Sunscreen ban, aquarium fish limit posed by state Legislature, Thirty Meter Telescope hearing concludes, Honolulu bikeshare advances, minimum wage hikes dying, growth forecast slows, more on Caldwell, Kim budgets, Kauai mayor returns from Phillipines, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Rinsing off baby at Kona beach © 2017 Al Hawaii News

The Hawaii Senate is on track to pass a bill banning the use of sunscreens that contain oxybenzone, which studies have shown harms coral reefs. Civil Beat.

Lawmakers have advanced a bill that would limit aquarium fish collecting. KITV.

Hawaii workers who are paid the minimum wage will see it grow from $9.25 to $10.10 in January. But it won’t be going higher than that any time soon. Civil Beat.

A University of Hawaii economic group is dialing back its growth forecasts for the state amid an ongoing slowdown in tourism and construction that is expected to continue for at least the next three years. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii's correctional facilities grapple with a 'silver tsunami.' The state's population is aging, including behind bars. Hawaii News Now.

Another Hawaii bill that sought more oversight of the state’s commercial fishing industry is dying. The bill would have required boat operators to provide contracts between foreign fishermen and employers. Associated Press.

Lawmakers are pushing a bill that would require hospitals, before transferring a patient to another facility via air ambulance, to first call a carrier contracted with the patient’s health insurer in an effort to prevent excessive medevac charges. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii lawmakers are pushing to provide firefighters -- diagnosed with cancer on the job -- with expanded medical coverage, disability benefits, and compensation equal to 100 percent of average weekly wages. Hawaii News Now.

Eight finalists are in the running to fill three seats on the voluntary 15-member University of Hawaii Board of Regents. Star-Advertiser.

In the last fiscal year, Hawaii paid $197,057.21 to settle 535 claims that cost $10,000 or less. KHON2.

The state’s monthly outdoor warning siren test will take place Friday after severe weather prompted officials to reschedule it. Hawaii News Now.

The shipping company Pasha Group is hiring charter barges to reduce delays in deliveries to neighbor islands that resulted from a labor shortage Wednesday night and Thursday morning, Pasha spokeswoman Laurie LaGrange said. Star-Advertiser.

Shipping company Pasha Hawaii says there’s been a work stoppage at Honolulu Harbor by its stevedores. KHON2.

Costco Wholesale announced Thursday it plans to raise membership fees on June 1. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

Mayor Kirk Caldwell defended his proposals for a trash pickup fee, higher bus fares and an increase in property taxes Thursday against criticism from some City Council members. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell devoted much of his annual budget presentation Thursday to trying to persuade state lawmakers and the public that it makes sense to extend a half-percent general excise tax surcharge to help fund construction of the city’s rail system. Civil Beat.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell unveiled his 2018 budget today.  He is proposing to raise property taxes for investors and hotels, charge more for trash pickup and increase fuel and vehicle weight taxes. Hawaii Public Radio.

Honolulu's mayor unveiled his budget plan for next fiscal year. It calls for hikes in everything from bus fares, property taxes and a new fee to pick up your trash. KITV.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell presented Thursday his Fiscal Year 2018 budget request. KHON2.

A Hawaii bill would give more power to the state board that regulates Aloha Stadium in Honolulu and its surrounding land that’s primed for development, including residential and commercial projects. Pacific Business News.

Environmental impact of popular Waikiki fireworks show being studied. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu’s long-awaited bike-share system is finally slated to launch this summer, now that its organizers say they have a major deal signed to help fund and run the service. Star-Advertiser.

Bikeshare Hawaii has signed an agreement with Secure Bike Share as its financing and operating partner. Pacific Business News.

Conservationists are trying to establish a Black-footed albatross colony on Oahu’s North Shore. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii

Thirty Meter Telescope hearing concludes: Decision on contested case could still be months away. Tribune-Herald.

Mayor Harry Kim and members of his cabinet laid out parts of their vision and listed priorities for economic development in West Hawaii at the Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce Mayoral Luncheon Thursday at the Sheraton Kona Resort &Spa at Keauhou Bay. West Hawaii Today.

A University of Hawaii at Hilo professor says he wants a full UH college curriculum taught in Hawaiian. Tribune-Herald.

Kahaluu Beach Park will likely remain closed at least until the end of this month as crews work to reroute pipes in the park. West Hawaii Today.

The bottle might say “Liquid Aloha,” but two California residents say the company that owns Kona Brewing Co. is misleading shoppers into believing they’re buying beer brewed in the Aloha State. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

A state Senate bill that would give fire and county building permitting inspectors the power to enter private property, with notice, to investigate possible violations of agriculture building codes “could be very helpful to us,” said the Maui County deputy planning director. Maui News.

The Maui Police Department introduced its newly acquired scent-tracking dog at a media meet-and-greet held Thursday at the Honolulu Police Department’s training academy on Oʻahu. Maui Now.

Kauai

Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. and Council Chair Mel Rapozo returned to Kauai last week after leading the Filipino Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii’s 26th trade mission to the Philippines. Garden Island.

ABC Stores’ Island Country Markets, which will be the anchor of the newly renovated 66,000-square-foot Coconut Marketplace in Kapaa on Kauai’s Eastside, is expected to open in July, the firm handling leasing for the marketplace confirmed to Pacific Business News.

The state has ordered Hawaii’s only dairy company to put a halt on the sale and distribution of some of its milk, but health officials say milk on Kauai is safe to drink. Garden Island.

Lanai

Shelter for domestic violence victims opens on Lanai. Maui News.

Veterans Day marked in Hawaii, state Senate shifts some leaders, aquarium fish lawsuit moves to state Supreme Court, Maui and Kauai charter amendments pass, Honolulu police, zoo at issue, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Veterans Day parade © 2016 All Hawaii News

Events this morning marking Veterans Day include the annual National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific ceremony and the annual Wahiawa Lions Club parade, while an afternoon ceremony honoring veterans will take place aboard the Battleship Missouri Memorial. Star-Advertiser.

In observance of Veterans Day, all federal, state, city and county offices will be closed. KITV.

Hawaii Senate President Ron Kouchi announced slight changes to the 25-member chamber’s leadership structure Thursday as lawmakers get ready for the next session, which opens Jan. 18. Civil Beat.

