Showing posts with label beach. Show all posts
Showing posts with label beach. Show all posts

Friday, May 19, 2023

Three Hawaii beaches in top 10 ranking, Gov. Green helps rescue driver, Craig Angelos named UH athletic director, Katherine Kealoha loses bid to be released from prison, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Oahu, Maui and Kauai crack top 10 in 2023 national beach rankings. Hawaii placed three beaches on the list, more than any other state. Those locations were Duke Kahanamoku Beach on Oahu, Wailea Beach on Maui and Poipu Beach on Kauai. Associated Press.

Tourism, construction still Hawaii’s recession buffers. Economist: It’s ‘hard to be pessimistic’ amid positive signs in the local economy. Despite heightened risks, Hawaii economists believe the state is still likely to avoid an outright recession due to tourism and construction activity softening the hit. Maui News.

Car dealership inventory increasing as demand remains high.
Those in the market for a new car may have better luck finding a car that meets their needs, dealerships said car inventory is improving while the ticket price on cars is on a downward trend. KHON2.

Hawaiian monk seal population continues to increase
. Hawaiian monk seal populations have grown to an estimated 1,605 in 2022, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. This number is up from an estimated 1,564 in 2021.  Spectrum News.

Oahu

Mayor Insists City Didn’t Downplay Health Concerns Over Kailua Sewage.
Blangiardi and the state health director pushed back against assertions made by state clean water supervisors monitoring the situation. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

Vacant Homes Would Be Taxed At Higher Rate Under Possible City Plan. Honolulu officials are considering ways to boost city income and expand the pool of rental housing by raising the property taxes on homes that have been left vacant by their owners. Civil Beat.

Katherine Kealoha Fails In Effort To Get Out Of Prison.  A request from disgraced former Honolulu prosecutor Katherine Kealoha to end her 13-year prison sentence early has been officially rejected. In a ruling on Wednesday, U.S. District Court Judge J. Michael Seabright denied Kealoha’s petition. Civil Beat. KHON2.

HPD Investigation Of Makaha Cops Is Wrapping Up, Commission Told. More than a year and a half after four police officers allegedly ran a car full of people off the road, the Honolulu Police Department is just about done with its investigation of the incident.  Civil Beat.

New homeless facility that long sat idle will soon house medical respite beds. In a major development, the city says it’s on track to open a medical respite facility for the homeless in early June inside an Iwilei housing project that’s been sitting empty for more than a year. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

Craig Angelos approved as next Hawaii athletic director. Craig Angelos is the new University of Hawaii at Manoa athletic director, starting June 5, after he was approved by the UH Board of Regents today at Honolulu Community College. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.

Oil-fired power plant proposed for conversion. Hawaiian Electric is seeking to redevelop an 85-year-old power plant in Pearl City as part of meeting a state goal for a 100% renewable energy supply by 2045. Star-Advertiser. Associated Press.

What will replace Pali Lanes? 2 years after its closure, the answer remains unclear. It’s been nearly two years since an iconic Kailua landmark closed its doors for good. That’s got community members wondering what the future of Pali Lanes actually looks like. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Hawai‘i County Council approves first reading of $1.19 billion budget for FY 2023-24.
During a special meeting on Thursday, the Hawai‘i County Council approved the first reading of the County’s proposed fiscal year 2023-24 operating and capital budgets that total nearly $1.19 billion. Big Island Now.

Gov. Green, others help driver in overturned vehicle on Big Island. Green was traveling on Waikoloa Road to attend the Waikoloa Solar + Storage ribbon-cutting ceremony when he and his security detail saw an overturned vehicle sometime before 10 a.m. Star-Advertiser. Big Island Now.  Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

AES opens its newest solar plus storage site amid Hawaiʻi's push for renewables. The AES Corporation has started operating its Waikoloa Solar + Storage Project, capable of generating up to 30 megawatts and storing 120 megawatt-hours. Hawaii Public Radio. West Hawaii Today.

CSO Decommissioning Delay Due To Mirror Removal. Officials say CSO is finalizing the design of a special cradle that can carry the telescope mirror down the mountain. Big Island Video News.

Maui

MPD plan: Recruiting, community relations among top priorities. Around 42 percent of Maui County residents said they have a favorable impression of the Maui Police Department, while 24 percent saw the department unfavorably, according to a survey of 402 residents included in MPD’s recently released strategic plan. Maui News. Maui Now.

