Hawaii media react to Lingle's Senate bid, Supreme Court to look at reapportionment plan, Honolulu's aging sewer stretches credit limits, Maui mulls single-member districts, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Honolulu (c) 2011 All Hawaii News

 Oahu's high sewer and water bills, combined with more than a billion dollars of spending needed to upgrade the aging sewer system, raise "credit concerns" as the city prepares to issue a new round of waste-water revenue bonds, according to a report by Fitch Ratings.Star-Advertiser.

Former Gov. Linda Lingle's entry Tuesday in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate vaults Hawaii onto the national political map next year, opening a new front in the struggle for control in Washington, D.C. Star-Advertiser.

Former Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle’s announcement Tuesday that she is seeking the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate next year sounded like deja vu all over again. Pacific Business News.

Rep. Colleen Hanabusa has simple advice for her fellow Democrats: "You cannot take Linda Lingle lightly." Civil Beat.

Republicans will have a better chance of taking control of the 100-member U.S. Senate in 2012 if Hawaii’s Gov. Linda Lingle is elected. Hawaii Reporter.

Linda Lingle, a former two-term governor of Hawaii, entered the state's Senate race on Tuesday, giving Republicans hope of capturing the seat being vacated by Democrat Daniel Akaka, who is retiring. Associated Press.

Former Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle, a Republican, announced on Tuesday she is running for the U.S. Senate, setting up a major statewide political showdown in the race to replace U.S. Sen. Dan Akaka, who is retiring. KITV4.

Former Governor Linda Lingle made official what's been speculated since last year - she's running for U.S. Senate. KHON2.

Call it respect or fear or something else, but when Governor Linda Lingle got into the race her opponents immediately started to attack. Hawaii News Now.

Video: Lingle talks about Senate run. Hawaii News Now.

For the first time in the state’s history, Hawaii’s primary will be held in August instead of September. KHON2.

Hawaii will join a number of other states in seeking a waiver to key provisions of the decade-old federal No Child Left Behind law, which requires that schools hit rising reading and math proficiency targets or face sanctions. Star-Advertiser.

Four Big Island Democrats, concerned that the island is being shorted a fourth Senate seat, have asked the Hawaii Supreme Court to declare a proposed state Senate reapportionment plan invalid. West Hawaii Today.

Big Island Democrats Challenge Redistricting Plan in Supreme Court. Civil Beat.

Each of the Hawaiian Islands has its own electric grid, its own mix of fuel sources, and individual strengths and vulnerabilities in terms of electrical infrastructure. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Road construction projects are expected to wrap up as off-duty police officers focus on APEC security. KITV4.

It’s a facility that will help keep the Honolulu Airport up and running no matter what. KHON2.

Keeping personal property such as furniture, clothing or household goods in public spaces such as sidewalks and parks would be banned under a proposal advancing in the City Council. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

A local biofuels company whose contract was just rejected by state regulators says it may take its business to the mainland. Civil Beat.

Two months after he dedicated three new water spigot sites, Mayor Billy Kenoi wants to limit how much free water people may draw from them. Tribune-Herald.

Progress on Queen Kaahumanu Highway phase 2 stalled over the summer, while state transportation officials worked out an agreement with the National Park Service and began talks with a Native Hawaiian hui. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Most members of the Maui County Charter Commission appeared unconvinced Monday that district elections for County Council seats would be an improvement over the current system of at-large elections with residency seats. Maui News.

Maui County Council members are elected at large, meaning that voters - no matter where they live in the county - cast ballots in all nine council races, if every seat were contested. Maui News.

Kauai

The Kapa‘a transfer station is scheduled for repair and maintenance work from Oct. 17 to Nov. 4, a county news release states. Garden Island.

The Kaua‘i Independent Food Bank Holiday Food Drive launches today with the insertion of the food collection packages and remittance envelopes in The Garden Island newspaper. Garden Island.