The State Senate announced its leadership lineup today with only a few changes.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Conservation groups are appealing to the state Supreme Court to require more oversight of the aquarium fishing industry. Hawaii News Now.

Issues surrounding aquarium fish collection are being taken to Hawaii’s Supreme Court after the Intermediate Court of Appeals sided with the state on permit issuance. Garden Island.

The Coast Guard cited three commercial fishing vessels for safety and other violations, and sent the boats back to port during inspections this month, in one instance discovering a non-U.S. citizen at the helm of a U.S. vessel. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Medical Service Association has named Michael Stollar president and chief operating officer. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Commission changes cast uncertainty over future of Honolulu’s police department. KHON2.

The city’s quest to regain accreditation for the Honolulu Zoo received a big boost this week when Oahu voters approved an amendment to the City Charter that requires 0.5 percent of estimated property tax revenue each year to be dropped into an account set up to exclusively fund the 42-acre facility. Star-Advertiser.

A state board guiding affordable-housing production voted Thursday to move ahead with a plan for developing 590 rental apartments and a public elementary school in two towers on state land in Kakaako. Star-Advertiser.

The board overseeing construction of Oahu’s rail transit system has selected its new leader, as the financially challenged project continues to face future uncertainty. Star-Advertiser.

The dean of Hawaiian studies at the University of Hawaii at Manoa is being recommended for the chancellor position at UH West Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

A large Kahuku farm must stop selling and distributing its sea asparagus and seaweed products because salmonella, which has sickened at least 14, was found on the farm last week. Star-Advertiser.

Makaha animal shelter volunteers say dogs wrongfully taken in massive raid. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii

The Hawaii County Board of Ethics found there is probable cause that Mayor Billy Kenoi violated the county code when he used his government issued purchase card for personal expenses. Big Island Video News.

Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi has acknowledged in an agreement there is probable cause that he violated ethics code by using a county-issued credit card for personal purchases. Associated Press.

Hawaii County is hoping more access to pesticide treatments will help efforts to combat the little fire ant population. Tribune-Herald.

Organizers of the 100% Pure Kona Coffee Half Marathon have canceled this weekend’s scheduled run over uncertainty whether there would be enough police officers available to assist with road closures. West Hawaii Today.

Managers and employees celebrated a new Grand Naniloa Hotel on Thursday as they marked the official launch of its partnership with DoubleTree by Hilton. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui’s three senators secured key leadership roles and committee assignments in the upcoming 29th session of the Hawaiʻi Legislature. Maui Now.

A majority of Maui County voters cast “yes” ballots for proposed Maui County Charter amendments, including one that provides for council members to confirm most directors of county departments. Maui News.

A hearing was scheduled for testimony on the state’s proposal to establish parking fees for the ‘Āhihi-Kina‘u Natural Area Reserve on Maui. Maui Now.

Kauai

Five of the seven proposed amendments to the Kauai County Charter were approved by voters Tuesday. Garden Island.

The finish line for the demolition of Coco Palms is in sight. Garden Island

IUCN World Conservation Congress opens with native rituals, Obama tours Midway, Hurricane Lester veers northward, appeals court denies environmental assessment for aquarium fish collectors, Ige vows more farming and conservation, islands mop up after Madeline, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Native Hawaiian rituals kick off World Conservation Congress, courtesy state Rep. Joy San Buenaventura

Amid the pomp and ritual of the Native Hawaiian culture, the World Conservation Congress came to life in Honolulu on Thursday with a rally cry to save the planet. Star-Advertiser.

The international community came together Thursday in Hawaii for 10 days of talks by leading academics, conservation groups and government officials to address the impacts of global warming, wildlife trafficking and environmental conservation. Associated Press.

Gov. David Ige welcomed a major environmental conference to Hawaii on Thursday by committing to protect more of his state’s watersheds and nearshore ocean waters. Civil Beat.

Gov. David Ige announced Thursday at the start of an international conservation conference in Honolulu a slew of sustainable pledges for the state, including one that commits Hawaii to double its food production by 2020. Pacific Business News.

President Barack Obama plunked down on a speck of coral reef in the middle of the Pacific Ocean on Thursday and gazed out at the turquoise waters of the marine monument he’s widened to become the largest in the world. Associated Press.

President Barack Obama spent Thursday morning touring Midway Atoll. KITV.

President Barack Obama is back in the islands from his day trip to Midway Atoll. He landed at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam at around 8:45 p.m. Thursday. KHON2.

© Joy San Buenaventura

Opening ceremonies for the first World Conservation Congress held in the U.S. were conducted today. conservation issues and Native Hawaiian culture shared center stage. Hawaii Public Radio.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature World Conservation Congress, a 10-day event, began Thursday in Honolulu and continues until Sept. 10. Speakers include everyone from Jane Goodall to Prince Albert II of Monaco. Tribune-Herald.

Photos: Hawaii Welcomes World Conservation Congress. The traditions of a beach arrival and hula greet thousands of attendees as the signature environmental event makes its American debut. Civil Beat.

Aquarium fish collectors won’t have to go through an environmental assessment in order to get state-issued permits, under a ruling upheld Wednesday by a state appeals court panel. West Hawaii Today.

The National Weather Service dropped a hurricane watch for Hawaii County as Hurricane Lester continued on a west-northwest path toward Hawaii. At 5 a.m., Lester was 435 miles east of Hilo and 625 miles east of Honolulu. It’s sustained winds remained at 110 mph with hurricane-force winds extending 45 miles from the center and tropical storm-force winds going out 140 miles from the center. Star-Advertiser.

Hurricane Lester is barreling toward the state as a Category 2 cyclone and could pass "very close" to the islands this weekend, bringing pounding surf, heavy rains and high winds. Hawaii News Now.

General closures and cancellations related to Hurricane Lester. KHON2.

Oahu

The largest public works project in state history has turned into a huge cash cow for Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell's campaign. A Hawaii News Now analysis found that Caldwell received more than $916,000 during the past two elections cycles from rail contractors, subcontractors and their executives.

Three Fundraisers For Caldwell. They were all within the last week, bringing the grand total to 41 fundraisers since he was elected in 2012. Civil Beat.

Three educators have been selected as finalists for the chancellor position at the University of Hawaii at West Oahu following a national search, the university announced Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

Judge Steve Alm Is Taking His Message Of ‘HOPE’ To DC. The innovative program to decrease prison time and increase probation is being adopted across the country. But Judge Alm wants to do even more. Civil Beat.