Nexamp to provide update on two Upcountry shared solar projects. Nexamp will host two virtual community meetings to provide updates on two Upcountry shared solar projects–Piʻiholo Road Solar and Makawao Solar. Maui Now.

Kauai

Marriott hiring for several positions on Kaua‘i. Positions are available at The Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas, Marriott’s Kauai Beach Club, Marriott’s Kauai Lagoons – Kalanipu’u and Marriott’s Waiohai Beach Club properties. Kauai Now.

Friday, November 18, 2022

 Native Hawaiian men guilty of hate crime in attack on white Maui man, Supreme Court allows violent offenders jailed before indictment, disease spread by cats endangers spinner dolphins, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii receives 'B' grade in 2022 State Of The Beach report. A new "State of the Beach" report shows how each state is maintaining its coastlines. According to the report, Hawaii is earning a "B" grade, which means the state is doing a good job of protecting coastal resources, but also has room for improvement. KITV4.

Hawaii spinner dolphins at risk of disease, study finds. Toxoplasmosis, the disease that originates from the feces of cats, has been known in recent years to have killed at least 15 Hawaiian monk seals, as well as endangered birds and other wildlife in the islands. Now new research has discovered the deadly disease in two spinner dolphins. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s high court OKs 60-day hold on those uncharged. The Hawaii Supreme Court issued an opinion Thursday in Deangelo v. Souza, which allows courts to continue to order the jailing of people without charges in what are loosely known as “Obrero” cases, but appears to discourage the 90-day maximum hold in favor of 60 days. Star-Advertiser. KHON2. KITV4.

1,300 ballots arrived too late to count, so far. More than 1,300 ballots have come in too late to be counted in the general election. So far the Honolulu County clerk’s office has received 716 mailed ballots after the election-day cutoff, 400 in Maui County and Hawaii County got 213 late so far. KHON2.

Help Wanted: Retailers Redouble Calls For Holiday Workers. As Hawaii’s economy recovers from the Covid-19 pandemic, there’s an abundance of job openings for seasonal employees. Civil Beat.

Gov. Ige extends SNAP emergency benefits through the holidays until Jan. 16. Hawaiʻi Gov. David Ige signed a fifth emergency proclamation today that extends the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) emergency allotment benefits. Big Island Now.

Local branding firm receives renewal to lead HTA's Japan market. The Hawaii Tourism Authority renewed its contract with a local firm to handle its branding and marketing for Japan. The integrative consulting firm a.link LLC will once again lead HTA’s Visitor Education and Destination Brand Marketing and Management Services for the Japan market. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii BOE Seeks More Community Input For Its Strategic Plan. The Board of Education will allow stakeholders to have another say on a new plan that will direct public education in Hawaii for the next several years. Civil Beat.

'It's cartoon pornography'. Some demand teen novel be pulled from Hawaii library. Controversy is brewing over a teen cartoon novel found in a state library that some criticize for displaying graphic and inappropriate images. KITV4.

Oahu

City issues dozens of violation notices amid crackdown on illegal vacation rentals
. Since the ordinance went into effect Oct. 23, the city has issued 63 notices of violation. Hawaii News Now.

Parking at Honolulu airport to tighten, cost more. The state Department of Transportation announced Thursday that it plans to raise the daily parking rate at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu and also charge more to park for over six hours but under eight hours, effective Jan. 1. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

Crime down in Waikiki, police tell safety summit. Crime in Waikiki is down in every category but theft so far this year as hotels, businesses, police, social service providers and government partner to ensure a mix of enforcement and programs help to ensure public safety. Star-Advertiser. KHON2. KITV4.

Honolulu Police Chief Tries To Rebuild Community Trust One Group At A Time. Business professionals question the chief on homelessness, police staffing and how they can support the department. Civil Beat.

In suit, family of 9th grader raped at gunpoint on campus says attack could have been prevented. The state Department of Education is being sued over the violent rape of a ninth grade girl at McKinley High School last year. Hawaii News Now.

City knew for years about lead concerns at shooting range, but did little to warn workers of danger. Gun owners on Oahu are still without a public range as a probe into possible lead contamination at Koko Head Shooting Complex continues ― and new details emerge about what the city knew. Hawaii News Now.

