are not a flight risk, requires consideration of a defendant’s financial situation before setting bail, and eliminates money bail for low-risk offenses. Civil Beat.

Judge: DBEDT must adhere to solar water heater mandate. Environmentalist and renewable energy advocates are hailing a court decision Tuesday ordering the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism to follow state law mandating all new single-family homes include solar water heaters and to consider variances for gas water heaters only on a case-by-case basis. Tribune-Herald.

Court Ruling On Water Heaters Will Help ‘Protect The Climate’. The state has been wrongly approving too many gas hot water heaters in new homes, a judge says. Civil Beat.

Effort To Pump Up Voter Interest In Elections Goes Nowhere In Legislature. It looks like there will be no hearings for bills that would have advanced the top two primary vote-getters to the general election regardless of political party. Civil Beat.

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Legislature Seeks to Reform OHA Elections. State legislators have taken the first step toward overhauling the elections process for Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustees. The Senate Hawaiian Affairs Committee started with campaign funding and the way candidates' names are listed on the ballots. Hawaii Public Radio.

The attorney for former Office of Hawaiian Affairs Trustee Rowena Akana said Wednesday his client will appeal a state Ethics Commission complaint that imposes a fine of more than $23,000 for 47 ethics violations. Star-Advertiser.

Former OHA Trustee Rowena Akana Hit With $23K Ethics Fine. Akana, who served on the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees for nearly 30 years, may also have to pay back more than $21,500 in gifts. Civil Beat.

Ex-OHA trustee who used office allowance for cable bills slapped with hefty fine. Former OHA trustee Rowena Akana must pay more than $23,000 in fines for accepting legal fees from Hawaiian heiress Abigail Kawananakoa and misusing her annual office allowance. Hawaii News Now.

Former Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustee Rowena Akana must pay more $23,000 in fines. The State's ethics commission found that she committed 47 ethics violations. KITV.

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It was Agriculture Day at the State Capitol today inside committee rooms and outside on display tables. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii lawmakers want to fight mosquitoes ... with more mosquitoes. But introducing new insects could have adverse affects. Hawaii News Now.

Young Brothers LLC announced Wednesday it has received approval from the state Public Utilities Commission for its first significant rate increase in six years. Garden Island.

Rate increase for interisland service. The 4.3% rate increase is critical to allow Young Brothers to reinvest in its business and upgrade equipment to continue providing essential interisland cargo transport services. KHON2.

Gabbard Takes Heat On MSNBC Over Russia, Assad. As the Hawaii congresswoman escalates her bid for president, she’s already facing stiff questions from journalists on a number of issues. Civil Beat.

Gabbard on defense after more bad publicity. On national television on Wednesday, she was questioned about her positions on Syria and Russia and even the Ku Klux Klan. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Manoa board calls for pause in Ala Wai Flood Control Project. The Manoa Neighborhood Board unanimously passed a resolution Wednesday calling for a halt on an Ala Wai Canal flood control project to give stakeholders an opportunity to give feedback on a plan to add detention and catchment basins to the upper reaches of Manoa, Palolo and Makiki. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu home, condo prices, sales all declined in January for first time since 2010. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu housing inventory up, prices down. KHON2.

Developers to receive incentives. The Honolulu City Council is proposing a new bill that would ease building requirements for developers in an effort to increase affordable housing options. KHON2.

City seeks landowner incentives to build hundreds of affordable rentals. As skyscrapers were added to Honolulu’s skyline and “monster homes” sprouted up in residential neighborhoods, low rises in Makiki and Moiliili have decayed. Hawaii News Now.

City begins to condemn Palolo properties damaged by severe erosion. Hawaii News Now.

Mysterious Manoa Tree Hackers May Be Peddling Hallucinogenic Bark. Large gashes in acacia trees, whose bark is reportedly hallucinogenic, were first noticed in December by Manoa residents. Civil Beat.

The Honolulu Police Department met for its monthly Commission meeting and one of the topics that came up was recreational marijuana. KITV.

