Nurses to prescribe marijuana, Ige vetoes Maui hospital workers bill, Pacific Missile Range facility named for Inouye, drive-thru voter registration begins, electricity returned to Oahu jail, former Maui film commissioner sues over firing, PUC chairman calls for attorney general investigation, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Medical marijuana permits handmade sign © 2016 All Hawaii News

Hawaii patients may have easier access to medical marijuana now that nurses can certify them for the drug. Advocates say the change was needed because there’s a shortage of doctors willing to certify patients. Associated Press.

Gov. David Ige signed House Bill 2707 into law Monday. The measure allows for greater access by allowing registered nurses to certify patients for medical marijuana use. KITV.

Proponents are giving new updates to Hawaii’s medical marijuana dispensary law an “A” grade, but plan to lobby for more changes in the future. On Monday, Gov. David Ige signed House Bill 2707, an omnibus bill that aims to tie up loose ends in current dispensary law and increase access for patients. Tribune-Herald.

Before Hawai‘i cannabis can hit the market, it will have to be tested. HPR’s Molly Solomon visited one lab that’s hoping to be the state’s first. Hawaii Public Radio.

A new study says large majorities of people surveyed online in Hawaii (76 percent) and California (72 percent) support physician-assisted death. Civil Beat.

The Chairman of the Public Utilities Commission is calling for a state Attorney General investigation into what he says is a "smear" campaign against interim PUC commissioner Tom Gorak. Hawaii News Now.

The Governor hosted an Education Summit over the weekend with more than one-thousand teachers, parents, students and policy makers in attendance. Hawaii Public Radio.

The state Office of Elections and county clerks will hold drive-thru voter registration Wednesday and Thursday, the deadline to register for the Aug. 13 primary. Star-Advertiser.

Family and general practitioners have the highest average annual salaries in Hawaii at $228,220, according to a top-100 list by Zippia, a career resource website that culled its data from the May 2015 occupational employment and wage estimates from the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. Star-Advertiser.

Solar applicants on Maui are pushing the limit, while Oahu and Big Island are well past the halfway point for the capacity for residential solar systems that can export excess power to the grid and receive credit. Star-Advertiser.

Why Everyone Wanted To Work For Hawaiian Electric. With a devastating war behind it, Hawaii embraced the promise of a bright future. And it needed HECO more than ever. Civil Beat.

Two environmental groups support holding public meetings on Kauai and Oahu to discuss two proposals to put floating wind turbines in a channel that separates the two islands. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

The Honolulu Charter Commission, at a busy meeting Thursday, nixed a plan to give city planners more leeway in issuing zoning variances and advanced a proposal requiring all nonprofit groups to be vetted before being allowed to get taxpayer grant money. Star-Advertiser.

Electricity was restored Monday afternoon to most areas of Oahu Community Correctional Center, the state’s largest jail, following an outage that began Friday afternoon. Star-Advertiser.

The Oahu Community Correctional Center continued to experience electrical problems Monday, three days after the issue first began. Hawaii News Now.

The director of the City and County’s Emergency Medical Services says he is looking at possibly changing the department’s 12-hour shifts or making other shift changes to alleviate the staffing shortages. KHON2.

The smell of urine emanated from the sidewalks of Iwilei on Monday as the city’s homeless enforcement team returned to once again break down makeshift shelters built out of cardboard, tarps and wooden pallets — one of hundreds of sweeps that have taken place since the cleanup crew was created more than three years ago. Star-Advertiser.

The primary race for the state House District 44 seat, which includes Maili, Waianae, Makaha and Makua, pits two familiar faces against each other on the Democratic side and two newcomers on the Republican end. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Time is running out if you want a say in who’s going to be the next mayor, or who will fill any number of federal, state and local seats up for grabs on the primary election ballot. West Hawaii Today.

The candidates for Hawaii County Prosecuting Attorney spent an hour on Saturday fielding questions from Puna’s members of the Hawaii County Democratic Party. Big Island Video News.

The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission has announced two public meetings to discuss an application filed by Young Brothers, Ltd., an interisland shipping company, for approval of a general rate increase. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Gov. David Ige on Monday vetoed a bill that would provide extra severance and retirement bonuses for workers affected by the privatization of Maui County hospitals. At the same time, he offered up an amended and less costly version of the measure for the Legislature’s consideration. Star-Advertiser.