Kalihi nature preserve heals thousands of people, earns national award. The nature preserve is part of the nonprofit Kōkua Kalihi Valley Comprehensive Family Services. In 2005, the nonprofit was granted a lease from the state Department of Land and Natural Resources to care for the land. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Island

Kona hospital’s cancer clinics resume accepting new patients. Kona Community Hospital announced Thursday that its Medical Oncology and Infusion Clinics will soon begin accepting new patients again. Both clinics had temporarily paused accepting new patient referrals in early October due to staffing shortages. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaiʻi Radiologic Associates reopens after apparent cyber attack. Hawaiʻi Radiologic Associates reopened this week after a reported cyber attack took their system offline last month, leading to canceled appointments and delays in patients getting test results. Big Island Now.

Hilo MEGA Lab Helps Surfing Scientists Research Reefs. The Hilo-based consortium of scientists, athletes, and artists is making headlines for an effort to create a 3D map of Earth's "premier surf breaks to help better protect reefs around the world." Big Island Video News.

Maui

2 Native Hawaiian men found guilty of hate crime.
A jury Thursday found two Native Hawaiian men guilty of a federal hate crime, eight years after they beat up a white man who bought a house in their remote village on Maui. Star-Advertiser. Associated Press. Maui Now.

12 more east Maui streams gain instream flow standards. A dozen additional east Maui streams and tributaries are the beneficiaries of amended interim instream flow standards, or IIFS, which are meant keep water in the streams and enhance the downstream habitat and upstream connectivity for native stream biota. Star-Advertiser. Maui Now.

Agricultural park expansion could put emphasis on organic crops. Bill under consideration to limit pesticides and prioritize local food in Kula park. Maui News.

Fire chief given highest marks in evaluation. First-year Maui County Fire Chief Bradford Ventura excelled in his evaluation by the Fire and Public Safety Commission on Thursday, with the panel giving him the highest marks in each of six performance categories. Maui News.

Kauai

Brun associates Kai and Huihui sentenced for roles in drug trafficking conspiracy. With the recent sentencing of two players in former County Council Member Arthur Brun’s illegal drug trafficking operation, the case against the Kaua‘i drug ring is nearly closed. Garden Island.

Kauaʻi short 43 full-time doctors; new UH medical school program will help. There is no endocrinologist on the Garden Isle. No out-patient neurologist. No oncologist. No psychologist or ophthalmologist that is accepting new patients. Specialists in rheumatology and gerontology also are nonexistent. Kauai Now.

Land Donor Takes Back Kauai’s Unopened Youth Drug Treatment Center. New private ownership could prove more nimble than government. But old business model troubles persist. Kauai’s $7 million adolescent treatment facility, never opened to help the drug-dependent youth it was built to serve. But it has a new name, a new owner and a new goal to open by next August. Civil Beat.

Housing bill on Kauaʻi aims to provide a 'regular flow' of revenue for infrastructure improvements. The Council passed the measure at its meeting Wednesday. It would require at least 2% of real property tax revenues to go into the Housing Development Fund annually. Hawaii Public Radio. Garden Island.

Wednesday, April 6, 2022

Minimum wage bill heads to Senate floor, Blangiardi signs commercial beach activity ban, Big Island council pans gas tax cut, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2022 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Waikiki restaurant worker ©2022 All Hawaii News

Minimum wage bill heads to full Senate for final vote. The state Senate Committee on Ways and Means on Tuesday passed a bill that would raise the minimum wage to $18. West Hawaii Today. Big Island Now. Maui Now.

Proposed $30 million tax revenue shift aims to help protect Hawaii aina, waters. Some Hawaii lawmakers want to channel $30 million annually from state visitor accommodation taxes to benefit local natural resources including parks, beaches and marine habitat. A joint House of Representatives committee voted unanimously Tuesday for a bill that would do this through a proposed new commission, led by the Hawaii Tourism Authority’s CEO, by distributing the money via grants to nonprofit organizations and county and state agencies. Star-Advertiser.

Bill would allow police to arrest those who refuse to provide identification during a traffic stop. A bill moving through the Legislature would elevate the offense to a petty misdemeanor, giving police the power to arrest someone who refuses to provide his or her name, address, and proof thereof during a traffic stop. KITV4.

Are Lawmakers ‘Testing The Boundaries’ Of The Ban On Gut And Replace? Some wonder if a rewritten bill to fund Hawaii Tourism Authority and distribute $30 million in grants has run afoul of last year’s Supreme Court ruling. Civil Beat.