Sewer spills were at a historic low last year amid ongoing monitoring and proactive measures taken by the City and County of Honolulu’s Department of Environmental Services. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

A bill to provide state funding for restoring lava-covered portions of Highway 132 cleared its first committee Wednesday at the state Capitol. The Senate Committee on Transportation voted unanimously in favor of Senate Bill 1298, which provides $15 million for restoration. Tribune-Herald.

At the request of the state Department of Health, legislators have shelved a bill that would have funded two ambulances for Hawaii Island, including one at the Makalei Fire Station. West Hawaii Today.

Pahoa pool reopens to the delight of area residents. For the first time in months, swimmers glided through the water at the Pahoa Community Aquatic Center on Wednesday morning. Tribune-Herald.

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Lawmakers and The Office of Maunakea Management said they were disturbed by a recent social media video that shows three individuals skiing and snowboarding on Puu Poliahu on Maunakea on University of Hawaii managed lands. West Hawaii Today.

Snowless Skiing On Mauna Kea Denounced. Big Island Video News.

The Office of Maunakea Management condemned a video posted to social media showing three individuals skiing and snowboarding down a revered volcanic cone on Mauna Kea that is managed by the University of Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Video of skiers, snowboarders on Mauna Kea sparks outrage. KITV.

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People packed the room at the Grand Naniloa Resort to hear about the proposed Pacific Spaceport Complex-Hawaii and the environmental assessment process. Big Island Video News.

Dozens of residents crowded into a public meeting on Wednesday to learn about a proposal to build a satellite launch facility on the east side of the Big Island. Hawaii News Now.

Maui

A council committee on Tuesday advanced a recommendation of Michele McLean as director of the Department of Planning, but voted down the mayor’s appointment of Pat Wong as Corporation Counsel. Maui Now.

Planning’s McLean gets preliminary OK. Committee 5-4 vote comes amid claims of ‘prescripted’ process. Maui News.

Panel votes against Wong confirmation. Corporation Counsel choice second to go down in panel. Maui News.

A House committee holds a hearing on Friday to consider the holdover of revocable water permits, allowing for the continuation of water leases authorized in previous legislation. Maui Now.

VA one-stop facility is ‘progressing’. Still, local veterans have waited for more than a decade. Maui News.

Kauai

Bolstering the bridge. For weeks, Hawaii Department of Transportation workers in their yellow coats have been floating their barge through yellow barriers around the base of the bridge over Wailua River. Garden Island.

Paying for climate change, state sells affordable housing cheaply, delays and cost overruns plague Oahu jail, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Full blood wolf moon eclipse over Hawaii ©2019 All Hawaii News

Fighting Climate Change Will Cost The State Millions. The state Department of Land and Natural Resources says money is urgently needed to protect beaches, watersheds, native species and more. Civil Beat.

Experts in climate change say Hawaii needs to plan now for rising sea levels. Star-Advertiser.

The shortfall in Hawaii’s largest public pension fund climbed to an all-time high of $13.41 billion last year and is expected to keep rising until 2024. It will take 25 years, until June 30, 2043, before the pension is 100 percent funded. Star-Advertiser.

Reforms to end corporate tax loopholes in Hawaii could reduce lost tax revenue and bring in an additional $38 million to the state, according to a new report released on Friday by The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy. Maui Now.

State officials recently agreed to sell a collection of low-income housing to a private developer for less than originally planned, after an examination of the more than 1,200 rental homes showed a need for substantial renovations. Star-Advertiser.

New proposal would ban hotel guests in Hawaii to bring firearms or ammunition into rooms. There are no state laws making it illegal for hotel guests to have guns and ammunition in their rooms, says state Representative Tom Brower. KHON2.

Hawaii legislators introduce measures to protect sharks, rays. West Hawaii Today.

Rooftop solar installations increased 5.3 percent in 2018 across the five islands served by Hawaiian Electric, Maui Electric and Hawaii Electric Light. Pacific Business News.