The former Maui film commissioner has filed a wrongful termination suit against the island’s mayor, accusing the mayor of firing him in 2013 at the request of Relativity CEO Ryan Kavanaugh, a longtime friend and booster of the mayor. Maui Watch.

The Maui Police Department launched a feasibility study on Friday, July 8, 2016, on the use of the VIEVU body-worn camera.  Maui Now.

The construction of two portable classrooms to ease overcrowding at Makawao Elementary School is expected to begin in October, said state Sen. J. Kalani English, who represents the district. Maui News.

State Sen. Michelle Kidani, chairwoman of the Senate Education Committee, has organized a town hall meeting on the new federal education legislation, the Every Student Succeeds Act, for Maui from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Baldwin High Auditorium. Maui News.

Kauai

The range and range operations center at the Pacific Missile Range Facility at Barking Sands will be named in honor of Daniel Inouye, the late Democratic U.S. senator from Hawaii. Pacific Business News.

The Kauai Island Utility Cooperative is in the process of renewing its Endangered Species Act Incidental Take Permit, and an upcoming meeting on the subject is designed to bring the public up to speed. Garden Island.

Councilman Ross Kagawa wants to talk dogs and trees when the Kauai County Council meets in committee Wednesday. Garden Island.

Hawaii last U.S. state to ban sex trafficking, RIMPAC war games kick off with 26 nations, employees' marijuana use rises, he said, she said in Kenoi ethics case, Maui doctors leaving, Kauai police body cameras at issue, Kilauea lava marches to the sea, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

USS America at Pearl Harbor (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Jacob Holloway)

Hawaii has become the last state in the nation to explicitly ban sex trafficking. Gov. David Ige signed the bill into law Tuesday. It makes sex trafficking a violent crime and class A felony, expands the statewide witness protection program to include sex trafficking and provides victims access to criminal injury compensation. Associated Press.

County police departments have until Sept. 1 to report to the Hawaii attorney general’s office the number of untested rape kits that they have in storage under legislation signed into law Tuesday by Gov. David Ige. The measure is among seven bills that Ige signed into law Tuesday that were backed by the Hawaii Women’s Legislative Caucus, a bipartisan group composed of female legislators in the House and Senate. Star-Advertiser.

Starting in January, moped owners in Hawaii will need to pay for annual registration and inspections, plus get plates for their vehicles — similar to the state’s existing requirements for cars, trucks and motorcycles. Star-Advertiser.

U.S. Pacific Fleet commander Adm. Scott Swift said Tuesday he wants all 26 nations participating in RIMPAC military exercises in Hawaii to leave better prepared to respond to humanitarian crises. Associated Press.

The head of U.S. Pacific Fleet opened the big Rim of the Pacific exercise Tuesday by downplaying a South China Sea rift with China and talking not about what divides navies in the region, but what unites them. Star-Advertiser.

RIMPAC is the largest international maritime exercise and it happens right here in Hawaii waters. KITV.

The use of marijuana among Hawaii workers is the highest it’s been in three years, a new study shows. Star-Advertiser.

Friends In High Places Helped HECO Tighten Its Grip On Hawaii. The federal government’s takeover of Hawaii proved extremely fortuitous for Hawaiian Electric. So was the involvement of leading local families. Civil Beat.

Commentary: Two of Gov. David Ige’s most decisive moments are not winning legislative praise and both may be in trouble. Star-Advertiser.

Commentary: The Hawaii Ethics Commission has been through some tough times recently. It’s had to deal with hostile public reaction to an unpopular ruling that had effectively blocked educational trips for public school students, the departure of its executive director and continued pressure from legislators who believe several commission rulings improperly impinge on legislative prerogatives. And two recent court rulings — one local, one federal — indicate more troubles ahead for the commission. Civil Beat.

Oahu

On July 1, Kirk Caldwell received a 5 percent pay increase as Honolulu mayor. His base salary is now $164,928 a year. But the mayor draws his biggest paycheck not from city and county taxpayers but from a major financial institution in the state. Civil Beat.

Faced with huge weekend crowds and growing piles of rubbish at Makua Beach, state parks officials say they plan to impose restrictions on camping at the remote coastal area near Kaena Point. Star-Advertiser.