Hawaii

A Brown Water Advisory has been issued for all of the Big Island due to heavy rains on Wednesday, the state Department of Health said. The public is asked to stay out of flood waters and storm water runoff due to possible overflowing cesspools, sewer manholes, pesticides, animal fecal matter, dead animals, pathogens, chemicals, and associated flood debris. Hawaii News Now.

In anticipation for Tropical Storm Madeline, solid waste facilities were closed across the island — which is standard practice when hurricane-like weather looms — but that didn’t stop some rogue residents from piling heaps of garbage in front of the closed locations, despite signs at the sites denoting the practice as illegal and punishable by fines. West Hawaii Today.

After a thorough drenching by Tropical Storm Madeline on Wednesday, the weather was partly cloudy and mild throughout much of East Hawaii on Thursday. Yet, thousands of public school students remained out of class. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

The great Maui hospitals deal which only a week ago looked like “All systems GO,” seems suddenly on track to completely unravel and leave Maui facing major cuts in hospital beds and medical services. Maui Watch.

It seemed like a done deal when Gov. David Ige announced two weeks ago he had an agreement with the United Public Workers union that would clear the way for Kaiser Permanente to take over Maui Memorial Medical Center by Nov 6th. But those close to the negotiations said it apparently hinged on having a side deal with the United Public Workers over sick leave and severance signed by last weekend. KITV.

Kauai

While traffic on Kauai’s Westside can be bad at times, residents say it’s manageable. Garden Island.

Hawaii to study reef health but allow aquarium trade, Ige will welcome Syrian refugees, electricity at 5-year low, feds could cut off rail funding if tax not extended, police and protesters gird for Wednesday battle over Mauna Kea, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Yellow tang amid bleached coral ©2015 All Hawaii News

With Hawaii plagued by widespread coral bleaching for the second year in a row, state officials Monday announced plans to fight back. Officials said they are launching the development of a statewide coral reef management plan for nearshore waters but are not imposing a moratorium on aquarium fish collecting. Star-Advertiser.

The state of Hawaii is gathering information from the scientific community and local stakeholders to create a comprehensive coral reef management plan, but officials said Monday they will not yet impose a requested moratorium on collecting aquarium fish. Associated Press.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources has rejected a recent demand from environmental groups for a temporary ban on the collection of aquarium fish in Hawaii waters as a response to unprecedented coral bleaching. Civil Beat.

The state's efforts to fight coral bleaching is getting stronger. Plans to launch a statewide reef management program are underway. There's a call to action to come up with a defense plan to combat the growing problem in Hawai'i's waters. KITV4.

Gov. David Ige said Monday that he would welcome Syrian refugees to Hawaii — in contrast to more than two dozen other governors who have come out in opposition to relocating the refugees in their respective states in the wake of last week’s Paris bombings. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. David Ige says the state would welcome refugees from Syria with aloha. Ige said in a statement today Hawaii and the U.S. have a long history of welcoming refugees affected by war and oppression. Associated Press.

As Republican governors react to the deadly attacks Friday in Paris by trying to close their states’ doors to Syrian refugees, Democratic Gov. David Ige said Monday that he will not be abandoning Hawaii’s “tradition of welcoming all people with tolerance and mutual respect.” Civil Beat.

The Navy is seeking public comment on a new environmental impact statement for future training and research, including sonar that might harm whales and dolphins, in what’s known as the Hawaii-Southern California Training and Testing Study Area. Star-Advertiser.

While operational funding for public schools in Hawaii has remained virtually flat over the last seven years, the cost for nearly everything, including school supplies, has gone up. That’s resulted in schools and teachers asking donors in crowdfunding sites for basic supplies such as pencils, paper and staples. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii receives $13 million to fight rampant drug problem in schools. KHON2.

Hawaiian Electric Co., Maui Electric Co. and Hawaii Electric Light Co. customers are seeing their lowest monthly electric bills in more than five years this month, mainly due to the continued dip in fuel prices. Pacific Business News.

Hawaiian Electric Co. customers’ electrical bills in November will be the lowest in more than five years, as oil prices continue to pull down rates across the isles. Star-Advertiser.

Customers of Maui Electric and Hawaiian Electric this month are seeing the lowest monthly electric bills in more than five years, according to company representatives. Maui Now.

Marriott's $12B acquisition of Starwood brings together 26 Hawaii hotel properties. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell on Monday urged the Honolulu City Council to move quickly to approve a bill that would extend the 0.5 percent surcharge on the general excise tax after he made public a recent letter from a top federal transit official threatening to cut off funding for the city’s $6.57 billion rail project. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell is ramping up the pressure on the Honolulu City Council, and particularly Chairman Ernie Martin, to pass a five-year extension of a 0.5 percent general excise tax surcharge and to do it quickly. Civil Beat.

The U.S. Inspector General for the federal Department of Transportation started auditing the Federal Transit Administration’s oversight of Honolulu’s rail project earlier this year. KHON2.

The addition of eight hybrid buses to TheBus fleet is expected to save diesel fuel consumption, reduce emissions and cut down on noise, city officials announced Monday. Star-Advertiser.

Kids In The Harbor: Lessons From The Edge Of Life. Learning to survive in The Harbor involves a kind of independence and resourcefulness that mainstream children aren’t exposed to. Civil Beat.

More than 350 people have signed up to attend today’s Landlord Summit to learn what role landlords can play in reducing Hawaii’s homeless population, which is the largest per capita in America.. Star-Advertiser.

What is rooftop solar power worth to homeowners in Honolulu? In recent years, a cocktail of high electricity bills, generous government incentives and increasingly cheap photovoltaic panels have made the shift to solar so appealing that top electricity executives in the islands acknowledge that homeowners who can afford rooftop systems should probably buy them. Civil Beat.

Hawaii

Protesters and law enforcement appear headed for another showdown on Mauna Kea.  Hawaii News Now has learned that hundreds of officers from several state and county law enforcement agencies are expected to be on hand to ensure TMT crews have safe access to the construction site.

Law enforcement sources confirm with Hawaii News Now that construction crews for the Thirty Meter Telescope project will return to Mauna Kea Wednesday morning.

State health officials so far identified a total of 56 people infected with dengue fever on Hawaii Island. Tribune-Herald.