Commentary: Good intention trapped in an outdated local style. This week, Hawaii Congressman Ed Case caused a kerfuffle when, while speaking at a gathering of the Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote Celebration, he described himself as an “Asian trapped in a white body.” Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

A long-delayed project to replace the locks, video surveillance systems and other electronics in the Halawa Correctional Facility has turned into a multimillion-dollar headache for prison officials after work stalled because of problems with two subcontractors. Star-Advertiser.

Government Shutdown Won’t Stall Kealoha Trial. A federal judge on Friday said he would guarantee that all attorneys and expert witnesses would be paid for their services. Civil Beat.

Labor Board: Police Chief Did Nothing Wrong When She Transferred SHOPO President. It was OK for Honolulu Police Chief Susan Ballard to publicly explain why she felt it necessary to reassign Tenari Maafala and other union officials. Civil Beat.

Council member Heidi Tsuneyoshi has a plan to help bring tax relief to Oahu's overburdened residents. Bill 3 would increase the basic property tax exemption from $80,000 to $100,000. KHON2.

The U.S. Marine Corps will be conducting urban training exercises in multiple locations on Oahu starting Sunday. Hawaii News Now.

A rental housing complex in Hawaii Kai has been partially converted into condominiums following purchase of the nearly 3-year-old complex by a local development firm. Star-Advertiser.

Volunteers expect to hand out emergency bags of food Tuesday to 150-300 federal workers on Oahu affected by the partial federal government shutdown. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii State Supreme Court has rejected an appeal by a woman ordered to pay a fine for abandoning kittens at a park. Hawaii News Now.

There is a state law against sleeping in your vehicle on public streets at night, but that hasn’t stopped at least one Oahu host from parking a former car rental shuttle he turned into a mobile vacation rental, dubbed Hippie Bus Hawaii, in front of Kapiolani Park and selling beds with an ocean view. Star-Advertiser.

It’s a treasure trove of ancient Hawaiian history in West Oahu. But a bureaucratic standoff is threatening to derail its preservation. Hawaii News Now.

A group of researchers at UH Manoa has received a $10.4 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to study microbiomes, or the community of microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi and viruses, that live everywhere, and their impact on human health. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

It sounds too good to be true: A national law firm wants to sue Big Pharma on behalf of Hawaii County in a no-risk deal that has the county paying nothing if it loses, but sharing in any damage awards if it wins or settles. West Hawaii Today.

A state health official told legislators Thursday prescriptions written for opioid pain relievers in Hawaii have declined over the last four years. Tribune-Herald.

The Hawaii County Mayor’s legislative package – a $155 million appropriation request for Kilauea Volcano eruption disaster relief and recovery – has been submitted to the state legislature. House Bill 184 and Senate Bill 166 have been introduced as the 2019 legislative session gets underway. Big Island Video News.

First-line supervisors remain a priority for law enforcement during discussions with the county on additional budget needs for the upcoming fiscal year, officials told police commissioners last week. Tribune-Herald.

Missing drugs, assault of a juvenile suspect, and false violations on traffic tickets. That's among the low-lights of the past year at the Big Island Police Department. KHON2.

Volunteers needed for PIT Count of county homeless. West Hawaii Today.

A project to renovate several properties in Keaukaha may be able to proceed after a state environmental assessment was published earlier this month. Tribune-Herald.

Elite Pacific Properties has acquired Boundless Hawaii, a Big Island vacation home and property management company. Pacific Business News.

Maui

Queen Kaahumanu Center ramping up security measures. MPD foot patrols, more cameras, more personnel among the steps taken in wake of criminal attacks. Maui News.

Despite a fractured national movement and march cancellations around the country, including on Oahu, the Women’s March on Maui moved forward Saturday morning. Maui News.

Kauai

Hospitals revamp menus to utilize locally grown foods. The Hawaii Health Systems Corporation Kauai Region will treat residents and staff to the results of its food and nutrition program that focuses on increasing scratch-cooked, local food in its facilities that includes Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital and the Kauai Veterans Memorial Hospital. Garden Island.

The state Commission on Water Resource Management is holding statewide open hearings to solicit input on its update to the statewide Water Resource Protection Plan. On Kauai, the meeting is scheduled for Feb. 5, starting at 6 p.m. at the Lihue Civic Center Moikeha Building first-floor conference room. Garden Island.