Senate Requests Study On Cost Of Mental Health Examinations.
A resolution up for a vote Wednesday asks the state auditor to study the benefits of mandating health coverage for mental health examinations. Civil Beat.

Commentary: A Line Forms To Replace Kai Kahele In Congress. If the congressman runs for Hawaii governor as expected, there are candidates eager to take his place in D.C. Civil Beat.

DOE announces high school commencement ceremony schedules. Following two years of virtual and hybrid ceremonies, this will be the first time all graduation events will be in person. Everyone attending must be fully vaccinated or provide a negative COVID test. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

Oahu


Mayor Rick Blangiardi signs commercial activity ban for Waimanalo beaches. Mayor Rick Blangiardi on Tuesday signed into a law a measure that bans all commercial activities, except those involving the film industry, on city-managed beach parks from Waimanalo to Makapuu. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Hawaii Public Radio.

Department of Planning and Permitting Director recuses himself from working on short-term rental bill. Department of Planning and Permitting Director Dean Uchida recused himself from working on the controversial short-term rental bill after guidance from the Honolulu Ethics Commission advised against his involvement, although they found it unlikely that he violated any of the city’s ethics laws. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.

Rail May Not Make It To Ala Moana, But Developers Have Already Cashed In. Landowners got lucrative zoning perks and fast-track approvals to build luxury towers in the busy neighborhood all based on rail. Since 2016, city leaders have granted special fast-track permits to a handful of major developers to help build denser, more walkable communities, assuming that Ala Moana Center would soon host a busy rail station with some 17,300 passenger boardings a day. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Female High School Athletes May Pursue Class-Action Case, Court Says. The case stems from a lawsuit filed on behalf of the students by the American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii in late 2018 alleging gender inequities at Campbell High School on Oahu. It named the state Department of Education and the Oahu Scholastics Association as defendants. Civil Beat. Associated Press. Maui Now. KHON2.

Navy removes officer over handling of latest Red Hill spill. The Navy officer who oversaw operations at the Red Hill fuel storage facility was relieved of duty Monday after another fuel leak. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Island

Council committee pans gas tax cut. Measure proceeds to public hearing despite negative vote.  The County Council is likely to stomp on the brakes on a resolution cutting the county gas tax 10 cents a gallon to help alleviate drivers’ pain at the pump. West Hawaii Today.

New trial date set for ex-cop in missing drug evidence case. It will be another 19 months before a former Hawaii Police Department officer will stand trial on charges stemming from a May 2019 indictment for allegedly stealing cocaine in 2014 from a police evidence locker in Hilo. West Hawaii Today.

Ige: Mauna Kea stewardship bill would ’end astronomy’ on Hawaii Island. The governor says he’s worried a much-debated Mauna Kea stewardship bill could end the $100 million astronomy industry on Hawaii Island and with it, the stalled TMT project. Hawaii News Now.

Maui

Maui council moves to settle lawsuit by visitor injured on Haleakalā bike tour. Maui County Council voted recently to settle a lawsuit that claims the county was negligent in allowing an unguided, unpermitted Haleakalā bike tour that left a visitor paralyzed from the waist down. Maui Now.

Maui County Is Seeking Its First Director Of Agriculture. The voter-created Maui County Department of Agriculture needs leaders. And the mayor is hiring. Civil Beat. Maui Now.

Rep. Wildberger says she will not run for re-election or seek further political office in 2022. State House District 11 Representative, Tina Wildberger announced that she will not be running for re-election, and will not seek further political office for the 2022 election cycle. Maui Now.

Report: Maui home, condo median sales prices set new highs in March. Single-family home median sales price rose 19.5% year over year to $1,177,500. The previous record was set in January at $1.16 million. Maui Now.

Kauai

Federal agents, police target fugitives and sex offenders in joint operation on Kauai. A joint operation between U.S. Marshals and Kaua‘i Police Department yielded three fugitive arrests last week. Garden Island. Hawaii News Now. KHON2. KITV4.

Potential futures for COVID-19 on Kaua‘i told. State Department of Health Kaua‘i District Health Officer Dr. Janet Berreman was unequivocal when asked to forecast the future of COVID-19 on Kaua‘i during a Kaua‘i Chamber of Commerce webinar Tuesday. Garden Island.