Standing on the sun-kissed slopes of Parker Ranch, you could almost hear the happy sounds of future children at play, as a group of community, county and state officials came together Monday for a groundbreaking ceremony for the county’s newest planned park. West Hawaii Today.

The community gathered on Monday morning to break ground on the future Waimea District Park. Big Island Video News.

East Hawaii continues to experience bouts of heavy rain, despite long-term predictions the island has a dry winter ahead. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Moving toward a sustainable and local model of agriculture was a recurring theme at the fifth annual Hawaii Farmers Union United convention at Maui Tropical Plantation. Maui News.

Sugar cane was once Hawaii’s most important crop - but today only one sugar plantation remains in the state.  That’s Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar on Maui, but they are now considering changing their crop. Hawaii Public Radio.

The state Land Use Commission will consider acceptance of a proposed final environmental impact statement for the Olowalu Town and Olowalu Ekolu projects this week. Maui News.

This week, the state Land Use Commission will discuss the final Environmental Impact Statement of the proposed Olowalu Town, which has been in development for the last decade by Bill Frampton and Dave Ward. MauiTime.

Smoking is banned at all Maui County bus stops. KITV4.

The Maui Food Bank can double the distribution of produce, and rice, bread and dry goods will have an extended shelf life, thanks to a nearly $500,000 renovation project. Maui News.

Kauai

Kauai needs to work together at all levels to make headway toward ending homelessness on the island. That was the theme of Monday night’s Homelessness Awareness Vigil hosted by the Kauai Community Alliance at the Lihue United Church. Garden Island.

The sugar monument is still there — sans one of the bronze sculptures. Garden Island.

Humpback whales could come off endangered species list, 53k sign petition against Thirty Meter Telescope, Most want GMO labeled, Hooser heads to Switerzerland to meet Syngenta, federal agent Deedy may not be tried in murder case, homeless increase, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Humpback whale, courtesy NOAA

Calling now-thriving humpback whales a national success story, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration officials want to remove most of the species’ populations from the endangered species list, including the 10,000 believed to be breeding and birthing around the Hawaiian Islands. Star-Advertiser.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on Monday proposed removing more than two-thirds of the world’s humpback whales from the endangered species list after 45 years of conservation. Civil Beat.

The federal government on Monday proposed removing most of the world’s humpback whales from the endangered species list, saying the massive mammals have rebounded after 45 years of protections. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration fisheries officials want to reclassify humpbacks into 14 distinct populations, and remove 10 of those from the list. Associated Press.

The humpback whales that enter Hawaiian waters each winter to mate and give birth have grown in number at a rate so steady, federal regulators want to shed their status as an endangered species. Garden Island.

Most Hawaii voters support labeling food that contains genetically modified ingredients, according to a new Civil Beat poll. The survey revealed 65 percent of voters think there should be a requirement for GMO labeling, compared with 24 percent of respondents who disagree. Civil Beat.

A group of Hawaii lawmakers wants the state auditor to investigate alleged abuse of sick leave by state corrections officers. Dozens of prison officers have frequently call in sick on holidays and during major sports events. That leaves others officers working overtime to carry the load. Associated Press.

Whether or not e-cigarettes should be considered in the same category as smoking tobacco has become a debate across the country, and Hawaii is no exception. A bill that would ban people from smoking e-cigarettes wherever smoking is prohibited passed the Legislature last week, and now awaits the governor’s approval. It’s one of several anti-smoking bills under consideration, with the rest headed for conference committee to iron out differences between Senate and House versions. Civil Beat.

The cost of airfare to and from Hawaii destinations during the summer months has been falling, while fares to other U.S. cities have remained relatively flat, according to a study by Airlines Reporting Corp., which provides business services to travel agencies. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

The Honolulu City Council starts discussion Wednesday on a variety of bills aimed at making the property tax system more equitable. The bills are based on recommendations made by the city’s 2014 Real Property Tax Advisory Commission. Star-Advertiser.

There are new fishing rules for Oahu aimed at protecting aquarium fish. According to the Department of Land and Natural Resources, there are new daily commercial bag and size limits that apply to aquarium fish such as yellow tang and Moorish idol. There’s also a ban on taking certain butterfly fish. KHON2.

Oahu’s homeless population not only grew in 2015, but a higher percentage are living on the streets rather than in shelters, according to a draft of the latest annual “Point-in-Time Count” for Hono­lulu. The report — based on a count of sheltered homeless on the night of Jan. 25, followed by a five-day count of Oahu’s unsheltered — showed the highest number of homeless people on the island since 2009. Star-Advertiser.

The bankruptcy of a major parking lot concessionaire is costing the state and city of Honolulu more than $6,000 a day in lost revenue. Moana Parking Management LLC filed for Chapter 7 liquidation in Delaware bankruptcy court on Friday, shutting down its parking lot pay stations at the Honolulu Zoo, the Pali Lookout, Diamond Head Crater and Akaka Falls on the Big Island. Hawaii News Now.

The state judge who presided over Christopher Deedy’s two murder trials, which both ended with hung juries, says she will decide this week whether the U.S. State Department special agent will stand trial a third time for fatally shooting Kollin Elderts. Star-Advertiser.

Judge Karen Ahn is expected to make a decision sometime this week on whether all charges will be dropped against Federal Agent Christopher Deedy. Prosecutors want to try him for a third time on the lesser charges of manslaughter and assault. Hawaii News Now.

Is there too much commercial activity at Maunalua Bay in East Oahu? The state wants to hear from the bay’s many stakeholders, so it’s helping to create an advisory committee to get input and answers. KHON2.

More sand is heading to Kailua Beach Park, part of a weeklong sand replenishment project. But, before you can enjoy more sand, you have to deal with fewer parking spots. KITV4.

Hawaii

Vowing to continue a protest that has delayed construction of the $1.4 billion Thirty Meter Telescope for weeks, Hawaii island foes of the Mauna Kea project traveled to Oahu on Monday to deliver to Gov. David Ige a petition with more than 53,000 signatures. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. David Ige’s chief of staff used a traditional greeting Monday when he met members from a group of opponents against building a giant telescope near the summit of Mauna Kea. Members of Mauna Kea Hui and Mauna Kea Ohana crammed into an elevator to ride to the top floor of the state Capitol to hand-deliver to the governor’s office a thumb drive wrapped in red ribbon they said contains 53,000 signatures against building the Thirty Meter Telescope on a mountain considered sacred by Native Hawaiians. Associated Press.