A Kauai park with ties to Russia is stirring up an international name dilemma. The Russian ambassador and Russian Americans are fighting to preserve the name of Russian Fort Elizabeth in Kauai’s west side town of Waimea. Hawaii News Now.

Powering Up on Kauai. Kauai's electrical utility has a different history from the rest of the islands and different opportunities. Hawaii Public Radio.

A new method of parking enforcement is set to hit Princeville’s streets in early February, a vehicle-immobilization device called the Barnacle that covers the windshield instead of using a conventional boot on the wheel. Garden Island.

State budget surplus shrinks, Honolulu wants to fast-track building permits, new skyscraper to be the tallest, raucous hearing over new bioenergy plant, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii capitol ©2018 All Hawaii News

Hawaii’s budget surplus shrinks to $750M. The state general treasury ended the last fiscal year with a $750 million surplus, meaning the state government has a respectable budget cushion but not as large as it was in the previous three years. Star-Advertiser.

Some of Hawaii’s biggest commercial real estate owners have established a new charitable campaign to bolster affordable housing in the state. A group of 13 real estate investment trusts, all based outside the state, have committed giving a combined $455,000 in the first year of a minimum 3-year campaign. Star-Advertiser.

Schools, other departments rewriting continuity plans after year of disasters. KHON2.

Oahu

Honolulu council passes bill to expedite residential building permits. The Honolulu City Council passed a bill Wednesday to require the city to issue building permits for one- and two-family homes with 60 days of filing an application, despite a warning from the head of the city's permitting department that the bill could exacerbate construction delays. Pacific Business News.

Council OKs expedited building permit approval process. A plan to speed up the processing of building permits for one- and two-family houses won final approval from the Honolulu City Council Wednesday despite continuing objections from the head of the agency tasked with reviewing the applications. Star-Advertiser.

Over Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s objection the Honolulu council approved a new law that fast-tracks some building permits. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu City Council passes housing measures. Honolulu City Council hammered out several housing measures Wednesday, speeding up the permitting process and cracking down on illegal monster homes. KITV.

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The twin-tower Sky Ala Moana, a condo-hotel project on Kapiolani Boulevard, won approval from the Honolulu City Council Wednesday. The Council decision will let the developer build the towers higher than current rules allow. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu City Council today approved a conceptual plan for the tallest high-rise project in the urban core. The Skyline Ala Moana will have two 400 foot tall towers on the Mauka side of Kapiolani Boulevard. Hawaii Public Radio.

Striking Unite Here Local 5 hotel workers head back to the bargaining table today with added momentum from taking their picket to Marriott’s Hawaii headquarters.Wednesday morning about 1,000 strikers and supporters attired in red formed a line through Waikiki as they marched from the Westin Moana Surfrider, where workers now have been striking for 39 days, to Marriott’s offices at 2155 Kalakaua Ave. Star-Advertiser.

Portlock Road beach access resolution passes. It’s been a 21-year-long fight for Ann Marie Kirk and many other community members and beachgoers to secure public access to a small, sandy beach at the end of a lane off Portlock Road and a surf break known as “Seconds.” Star-Advertiser.

Kailua neighbors vent concerns over Tutu Bert’s respite for ill homeless. Neighbors fear safety could be compromised. Hawaii News Now.

10 Family Members, 4 Bedrooms And ‘A Dream To Have Your Own Place’. Living with multiple generations is a way of life in Hawaii that Jowenna Ellazar embraces. But like many others, she has few options in a city where the medium home price hovers around $800,000. Civil Beat.

Living On $70,000 In Kaneohe. In HI-Priced, a new email newsletter that’s part of our ongoing “Living Hawaii” series, we’re asking local people how they make ends meet in the Aloha State. Civil Beat.

Endangered Birds Get Their Home Back...From the Dogs. A de facto dog beach Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam is right up against a coastal marsh that is home to endangered native Hawaiian birds. Hawaii Public Radio.