Wednesday, February 27, 2019

Hawaii's best beaches, plastic ban advances, USS Arizona reopening delayed, Maui mayor hires rejected department heads, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2019 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Waikiki beach ©2019 All Hawaii News
Seven locations in Hawaii are among the top 25 beaches in the United States, according to TripAdvisor’s 2019 Travelers’ Choice Awards, but Florida put 10 on the list and claimed the No. 1 spot. Star-Advertiser.

Seven Hawaii beaches named 'Best in the U.S.' Travel website TripAdvisor came out with it's 2019 Travelers' Choice Awards for beaches. KITV.

On Tuesday, the Senate Ways and Means committee passed SB522, which calls for an outright ban of single-use plastic products including plastic food packaging, single-use beverage containers like plastic water and juice bottles, and utensils. Hawaii News Now.

Lawmakers discuss aggressive new proposal on banning plastic usage. There's an aggressive bill moving through the Senate that bans the use and sale of plastics. We're talking about plastic bottles, utensils, and straws to name a few. KHON2.

Key to coping with climate change lies in Hawaii’s past, study finds. As climate change promises to alter our world in the coming decades, a new study suggests that Hawaii would be wise to look to traditional Native Hawaiian agriculture to help cope with an uncertain future. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Electric Cos. nearing 30% renewable energy. Hawaiian Electric Cos. said it is on track to achieving its next renewable- energy milestone despite the loss of Hawaii island’s geothermal resource for most of 2018 following the Kilauea volcanic eruption. Star-Advertiser.

A Bank of Hawaii Corp. board of directors committee has approved a $2 million cash incentive award for Chairman, President and CEO Peter Ho, along with a 3 percent increase in his base salary, following a 19 percent increase in the bank’s profits last year. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

Walk-on access to the USS Arizona Memorial won’t be restored by the end of March, as previously announced by the National Park Service, and it may be many more months before access resumes, officials said. Star-Advertiser.

Repairs to USS Arizona Memorial dock to take longer than expected. Repairs to the dock at the USS Arizona Memorial won’t be completed by next month as originally hoped, and it’s unclear when the dock will be safe to use again. Hawaii News Now.

The USS Arizona will not reopen in March. KITV.

=====

State Will Take Over Some City Prosecutor Cases. Defense attorneys want authorities to expand their review of Katherine Kealoha’s involvement to other cases. Civil Beat.

Turning the Blaisdell into a federal courthouse for the Kealoha trial. The Blaisdell Center is set to host an event unlike any other held there before. Jury selection for Louis and Katherine Kealoha's trial will likely take place at the Blaisdell in March. KHON2.

Bill to fund Ala Wai flood control advances. The Senate Committee on Ways and Means passed a bill Tuesday with amendments to allocate funds for a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers plan to lessen flood risks at the Ala Wai Canal. Star-Advertiser.

Extension of Kaena Point Natural Area Reserve. An irreplaceable coastline on Oahu's northwestern shore is now protected forever. KHON2.

Beach goers protest new ‘No Parking’ signs at popular east Oahu surf spot. “No Parking” signs appeared in the area between Sandy Beach Park and Makapuu last week – and since then – more than 30 vehicles have been ticketed. Hawaii News Now.

How effective is the city's park protection plan? Paying to play in city parks...whether of not they use the recreation areas, residents foot the bill. KITV.

An elementary school teacher found guilty of stealing more than $30,000 in lunch money, has been sentenced to four years probation. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

Water rates are expected to go up 5 percent this year in a $55.7 million Department of Water Supply budget that got a preliminary nod Tuesday from the Water Board. West Hawaii Today.

Bills aim to give neighbors more power to battle albizias. Two bills in the state Legislature seek to allow property owners to remove potentially dangerous albizia trees on adjacent properties. Tribune-Herald.

West Hawaii Community Veterans Center Draft EA Published. The $12 million facility planned for state land in Kailua-Kona will provide space to meet community needs, a document states. Big Island Video News.

To address noise complaints, tour helicopter company offers a compromise. Safari Helicopters sent a letter to elected officials and community leaders announcing that it would halt Sunday flights on Hawaii Island during a trial period that started on Feb. 17. Hawaii News Now.

Drivers might face significant delays along the Hamakua Coast this week as several construction projects reduce Highway 19 traffic to one lane only at multiple points. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Mayor names 3 rejected directors on interim basis. Victorino says charter allows temporary appointments, though Goode lacks end date. Maui News.