The Mauna Kea Hui took a trip to Oahu on Monday to deliver a petition signed by 53,000 people to Hawaii’s governor calling for an end to the Thirty Meter Telescope project. While there, the group planned to hold a press conference with Honolulu media. The Hui also shared their prepared statement electronically. Big Island Video News.

Lower Puna students who were displaced in October because of the approaching June 27 lava flow will return to their home schools in the fall. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

House lawmakers are apparently poised to approve a bill to allow privatization of Maui Memorial Medical Center and two other state-owned medical facilities, a move that faces determined resistance from the state’s largest public worker union. Star-Advertiser.

Surface clearing of old munitions and explosives along with construction of educational signs are some of the actions being recommended in a plan to protect the public from hazards in a portion of the Ahihi-Kinau Natural Area Reserve in Makena. Maui News.

Maui police issued a total of 764 citations to motorists during its recent participation in the National “U Drive. U Text. U Pay” campaign that ran from April 6 to April 18, 2015. Maui Now.

Kauai

Kauai County Councilman Gary Hooser will be among three Hawaii Alliance for Progressive Action members who will travel to Switzerland to discuss how the activities of Syngenta, a global Swiss agribusiness, have impacted Kauai. Garden Island.

It’s not every day that the state’s highest court makes its way to Kauai. In fact, legal experts say, it has never happened before. That will change on Thursday when the five sitting state Supreme Court justices will hear oral arguments in a nearly four-year-old case that has pit the County of Kauai and Kauai Police Department against the State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers (SHOPO), which represents unionized county police employees. Garden Island.

Molokai

The state Supreme Court denied a request by two Molokai men to have their criminal cases dismissed for charges alleging they boarded a fishing boat from Oahu and threatened those aboard last year. Maui News.

Obama to name Japanese internment camp a national monument, medical marijuana dispensaries advance in House, Senate to hear GMO labeling bill, school lunch prices could increase, Iwase popular PUC pick, Maui biogas project on hold, Galuteria owes $7k for declaring wrong residence, 160 acres on Oahu to be blanketed in solar panels, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Old Honouliuli Internment Camp in Kunia, courtesy National Park Service

President Barack Obama will announce Thursday the designation of the old Honouliuli Internment Camp in Kunia as a national monument to "help tell the difficult story of the internment camp's impact on the Japanese American community and the fragility of civil rights during times of conflict," the White House said. Star-Advertiser.

For more than half a century, what had once been Hawaii’s largest and longest-operating internment camp was ignored and forgotten. To the hundreds of Japanese Americans who had been forcibly confined at the camp, the experience was a source of shame and rarely spoken of until it was rediscovered by historians more than a decade ago. Tribune-Washington Bureau.

A bill that would establish medical marijuana dispensaries and production centers in Hawaii passed through the House committees on Judiciary and Health on Tuesday afternoon. Civil Beat.

A bill to allow medical marijuana dispensaries across Hawaii — nearly 15 years after state leaders made medical use of the drug permissible — is still alive in the House. Star-Advertiser.

Michelle Tippens is one of nearly 13,000 patients in Hawaii who have conditions that could be treated with medical marijuana. But because there are no dispensaries in Hawaii, they’re left to fend for themselves, buying on the black market or growing it themselves. Associated Press.

The state Senate committees on Health and Agriculture will take testimony Thursday on a bill calling for the labeling of food with genetically modified organisms. Civil Beat.

Randy Iwase, whose nomination to head the state Public Utilities Commission was unanimously recommended Tuesday by a Senate committee, said it could take a year to 18 months for the commission to decide whether to approve the sale of Hawaiian Electric Industries to Juno Beach, Fla.-based NextEra Energy Inc. Star-Advertiser.

There seems to be nothing but love for Randy Iwase. Gov. David Ige’s nominee to head the state Public Utilities Commission easily cleared a Senate committee hurdle Tuesday. He’s on track to be confirmed by the full Senate, possibly by the end of this week. Civil Beat.

Randall Iwase told state senators that if he’s confirmed as chairman of the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission, he will make public input a priority when tackling the commission’s biggest issue — reviewing NextEra Energy’s plan to take over Hawaiian Electric. Associated Press.

The Governor’s nominee to head the Public Utilities Commission was unanimously approved by a Senate panel today. Hawaii Public Radio.

The Board of Education's finance committee Tuesday tabled a proposal to raise school lunch prices by 30 percent over the next three years and challenged officials to instead look at cutting costs and boosting student demand for meals. Star-Advertiser.

The Department of Education is asking for an increase of 10 cents more for breakfast and 25 cents for lunch not just for next year, but for the next three years. KITV4.

Warmer temperatures and unstable conditions created by climate change could make it harder for Hawaii's native species to survive, while creating a opening for invasive disease-spreaders like mice and mosquitoes, state Health Department officials said Tuesday. Maui News.

ALTRES Office/Professional and ALTRES Technical, divisions of ALTRES Staffing, Hawaii’s largest human resources organization, announced today a significant spike in demand for office and technical professionals across all islands. While the state continues to experience unemployment rates at record lows, Hawaii’s available workforce is thinning out. Hawaii Independent.

Opinion: Gov. David Ige’s nomination of development lobbyist Carleton Ching to head the Department of Land and Natural Resources continues to generate lots of heated reaction. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Hawaii Sen. Brickwood Galuteria owes the City and County of Honolulu more than $7,200 in property taxes and fees after improperly claiming a homeowners’ tax break on property in Palolo Valley for the past four years. Civil Beat.

About 200,000 solar panels may soon cover about 160 open acres of land laced with kiawe trees and brush that stretch from the edges of Kamaile Academy to the base of the Waianae Mountains. The 27.6-megawatt project is one of eight large solar farms planned for Oahu that are expected to break ground by the end of the year in order to take advantage of lucrative federal tax credits. Civil Beat.

Two plans aimed at making it easier for Oahu properties to have two living units, and a bill cracking down on illegal vacation rentals, will be aired by the Honolulu Planning Commission at a public hearing Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Building a 95-unit condominium in place of 19 homes on the slopes of Punchbowl didn't go over well with neighbors when it was proposed eight years ago. Now a revised plan with 140 condo units is raising even more opposition. Star-Advertiser.