Honolulu-based Ulupono Initiative is losing one of its founding stewards after General Partner Kyle Datta announced he is retiring from his position at the impact investment firm. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

Foes, supporters turn out for contentious meeting about Hu Honua project. Citing concerns over air and water pollution, opponents of the Hu Honua Bioenergy power plant being built along the coast near Pepeekeo asked during a hearing Wednesday that an environmental impact statement be done before the project is complete. Tribune-Herald.

Tough questions and passionate outbursts punctuated a public presentation held in Hilo Wednesday about the Hu Honua Bioenergy project planned for Pepeekeo. Big Island Video News.

The Department of Health held a public meeting on the nearly completed Hu Honua Bioenergy Plant in Pepeekeo, on the Big Island Wednesday. KITV.

Community talks concerns over new Waikoloa Village solar project. Representatives of AES Distributed Energy convened the first public meeting Tuesday night on a proposed solar-plus-storage project planned for an area roughly two miles southeast of Waikoloa Village. West Hawaii Today.

The Hawaii County Board of Ethics pondered its role on Tuesday in Hilo, part of an ongoing exercise to revamp its rules of practice and procedure. Big Island Video News.

3rd chancellor finalist visits UH-Hilo. Terisa Riley, one of four finalists vying to be the school’s top administrator, met with community members and university employees during a public forum. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

A Maui County Council Committee deferred action Tuesday on outgoing Mayor Alan Arakawa’s proposal to acquire Wailuku Water Co.’s ditch system and 8,764 acres of its West Maui Mountains watershed lands for $9.5 million. Maui News.

Wailea hotel project advances. Hotel Ike, with four stories and 110 rooms, would be on 3-acre lot. Maui News.

Applications are now being accepted through the end of this year for Boards, Councils, Commissions and Committees in Maui County due to expiring terms and vacancies. Applications are also accepted year-round to fill vacancies due to resignations. Maui Now.

Kauai

Although students are improving scholastically in many areas and teenage drug and alcohol abuse continues to decline, a number of mental and physical health concerns plague Kauai’s youth, according to a report issued Tuesday by the Kauai Planning &Action Alliance. Garden Island.

Hawaii retirement home balks at assisted suicide, Hawaii legislative leadership to stay the same, more teachers flee the state, Honolulu bus fares and Hawaii Island sewer fees, to rise, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hanauma Bay ©2018 All Hawaii News

Are people loving Hanauma Bay to death? A new study is trying to answer that question. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Legislature: Leadership Will Stay The Same Despite New Faces. The House and Senate plan to install new judiciary chairs but keep the current heads of each chamber and their respective money committees. Civil Beat.

A Hawaii retirement home says residents in its independent living wing may take advantage of the state’s new medically assisted suicide law if they wish. But Kahala Nui told residents this week that those in its assisted living and nursing center may not do so. Associated Press.

Kahala Nui retirement community has sent a clarification to its independent-living residents saying that they can indeed take advantage of a new law allowing the terminally ill to obtain medication to end their life. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s largest public pension fund began its new fiscal year with a solid 2.5 percent first-quarter return that put it on an early pace to exceed its annual investment target. Star-Advertiser.

It’s not just that Hawaii can’t hire enough teachers. Schools also can’t convince them to stay. In 2013, Hawaii schools hired 907 teachers. Five years later, just 467 of them remained in Hawaii public school classrooms. Hawaii News Now.

More immunizations and changes to health exams could be required for school. The list of required immunizations for school-aged children may be getting a little bit longer. The Department of Health said they haven't revised the examination requirements and vaccination list since 2001. KHON2.

Naval Special Warfare plans to triple the amount of small-unit intermediate and advanced training conducted by SEALs and other special operations forces on nonfederal lands in Hawaii, with overall training expanding from Oahu and Hawaii island to Kauai, Maui, Molokai and Lanai. Star-Advertiser.

U.S. Naval Special Warfare Command has proposed tripling the number of training events allowed on non-federal lands in Hawaii for Navy SEALs and other special operations forces. Associated Press.