Council Chair Seeks Legal Opinion on Interim Director Appointments. Maui Now.

Emergency Proclamation Extended to Maui County For Roadwork. The state has extended an emergency proclamation to cover Maui County so that funds can be used to restore parts of Honoapiilani Highway affected by landslides in the recent heavy rains. Hawaii Public Radio.

State Disaster Declaration Extended to Maui County. Maui Now.

Haleakala Ranch is applying for a permit to aid the recovery of the endangered nene on more than 3,000 acres of ranchland. Maui News.

Proposed fees and rules for use of Hawaii’s small-boat harbors — including a nearly threefold hike in catwalk mooring fees at Lahaina Small Boat Harbor — offshore moorings, landings and wharfs will be the subject of a public hearing from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. March 6 at the Velma McWayne Santos Community Center in Wailuku. Maui News.

Kauai

Over 140 community members from the private, nonprofit, and government sectors gathered at the county’s inaugural Housing Summit on Friday at the Kauai Veterans Center. Garden Island.

Gates to the newly-improved Kauai Raceway Park will open to the island’s drag racers and fans, Saturday hosted by the Garden Isle Racing Association, and Napa PS&D Kauai. Garden Island.

Here’s A Place That Got Pounded With 519 Inches Of Rain Last Year. The island’s highest point received monumental precipitation in 2018, and it wasn’t even ground zero for the rain bomb that caused April flooding. Civil Beat.

Lanai

1500 lb Net Mass, Plastic Trash Removed on Lanai. A mass of plastic trash and tangled fishing nets weighing between 1500 and 2000 pounds and measuring about 30 feet in length was removed from a remote coastline on Lanai. Maui Now.

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

Waikiki businesses to help pay for beach widening, police bills DOA, iconic Coco Palms coming down, Nago to remain elections chief, Hawaii shines at foster care, Maui wants dancing defined, Big Island mulls Roundup ban, Kauai takes up B&B bill, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2015 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Waikiki Beach © 2015 All Hawaii News
Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell signed two city ordinances Monday that will tax Waikiki commercial property owners and raise millions of dollars to combat beach erosion and shore up coastal infrastructure in the state's top tourist destination.Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell has signed two bills creating a special improvement district in Waikiki to require commercial property owners to subsidize the restoration of the eroded beach. Civil Beat.

Waikiki Beach loses tons of sand each year and obtaining funding from the state legislature to replenish it takes at least a couple of years.  Today, two City and County ordinances were signed into law to enable surrounding businesses to contribute to maintaining the beach. Hawaii Public Radio.

This year, state lawmakers introduced a record number of bills aiming to modernize and restore trust in Hawaii’s county police departments, yet only one of the police reform bills passed. Civil Beat.

Children in foster care in Hawaii are far likelier than those in other states to live with a family, rather than in a group setting, and to be placed with relatives, new data show. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Elections Commission voted Monday to keep Scott Nago as Chief Election Officer for another four years, according to the commission's head William Marston. KITV4.

Inmate escapes have nearly tripled in Hawaii over the past few years and every time it happens, officials say there will be consequences. KHON2.

Living Hawaii: Our Retirement Boom May Cost Us Dearly. People live longest in the country's most expensive state. They're putting off retirement or planning to work until they drop. It all comes at a price. Civil Beat.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources reminds the public that the moi fishing season is closed June 1 through Aug. 31. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

A military plane crash that killed a Marine and injured several other service members during a training exercise in Hawaii has renewed safety concerns about the Marine Corps' new airplane-and-helicopter hybrid. Associated Press.

Toraki Matsumoto served his beloved Central Oahu community with distinction during his 17 years on the Honolulu City Council. Matsumoto, 86, died May 2 at Kuakini Medical Center. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

The County Council is poised to strike the word “Roundup” from its budget, but it remains to be seen if substituting “vegetation management” on paper will make a big change on the ground. Just one dollar out of every $14,627 in the county budget is spent on roadside spraying for weed control. That, however, didn’t stop opponents from devoting the greater part of Monday to asking it be struck from the $438.8 million budget. West Hawaii Today.