Nasty weather over the weekend wreaked havoc on many parts of the windward side including one of Oahu's very popular and illegal hiking trails. Haiku Stairs, better known as the Stairway to Heaven, saw "extensive damage" according to Ernest Lau, Manager and Chief Engineer at the Honolulu Board of Water Supply. Lau says that plans are being made to conduct an assessment of the "stairs" and they want to see if a landslide was responsible for some of the damage. Hawaii News Now.

In an effort to combat websites and blogs that have been driving people to the off-limits Sacred Falls State Park, the Department of Land and Natural Resources is stepping up its communication efforts about the consequences of trespassing. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii officials have long been warning people to stay away from Sacred Falls, a dramatic waterfall where a landslide killed eight hikers more than 15 years ago. Associated Press.

Hawaii

What if Hawaii Island residents owned their own electric utility? That’s the question being posed by a nonprofit group that filed on Feb. 11 a motion with the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission to intervene in the pending $4.3 billion sale of Hawaii Electric Light Co’s parent company, Hawaiian Electric Co. (HEI), to NextEra Energy. Tribune-Herald.

The Hawaii Island Energy Cooperative is seeking a seat at the table as the Public Utilities Commission considers the proposed merger of Hawaiian Electric Industries and NextEra Energy. Star-Advertiser.

Big Island business and community leaders have formed a nonprofit coop called the Hawaii Island Energy Cooperative to explore taking over Hawaii Electric Light Co., a subsidiary of Hawaiian Electric Co. Civil Beat.

An Ocean View man who has become the poster child for the debate over the harvest of aquarium fish pleaded no contest Tuesday to tearing the regulator from the mouth of Maui reef activist Rene Umberger in West Hawaii waters last May. Jay Lovell, an aquarium fisherman of 30 years, received a deferred six-month prison sentence on the charge of second-degree terroristic threatening. West Hawaii Today.

More than 50 testifiers and three experts on aquarium fish collection kept a Hawaii County Council committee busy into the evening Tuesday, as council members pondered two bills attempting to regulate sea life collectors and set standards for transporting fish. West Hawaii Today.

Kulani Correctional Facility warden Ruth Forbes has been put on leave pending a review of allegations by employees at the facility, the state Department of Public Safety said Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz will hold a town hall meeting today in Hilo. The meeting will last from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Hilo High School cafeteria. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui Electric Co. has decided to hold off on submitting to Hawaii regulators a power purchase agreement with California-based Anaergia Services for a proposed agricultural energy project that would generate up to 6 megawatts of biogas energy, according to a letter from the utility's president to the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission. Pacific Business News.

The House Labor and Public Employment Committee on Tuesday passed House Bill 1075, which would allow the Maui region of HHSC — including Maui Memorial Medical Center, Kula Hospital and Lanai Community Hospital — to transition into a new private nonprofit under Hawai‘i Pacific Health, the state's largest medical provider. Star-Advertiser.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of State Parks will close the Puʻuōlaʻi (Little Beach) area and a portion of Mākena Beach State Park in South Maui on Wednesday, Feb. 18, while DLNR staff and military ordnance experts conduct an investigation. Maui Now.

Heavy winds and rain Saturday knocked out power to more than 3,500 Maui Electric customers - and to a wastewater pump in Waiehu that caused a sewage spill. Maui News.

Kauai
Officials from Starwood Hotels and Resort say they intend to convert a portion of the Sheraton Kauai Resort into timeshares by the end of this year as a part of a larger proposal to turn the worldwide corporation’s vacation ownership arm into a separate, publicly traded company. Garden Island.

Fishy Friday: Coral disease, aquarium fishing bills, plastic in the ocean; Ige to hold the line on spending, reaffirms support of DLNR chief, pesticide buffers; Honolulu rail tax extended; police chief's wife wins $658,787 in lawsuit; Hawaiian Energy posts $33.6M profit; more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii sergeant fish and coral © 2015 All Hawaii News

A deadly disease described as "an Ebola for corals" is laying siege to Kane­ohe Bay, leaving vulnerable roughly half the colonies that live in Hawaii's largest sheltered body of water. Star-Advertiser.

A state House committee moved out a bill that would ban the issuance of new permits for harvesting of aquatic animals from the ocean for aquarium purposes and require current permit-holders to follow stricter rules. The House Committee on Ocean, Marine Resources and Hawaiian Affairs approved a fresh version of House Bill 873 on Thursday, a day after hearing more than four hours of testimony and receiving more than 3,500 pages of written testimony on four aquarium-fishing bills. The bill now heads to the House Judiciary Committee. Star-Advertiser.

Legislation prohibiting the harassment of anyone marine or aquarium fishing is moving forward, said two Big Island lawmakers. West Hawaii Today.

A bill that started out as a ban on the sale of aquatic life for aquariums advanced in a heavily altered form Thursday, and at least two other contentious measures appear to be dead after a trip to the House Committee on Ocean, Marine Resources &Hawaiian Affairs. West Hawaii Today.

The House Committee on Ocean, Marine Resources & Hawaiian Affairs approved a bill that authorizes administrative inspections of commercial fishers and wholesalers within the West Hawaii Regional Fishery Management Area, which extends along the west coast of Hawaii Island from South Point to Upolu Point. West Hawaii Today.

Each year about 8.8 million tons of plastic ends up in the world's oceans, a quantity much higher than previous estimates, according to a new study that tracked marine debris from its source. Associated Press.

In his first formal news conference since he was inaugurated, Gov. David Ige reaffirmed there is little money available for discretionary spending, responded confidently to questions about his low-key leadership style and made it clear that buzzwords for his fledgling administration are "efficient" and "effective." Star-Advertiser.

Governor Stands Behind Decision to Nominate Ching for DLNR Director. David Ige held his first "media availability," something he said he'd do regularly. Civil Beat.

The Governor met with the news media today for the second time since taking office 74 days ago.   He provided an update and addressed a wide range of issues. Hawaii Public Radio.

What's been the biggest surprise of Governor David Ige's short time in office? “The amount of paper that comes through the office." No question off limits, no topic too trivial during the governor's first availability in the executive chamber. Hawaii News Now.