After focusing on homelessness and affordable housing last year, BIA-Hawaii is tackling building permits, financing and other issues affecting the state’s housing shortage at the organization’s annual housing summit this week. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

Bus Fares Will Likely Increase For The Second Year In A Row. Seniors and other adults would see the largest fare jumps, but Handi-Van fares would rise only slightly. Civil Beat.

Homeless continue to skirt Kakaako sweeps despite agreement intended to end cat-and-mouse game. Despite countless sweeps, park closures and even an agreement to let the city take action on both city and state property, homeless encampments continue to spring up in Kakaako. Hawaii News Now.

The Department of Transportation is updating the Oahu Bike Plan and they are hosting a community meeting at the Blaisdell Wednesday night from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Hawaii Suites. KITV.

Tariffs, Technological Change Led to Hagadone Hawaii Layoffs. The announcement that Hagadone Commercial Printing will layoff 92 workers and close its Hawaii printing operations is still rippling through the community. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kokua Market needs some kokua. The natural foods store and cooperative in Moiliili is seeking help after suffering financial difficulties in recent months largely attributed to disruptions from a new neighboring property owner. Star-Advertiser.

A new analysis prepared by the Maui-based Pacific Disaster Center estimates how much wreckage Lane would have caused if it had hit Oahu’s southern shore as a Category 1 hurricane instead of breaking apart hours before landfall. The impact, it found, would have been devastating to many Honolulu homeowners. Civil Beat.

With the spotlight on Aloha Stadium, improvements considered for aging facility. With several high-profile entertainers heading to Aloha Stadium next month, plans for the future of the aging facility are slowly coming together, according to stadium officials. Hawaii News Now.

Cardax Inc.’s revenue jumped 71 percent in the third quarter as sales of its new anti-inflammatory product remained strong in Hawaii and accelerated in California, Nevada and New York. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

County to stop recycling certain types of plastic rubbish starting Dec. 1. The Hawaii County Department of Environmental Management announced that, because of changes to global recycling markets, the county no longer can accept No. 5 plastics, plastic grocery bags or any type of clamshell-shaped plastic products in the mixed recyclable bins at the county’s transfer stations. Tribune-Herald.

Closure of Hilo landfill to commence next year. Hawaii County recently advertised the bid process for the closure contract, with bids set to open in late January. The project is estimated to cost about $20 million. Tribune-Herald.

Sewer fees will almost double during the next three years if the County Council agrees with a rate plan submitted by the Department of Environmental Management. West Hawaii Today.


Wood Burning Power Plant May Generate Sustainable Energy, But Environmental Concerns Remain. The State Department of Health is holding a public hearing in Hilo on Wednesday regarding the future of a new power plant. Hawaii Public Radio.

Maui

Two Maui schools that were forced to close Tuesday due to a water main break will be back open Wednesday. Hawaii News Now.

Hoapili Hale Closed Due to Wailuku Water Main Break. Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark E. Recktenwald issued an order extending deadlines on the court matters that are affected. Maui Now.

Maui County offices at the One Main Plaza are closed along with the rest of the offices in the building due to a watermain break on Central Avenue today. Maui Now.

Haleakala National Park needs volunteers for invasive plant removal. Haleakala National Park and the Pacific Whale Foundation are recruiting local volunteers for Waele ma Haleakala twice-monthly invasive plant removal project. KHON2.

A home on nearly a half acre of beachfront land in Makena on Maui has gone on the market for just under $30 million, the second-highest listing this year on the Valley Isle. Pacific Business News.

Kauai

How The Island’s ‘Hyde Park’ Became A Magnet For Protests. Demonstrations like the March for Science and the Women’s March sometimes attract more than 500 participants at a grassy spot outside the airport. Civil Beat.

Two of the 10 large capacity cesspools targeted for closure by the Environmental Protection Agency are located in Koloa, and both have been fined and ordered to switch over to a wastewater treatment plant. Garden Island.

Starwood Capital Group’s purchase of the St. Regis Princeville Resort and the Makai Golf Club for $225 million is expected to close this week, leading to a renovation and rebranding of what was Hawaii’s only St. Regis property. Pacific Business News.