Hannemann, Gabbard fight for Hawaii's 2nd Congressional District, Family Forum, Catholic conference pay for lobbying violations, big earnings for HECO, new biofuel deal for Aina Koa Pono, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Tulsi Gabbard, Mufi Hannemann (c) 2012 All Hawaii News

The Democratic race in the 2nd Congressional District is boiling down to whether neighbor island and rural Oahu voters prefer a seasoned politico in former Mayor Mufi Hannemann or the newer face of city Councilwoman and Iraq War veteran Tulsi Gabbard. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Family Forum and the Hawaii Catholic Conference have filed new and revised spending reports with the state Ethics Commission and will pay a total of $3,000 to the state general fund to resolve complaints about their lobbying activity. Star-Advertiser.

Monumental Dispute: Case, Lingle Tangle Over Papahanaumokuakea. Civil Beat.

Each legislative session, since 1986, PAYCHECKS HAWAII, the independent non-partisan, political action affiliate of Smart Business Hawaii (created in 1984), rates each of Hawaii’s 76 state legislators (51 House and 25 Senate). Hawaii Reporter.

Council on Revenues Retains 5.3% General Fund Forecast. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc.'s earnings rose sharply in the second quarter, largely reflecting the timing of a rate increase at its main utility subsidiary that wasn't in effect for the comparable quarter a year earlier. Star-Advertiser.

A new report sheds some light on solar energy, one of the fastest growing industries in the state. Installed capacity in Hawaii rose from 25 megawatts in 2009 to more than 85 megawatts in 2011 and is forecast to reach nearly 150 megawatts by the end of this year, according to the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, a nonprofit research and educational organization that has offices in Washington D.C. and Minnesota. Pacific Business News.

A federal district court judge ordered the state to allow two women to marry their fiancés, who are incarcerated at the Saguaro Correctional Facility in Arizona, according to the ACLU of Hawaii. KITV4.


Karen Street was getting a touch of cold feet when she was first named chairwoman of the new Hawaii Public Charter School Commission, the body standing at the helm of reforms to the state’s 32 charter schools. Star-Advertiser.


Oahu

The Transportation Security Administration is paying a financial settlement to Glen Kajiyama, the former federal security director in charge of TSA operations at Honolulu International Airport who was one of 36 TSA employees fired in a baggage screening scandal last year. Hawaii News Now.


A couple of months after closing, the Haleiwa Farmers Market is getting ready to reopen Thursday at a new location, the Pikake Pavilion and nearby lawn in Waimea Valley. Star-Advertiser.

Aina Koa Pono courtesy photo

Hawaii

Hawaiian Electric Co.'s Hawaii island subsidiary has submitted a new proposal to buy locally produced liquid biofuel for electricity generation after a previous plan was rejected by regulators as being too expensive. Star-Advertiser.

Aina Koa Pono, the renewable energy company that plans to build a plant in Ka‘u, has reached a biofuel supply agreement with Hawaii Electric Light Co. and is asking the Public Utilities Commission to approve the contract. Tribune-Herald.

State regulators rejected the first biofuel contract. But Aina Koa Pono is back with a new proposal to provide 16 million gallons of biofuel a year to Hawaii Electric Light Co. on the Big Island. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Electric Light Co. said Thursday that it has asked the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission to approve a new biofuel supply contract with Aina Koa Pono LLC. Pacific Business News.

Mayor Billy Kenoi has so far spent almost half a million dollars to hold onto Hawaii County’s top office, a full $135,911 more than he spent campaigning for what was then an open seat in the 2008 primary election. West Hawaii Today.

Puna voters have a history of taking out their frustrations on their County Council representatives. Tribune-Herald.

A first-of-its-kind conference drew big names and experts Thursday to the Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort and Spa, where they shared views on sustainability and the power of the local economy. Speakers also stressed the importance of humility and community matters. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The master-planned Olowalu Town project gained key support from a Maui County Council committee Thursday that will allow the 600-acre development to move forward. Maui News.

Rep. Gil Keith-Agaran, who is seeking re-election to the state House District 9 seat, has out-raised and out-spent his opponent, longtime Maui County Council Member Joe Pontanilla. Maui News.

Maui County's accounting system administrator has been named deputy director of the state Department of Accounting and General Services. Maui News.

Kauai

The Kaua‘i County Office of the Prosecuting Attorney’s offender diversionary program was cleared this week of wrongdoing by special outside counsel. Garden Island.

If the Kaua‘i County Council approves a recommendation from its Public Safety Committee, it may get a bit costlier to have a home or residential alarm system, as a $150 permit and an annual renewal fee of $50 are being considered. Garden Island.

Chief Judge Randal Valenciano of the 5th Circuit Court recused himself Thursday from a condemnation case brought by the County of Kaua‘i against Hanalei boatyard owner Michael Sheehan. Garden Island.

The Kekaha lifeguard tower was moved approximately 25 feet inland Thursday morning. Garden Island.

Lanai

David Murdock has sold his Hawaiian island, but he’s keeping his seven-bedroom Lanai home, a woodworking shop containing koa furniture, two carved elephant tusks in a resort lobby, and 1,000 rare orchid plants. Associated Press.

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.