Three state Senate committees approved a bill Thursday that would impose stricter regulations on Hawaii’s seed industry, including buffer zones for spraying certain pesticides around schools, watersheds, hospitals and other sensitive areas. The hearing was only the first step in a long process to becoming law, but Gov. David Ige said Thursday that he supports the idea of creating buffer zones for pesticide spraying. Civil Beat.

Hawaii lawmakers advanced a bill that aims to boost the regulation of pesticides, as residents expressed fears for their health and agriculture companies said that their industry is already regulated. The bill would require large-scale commercial agriculture operations to disclose when they use pesticides and to observe buffer zones around sensitive areas like schools and hospital. Associated Press.

State Representative Kaniela Ing of Maui introduced a bill this legislative session that would prohibit law enforcement officers from consuming alcohol while in possession of a firearm. Maui Now.

Could running a red light cost you, even if police officers are not around? Lawmakers are considering a bill to bring photo red light imaging to Hawaii, advancing SB1160 in a joint committee hearing Thursday. KHON2.

An electronic access system is now operational at the Hawaii State Capitol that allows access to the building after-hours. The system uses no keys or cards. Instead, it utilizes biometrics authentication: reading the veins or capillaries of the finger. Civil Beat.

Hawaii’s high school graduation rate continues to increase, according to federal data released Thursday showing that 81 percent of the Class of 2013 graduated within four years. West Hawaii Today.

Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ray Odierno said Hawaii might lose some soldiers as part of a big downsizing across the service, but it could be a "very small" number here. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Electric Industries, the parent company of Hawaiian Electric Co. and American Savings Bank, reported a $33.6 million profit, or 32 cents per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2014, compared to a profit of $39.5 million , or 39 cents per diluted share, in the same quarter of 2013. Pacific Business News.

Hawaiian Electric Industries, the parent company of Hawaii's major utilities, said Thursday it spent $4.9 million in the fourth quarter on preparing for its proposed sale to Juno Beach, Fla.-based NextEra Energy Inc., adding that HEI shareholders will vote on the deal in April or May. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Senate lawmakers have advanced a bill to extend the tax surcharge funding Oahu's cash-strapped rail transit project for an additional 25 years. The original language of Senate Bill 19, introduced by Senate Transportation Chairman Clarence Nishi­hara, aimed to lift the 2022 sunset and make the 0.5 percent surcharge on Oahu's general excise tax permanent, reflecting what Mayor Kirk Caldwell and other rail leaders have suggested. Star-Advertiser.

A controversial measure to increase the general excise tax to pay for Honolulu’s $6 billion rail project passed its first committee hearing in the Hawaii Senate on Thursday. But lawmakers didn’t give the city the permanent half-percent surcharge it was seeking. Civil Beat.

After hearing testimony on why Oahu’s rail tax should be made permanent, the Senate Transportation Committee voted 8-0 Thursday to extend the surcharge to the state’s general excise tax another 25 years. KITV4.

The University of Hawaii Cancer Center, which has been the subject of much political infighting and academic unrest, will be absorbed into the school’s medical school. Civil Beat.

One of the longest-serving representatives in state history has responded to a residency challenge that could cost him his seat in the state House. Speaker Emeritus Calvin Say said in an interview with The Associated Press, ahead of a precedent-setting special committee hearing Friday, that he has done his best to balance the needs of his family with his district.

The jury in the state civil case that pitted the wife of Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha against her grandmother and uncle sided with Katherine Kealoha on Thursday, awarding her $658,787 in damages. Star-Advertiser.

Opinion: Culture Cave: Rep. Karl Rhoads Is Not ‘All About That Bass’. Some legislators are making noise about forcing businesses in Chinatown and Waikiki to face a new threat: the sound police. Civil Beat.

Hawaii

The state Department of Human Services has determined a Hilo obstetrician did not commit fraud after he was accused of overbilling Medicaid by $1.2 million. Star-Advertiser.

For more than five months, the man known as "Hilo's welfare doctor" has been forced to take patients for free after he was accused of defrauding the state's Medicaid program. But on Wednesday, a state hearings officer overturned Dr. Frederick Nitta suspension from the Medicaid program, saying the fraud allegations were "not credible." Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii County issued a request for proposals Wednesday for a study on the health impacts of geothermal development. The study could cost up to $750,000 and take up to three years to complete. Interested parties have until May 5 to submit their proposals. Tribune-Herald.

On Wednesday night, the State Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement officers arrested a lava tour guide who was conducting illegal commercials tours in the Kahaualea Natural Area Reserve. The area has been closed by the DNLR as hazardous conditions related to the ongoing volcanic activity in the area persist. Big Island Now.

Maui

Hawai‘i is seeing a dramatic shift to renewable energy resources driven by electric bills that cost roughly double the national average. On March 25 to 27, the County of Maui in partnership with Maui Economic Development Board will hold the second Maui Energy Conference and Exhibition amid this revolution to examine how consumers see the electric utility. Maui Now.

Kauai

A vacant Waipouli property that was once slated to host the 198-room Coconut Plantation Resort apartment hotel complex is back on the market after years of inactivity. Garden Island.

Hawaii impact investment firm Ulupono Initiative, the company backing Hawaii Dairy Farms’ proposed dairy in Mahaulepu Valley, announced new positions for two team members. Garden Island.

How to pay for Honolulu rail, aquarium fishing debated, Ige appointments sail through Senate committee, medical marijuana dispensaries advance, Kauai council mulls outdoor burning laws, UH wants money for sports, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Construction on elevated rail, courtesy Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transit

Amid a tenuous time for the island's cash-strapped rail project — with transit officials still uncertain how to cover the ballooning costs to complete it — city leaders have again deferred a deal that would allow rail to borrow hundreds of millions of dollars leveraged against the city's general fund. The total amount that the rail project will need to borrow to cover expenses during peak construction has now been put at $1.9 billion, according to a newly disclosed estimate. On Wednesday, members of the City Council's Budget Committee, some of them visibly frustrated, held off for the second time in less than a month approving a deal that would allow the rail project to borrow money for the height of construction. Star-Advertiser.

Forget about the nearly $1 billion shortfall, Honolulu’s rail project has a cash flow problem that could halt work as soon as this summer. Construction costs are now outpacing the money trickling in from taxes and the federal government. Civil Beat.