Despite an increase of $200 for a fine for driving while on a cellphone, Big Island motorists are still using their electronic devices while navigating local roadways. According to the Hawaii Police Department, there have been 824 citations issued so far this year for use of a mobile electronic device while operating a vehicle. West Hawaii Today.

Nelson Doi, who served as lieutenant governor from 1974 to 1978 with Gov. George Ariyoshi, died Saturday at his home in Waimea, Hawaii island. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

It remains to be seen when a section of the Haleakala Trail that used to take people to the summit will be open to unguided hikes even if a tentative settlement giving the state ownership of the trail is confirmed next month, a state official said Monday. Maui News.

Opinion: After something like a decade of earnest testimony and moneyless lobbying, it looks like the Maui Dance Advocates may finally–FINALLY!–win their fight to force the Maui County Department of Liquor Control to do something they’ve steadfastly refused to do: define “dancing.” MauiTime.

The second annual Startup Weekend Maui proved that it is possible to create a startup - and a pretty good one - in just 54 hours. Maui News.

Kauai

The Kauai County Council will meet at 1:30 p.m. today to listen to comments from the public regarding possible zoning ordinance changes that deal with permits for bed-and-breakfast operations. Garden Island.

Demolition of Kauai’s long-shuttered Coco Palms Resort is scheduled to begin in the next 30 or 60 days, clearing the way for the redevelopment of the iconic property into a Hyatt-branded hotel. Pacific Business News.

Newer and more reliable transportation is coming to transit riders in Kauai County. The county purchased 20 new buses that will be used to replace older ones in the Kauai Bus fleet. The total number of buses will remain unchanged at 56. Associated Press.

Kauai County has purchased 20 new buses that will be used to replace older vehicles in the aging Kauai Bus fleet. The total number of buses in the fleet will remain unchanged at 56. Garden Island.

Legislators from Kauai will recap the recently completed session at the May 28 meeting of the Lihue Business Association. Garden Island.

Thursday, March 7, 2013

Baby Obama at the beach photo surfaces

courtesy Obama presidential campaign
Baby Obama at the beach campaign courtesy photo





You can definitely see the family resemblance in this photo of a baby Barack Obama at the beach with his grandfather, Stanley Dunham.

I'm just wondering if the duo is about to get beaned with a stick by the lad behind them?


Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Hawaii beaches eroding, teachers to vote on strike, exploratory drilling to be allowed without environmental assessment, Maui mulls property tax hikes while employees get bonuses, online voter registration bill passes, Cayetano-Inouye skirmish spreads, bill makes coffee certification voluntary, Okabe wins HSTA re-election, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

all rights reserrved
Hanauma Bay (c) 2012 All Hawaii News
Federal officials say most beaches on Hawaii's most visited islands are disappearing. Associated Press.

A new study that quantifies how quickly Hawaii's beaches are being lost to erosion is arming researchers with information they hope will be used to protect the state's shorelines. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Republicans will be electing new national committee representatives at their state convention this weekend. Associated Press.

A bill passed by the Legislature, which still requires final approval from Gov. Neil Abercrombie, calls for $500,000 for the elections office to design an online voter registration system. Civil Beat.

When teachers take a second vote this month on a proposed contract they overwhelmingly rejected in January, they will also be asked whether to authorize a strike. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii State Teachers Association launched a series of meetings on Monday about the contract offer its members previously rejected. Hawaii News Now.

The Hawaii State Teachers Association held a meeting with its members tonight to discuss the benefits of a contract offer. KHON2.

Wil Okabe has edged out Paul Daugherty in the race to be president of the Hawaii State Teachers Association, unofficial election results show. Civil Beat.

The state Environmental Council is set to vote on exemptions that would allow drilling of exploratory geothermal wells up to a mile deep without an environmental assessment. West Hawaii Today.

Big Isle coffee growers are asking Gov. Neil Abercrombie to veto a bill that aims to do away with the state’s mandatory certifications of their coffee. Tribune-Herald.

Ben Cayetano's recent criticism of longtime Sen. Dan Inouye — that he's out of touch with his constituents and doesn't listen to them — is still reverberating. Civil Beat.

Hawaii will receive $1.2 million of a $100 million civil settlement with 44 other states and the District of Columbia over allegations that global health care company Abbott Laboratories, Inc. marketed a prescription drug for uses not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the state Office of Consumer Protection said Monday. Star-Advertiser.