Hawaii IT needs work, PUC nixes HECO biofuel deal, Kauai council doesn't require solar water heaters, Big Island redistricting road show begins, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Waikiki natatorium (c) 2011 All Hawaii News

A comprehensive assessment of Hawaii state government's information technology infrastructure reveals a system suffering from lack of investment and multiple inefficiencies. But it also suggests ways to improve it. Civil Beat.

A consultant hired to assess the state's information technology systems found that many state services are not being performed or were less timely because of excessive backlogs, a lack of staff and an absence of technical support. Star-Advertiser.

The latest disaster declaration signed by Gov. Neil Abercrombie was a long time in the making, state records and interviews show. Hawaii Reporter.

The Institute for Human Services saw a nearly 13 percent increase in people using Hawaii's largest emergency shelter last year, but donations are down and badly needed federal and state money will dry up after December. Star-Advertiser.

The state Public Utilities Commission denied Thursday Hawaiian Electric Co.’s biodiesel supply contract with Aina Koa Pono LLC, according to a PUC docket. Pacific Business News.

State regulators rejected Thursday a controversial plan by Hawaiian Electric Co. to buy 16 million gallons of locally produced biofuel a year for electricity generation, saying the high cost of the alternative fuel was too much for ratepayers to bear. Star-Advertiser.

The state Reapportionment Commission has scheduled a special meeting next week to correct an error in the way the state's 25 Senate districts were split into two- and four-year terms, affecting two districts. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Hawaiian Electric Co. announced Thursday it has signed a deal to buy up to 150,000 gallons of locally made algae-based biofuel to burn in its Kahe Generating Station as part of the utility's shift away from its reliance on fossil fuels. Star-Advertiser.

Inouye's Committee Recommends Reinstating East-West Center Funds. Civil Beat.

Honolulu has decided to the crumbling seawall around the historic Waikiki war memorial is enough of a threat to require immediate action. KITV4.

It’s time for the City and County of Honolulu to decide what it wants to do with the aging and crumbling Waikiki Natatorium War Memorial. Pacific Business News.

The first-ever National Diabetes Symposium is being conducted in Honolulu. Hawaii Public Radio.

A long anticipated project to slow erosion at Kailua Beach has stalled. Hawaii News Now.

Discussion underway to fix flooding issues on the Waianae coast. KHON2.

Hawaii

The Hawaii County redistricting roadshow begins Saturday with six sample maps depicting how new County Council district lines could be drawn. West Hawaii Today.

With a Hawaiian blessing and the untying of a maile lei, the Keaukaha Military Reservation's Armed Forces Reserve Center was opened for business Thursday in Hilo. Tribune-Herald.

Damage to Kona Village Resort from the March tsunami reached into the tens of millions of dollars, CEO Patrick Fitzgerald said Thursday, but he is certain the iconic hotel will open again. West Hawaii Today.

Anyone caught importing live axis deer to Hawaii Island could end up spending a year in jail, according to a bill pending before the County Council. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has given final approval to Maui County's consent order that requires it to improve the treatment of sewage at the Lahaina Wastewater Treatment Plant before it is disposed of in injection wells. Maui News.

While Hawaii's visitor industry was breathing a sigh of relief that March's earthquake and tsunami in Japan did not seem to have affected tourism for long, it seems that another aftereffect of the disaster is still beating on island shores. Maui News.

Kauai

The County Council’s Intergovernmental Relations Committee on Wednesday unanimously rejected a proposal to address a variance in a 2004 state law that mandates new homes be equipped with solar-powered water heaters. Garden Island.

Naval Facilities Engineering Command Hawai‘i completed its final inspection on Sept. 20 for a photovoltaic (PV) system at Pacific Missile Range Facility, which is expected to generate 760 kilowatts of continuous power during the day when it is fully online. Garden Island.

Molokai

DHS Molokai Office Increases Staff. Molokai Dispatch.