The $5.3 billion price tag attached to the controversial rail project is a best guess at this point, Roy Amemiya, the city's new managing director, admitted Wednesday to members of the City Council. KITV4.

Thousands Testify on Bills to Restrict Aquarium Fishing in Hawaii. Business and environmental interests collide in the Capitol during a marathon hearing. Civil Beat.

Gov. David Ige’s selection of Carleton Ching to head the DLNR has environmentalists howling that the longtime lobbyist for the development industry isn’t qualified to lead the state’s efforts to safeguard and steward its public land. They also say there will be too many conflicts of interest for the man currently on leave from his job at Castle & Cooke, a major land developer. Civil Beat.

Four more of Gov. David Ige’s appointments sailed through Senate committees with unanimous support Wednesday. The latest round includes his picks for budget director, Wes Machida; deputy budget director, Roderick Becker; tax director, Maria Zielinski; and human resources director, James Nishimoto. Each nominee was backed by reams of glowing testimony. Catherine Awakuni Colón, Ige’s appointment to head the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, cleared her Senate committee hurdle Monday. Civil Beat.

If the Hawaii state Legislature is in session, no doubt some lawmaker somewhere is holding a campaign fundraiser. Civil Beat.

A bill that would allow patients or their caregivers to transfer medical marijuana plants to other patients passed through the House Health Committee on Wednesday. Civil Beat.

A bill aimed at easing restrictions on news media reporting about lava flows and other natural disasters cleared its first committee in the state Legislature this week. Tribune-Herald.

Spotty Health Connector Service Leaves Micronesians Waiting. Hawaii Public Radio.

Opinion: The Hawaii Legislature’s Persistent Rhythms. There are some longstanding reasons why change comes slowly at the Capitol, if it comes at all. Civil Beat.

University of Hawaii athletic director Ben Jay is expected to paint a bleak picture of future department finances — including the prospect of record deficits and some options for cutting sports and raising fees — in a scheduled report to a Board of Regents committee Thursday. The athletic department has run at a deficit for 11 of the past 13 years and has been projected to finish $3.5 million in the red for the fiscal year that closes June 30. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Lawmakers Seek Cash for Police Body Cameras. The House and Senate are considering bills to help purchase cameras for officers and their vehicles in an effort to boost police accountability. Civil Beat.

Local grocery markets in Hawaii report that the slowdowns at West Coast shipping docks have been causing some delays, but no serious shortages have occurred since the dispute began causing delays three months ago. Pacific Business News.

Even though the West Coast shipping docks dispute is not supposed to interfere with domestic carriers, Matson, as well as PMA, have admitted that the congestion at West Coast docks has triggered a domino effect leading to the delay of some container shipments to Hawaii. KHON2.

A former Halawa Correctional Facility guard is headed to federal prison for eight years for taking bribes from a gang to smuggle drugs and cigarettes to inmates. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

A bill that bans people from sitting or lying down at four Chinatown and downtown Honolulu pedestrian malls was signed into law by Mayor Kirk Caldwell on Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

If the public has its way, a redevelopment of the Neal S. Blaisdell Center in Honolulu would feature more performance venues, more attractions, more open space but perhaps ditch its exhibition and sports arena functions. Pacific Business News.

A low-income senior rental housing project on state and county land in Kakaako is in line for major renovations under a local developer's plan to buy the project, called Na Lei Hulu Kupuna. Mark Development Inc. received tentative state approval Wednesday to proceed with a proposed leasehold purchase of the 75-unit studio apartment complex at 610 Cooke St. Star-Advertiser.

The grandmother of Katherine Kealoha, wife of Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha, is asking a state jury to award her $1 million in punitive damages in her civil claim against her granddaughter. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

A new study is underway focusing on the coping mechanisms used by the folks affected the most by volcanic gas emissions — the people who live downwind of Kilauea Volcano. Star-Advertiser.

While residents of lower Puna await what Madame Pele has in store, a nonprofit animal rescue organization has been busy rescuing cats from the still-active June 27 lava flow from Kilauea Volcano. Tribune-Herald.

Eight of the nine Hawaii County Council members are heading to Washington, D.C., later this month for the annual legislative conference of the National Association of Counties. West Hawaii Today.

In several letters over the past couple of months, county officials have called on the National Park Service to sit down and discuss their differences on how the Keauhou aquifer should be managed. Park officials say they have sent three letters expressing just as much eagerness to set a date for negotiations, a requirement of a preliminary order by the state Commission on Water Resource Management. West Hawaii Today.

Tuesday evening, union workers at the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort &Spa overwhelming approved to ratify a new contract. West Hawaii Today.

A much-needed face-lift; Results of Riverside Apartments renovations unveiled. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaiian Telecom technicians reported that all services have been restored to customers on Hawaii island after a cable was cut, causing many residents to lose phone and internet service on Wednesday. Crews successfully replaced the cut cable with a new cable, and completed splicing more than 500 feet of cable, restoring all services to impacted customers just before 7:30 p.m. Hawaii News Now.

Maui

State and local agencies have been working diligently to combat the more than 20-acre little fire ant infestation reported in Nahiku in October, but some landowners are concerned that the pesticides being used may be damaging East Maui's ecosystem. Maui News.

Demolition at Kanaha Pond State Wildlife Sanctuary has residents worried about future development at the royal fishponds, but a wildlife biologist assured the public that the work is intended to protect resident native Hawaiian birds. Maui News.

Having the county instead of homebuilders be responsible for developing new water resources would not only spur much-needed housing development but "right-size our community," Mayor Alan Arakawa said Tuesday. Maui News.

A Maui High School teacher has been put on indefinite leave by the Department of Education pending an investigation into a sexting scandal. Hawaii News Now.

Haleakala National Park began accepting applications for guided astronomy and hiking tour permits on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2015. Maui Now.

Kauai

An outdoor burning bill being considered by the County Council would make it illegal and a public nuisance for “any person, firm, or corporation in the County of Kauai to intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly cause, permit, or allow to escape into the open air” smoke, soot, poisonous gases, dirt, dust or debris of any kind that can injure a person’s health or damage property. Garden Island.

An Oregon-based environmental attorney who successfully represented a community group in Washington state in a lawsuit against an industrial dairy in Yakima Valley has agreed to represent Friends of Mahaulepu in its fight to stop the dairy proposed for Kauai’s Southside. Garden Island.