The sale of KHON-TV and 12 mainland sister-stations to publicly traded LIN Television Corp. by New Vision Television is part of a deal that includes a $330.4 million purchase price and assumption of about $12 million in debt. Star-Advertiser.

State roundup for May 8. Associated Press.

Oahu

FACT CHECK — Caldwell: Carlisle Raised Property Tax Rates -- mostly true. Civil Beat.

A driving instructor who arranged for illegal immigrants to get Hawaii driver's licenses without taking the written and road tests is going to jail for three months. Star-Advertiser.

Resubmerging a plastic sewage pipe that has floated to the surface of the Ala Wai Canal could take up to three weeks, but city officials reiterated Monday that the pipe is not leaking and poses no health risks. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu City Councilman Tom Berg has introduced a bill that would allow the city’s Department of Transportation Services to regulate roadside memorials through a permitting system. KITV4.

Vandals desecrate Makaha Valley heiau. KHON2.

It wasn't much, but a 2.6 percent rise in April extended median price increases on sales of previously owned Oahu single-family homes to six straight months. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu City Council is considering a bill to raise Summer Fun registration fees next year.Hawaii Public Radio.

Camp for military kids loses funds. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu's mayor and a traditional Hawaiian blessing welcomed visitors to the newly renovated downtown satellite city hall. KITV4.

Hawaii

some Big Island physicians, who have scrambled over the last couple years to secure supplies, say they have yet to receive any relief. Tribune-Herald.

Sales of condominiums on the Big Island jumped 78 percent last month, and prices rose by 14 percent, while sales and prices of single-family homes there both showed small decreases, according to statistics from Hawaii Information Service. Pacific Business News.

A West Hawaii contractor and a tile subcontractor must pay several hundred thousand dollars each to a South Kohala condominium association for defective construction. West Hawaii Today.

Astronomers using a Hawaii Island telescope reported the discovery of one of the most distant protocluster of galaxies yet found. West Hawaii Today.

Maui
The Maui County Council's Budget and Finance Committee is proposing property tax hikes to cover the county's unfunded pension and health fund obligations and is expected to vote today on whether to advance the council's budget to the full council. Maui News.

A majority of Maui County council members gave their staff thousands of dollars in bonuses last year while hundreds of Maui County employees endured five-percent pay reductions. Hawaii News Now.

Construction of the Maui Lani Center has been ongoing for months, with workers driving heavy earth-moving machines behind a black dust fence to ready the ground for construction of Safeway and other stores. Maui News.

Kauai

The Kauai Island Utility Cooperative is concerned that its messages aren't getting through to its members. Pacific Business News.

The road to Maha‘ulepu will be closed from Wednesday through Saturday as Grove Farm Co. crews perform road maintenance with the cooperation of Jas W. Glover and Wa‘alani Enterprises. Garden Island.

Kaua‘i Community College will celebrate its spring commencement exercises Friday at KCC Performing Arts Center, marking the end of another school year at the Puhi campus. Garden Island.

Molokai
The state Department of Health announced Monday that it has fined Molokai's Kane­mitsu Bakery $90,000 for selling baked goods and other food products under unsanitary conditions. Star-Advertiser.


Friday, May 22, 2009

Top Hawaii Headlines: Friday morning edition

If life is a beach, Hanalei Bay must be heaven. This remote, two-mile crescent-shaped beach on Kauai where the emerald mountains meet the sparkling sea was selected No. 1 on "Dr. Beach" Stephen P. Leatherman's 2009 list of top 10 beaches, which was released Friday.

As the total number of swine flu cases in the Islands climbed to 40 yesterday, state officials reiterated calls for residents to stay home when they're sick, while reassuring travelers that measures are being taken to contain the virus.

Swine flu concerns have cost the state millions of dollars in Japanese visitor spending this month.

Soon we may be able to listen to a recorded message left by King David Kalakaua in the late 1800s

After several hours of haggling, the Hawaii County Council on Wednesday managed to save the auditor's budget and help elderly transportation, too.

The Hawaii County Council voted 6-3 Wednesday to withhold an estimated $9 million from a land-purchase fund Big Island voters created in 2006.

After numerous starts and stops, mistakes, a do over and even a flood, the Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge boardwalk could, finally, open in the next month or so, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service officials said Thursday.

Whether or not some animosity exists between stand-up paddleboarders, surfers and swimmers, it’s evident that the popular sport is helping to boost the local economy.