Median prices hit record highs for both single-family homes and condominiums sold on Oahu during June, according an analysis by the Honolulu-based real estate company Locations LLC. Pacific Business News.

Honolulu is the ninth-most expensive rental market in July among the 100 largest U.S. cities. The average monthly rent payment in Honolulu is $1,840 for a 1-bedroom apartment, down 1.1 percent from June, and $2,600 for a 2-bedroom apartment, up 1.2 percent. Pacific Business News.

A global conference with thousands of dignitaries and attendees will be hosted by the state in less than 60 days.   As HPR’s Wayne Yoshioka reports, the City and County unveiled its general plans today. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii

An ethics complaint was filed against one of Hawaii County’s Board of Ethics members. Kapaau resident Lanric Hyland, who is pursuing a separate ethics complaint against Mayor Billy Kenoi for misuse of his county purchasing card, is alleging board vice chairman Ken Goodenow has not been impartial on the issue. Tribune-Herald.

Developers of a 58-home subdivision planned for Alii Drive are asking for a pass on some of the conditions that were set when they first applied for rezoning. West Hawaii Today.

Lava is less than 1.1 miles from the ocean as the 61g flow has crossed half way across the coastal plain near Kalapana. Big Island Video News.

The lava flow from Kilauea’s Pu‘u ‘O‘o vent doesn’t appear to be wasting much time getting to the ocean. As of Tuesday afternoon, the flow had traveled about halfway across the coastal plain with about a mile of terrain separating it from the island’s edge, according to the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

The future of Maui Medical Group's obstetrics and gynecology department grew more uncertain last week, with a third, part-time physician now scheduled to leave by July 31, Maui Medical officials said Thursday. Maui News.

Maui Medical Group is scrambling to fill positions in its obstetrics and gynecology department in response to the loss of yet another doctor. Associated Press.

Ka Hale A Ke Ola Homeless Resource Centers has launched a new phone line for community members who need to inquire about homeless services. Maui News.

Gov. David Ige has ordered that US and state of Hawai‘i flags today will be flown at half-staff out of respect for the late former Maui County Mayor Elmer Cravalho, who died on June 27, 2016. Maui Now.

Kauai

The Office of the Mayor is examining a ruling by the Intermediate Court of Appeals which said that the Kauai Police Commission — not the mayor — has the power to suspend and discipline the police chief. Garden Island.

Hawaii’s police union is taking its fight over officer-worn body cameras to state court, in a case that could have ramifications for how the technology is used by county police departments across the islands. Civil Beat.

Lanai

Habitat for Humanity Maui has extended its reach across the Auau Channel to enable low-income Lanai residents to own homes through their "sweat equity" and help from their neighbors. Maui News.

GMO bans slated for federal court, union to appeal Kauai police cameras, lawsuit filed over medical marijuana dispensaries, Oahu redevelopment spurs opposition, Honolulu ethics director under attack, Maui development nears settlement, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

GMO papaya at Hilo farmer's market © 2016 All Hawaii News

Hawaii County’s failed ban on outdoor cultivation of genetically modified crops will be aired Wednesday in a federal court in Honolulu, one of three county cases being appealed after local laws were struck down. West Hawaii Today.

State officials are planning to amend a law that exempts certain agricultural structures from building permits, after U.S. officials warned that the law could jeopardize federally funded emergency and flood coverage for Hawaii. Maui News.

A $150 million ratepayer-supported renewable energy program remains almost entirely untapped. Associated Press.

About 2,500 people are expected to attend the International Coral Reef Symposium June 19-24 at the Hawaii Convention Center. It will mark the first time the Aloha State has hosted the quadrennial event, and only the third time it’s been held in the United States. Civil Beat.

Researchers with the University of Hawai‘i are measuring the impact of millions of tons of munitions dumped at sea over several decades.  In 1970, an international treaty better known as “The London Convention” stopped the Department of Defense from disposing of chemical weapons in the ocean. Hawaii Public Radio.

The annual removal of debris in the Northwest Hawaiian Islands hauled in the equivalent of six cars of garbage. West Hawaii Today.

Small boat fishermen have nothing to fear from the potential expansion of Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, according to a group of Native Hawaiians. Garden Island.

Hawaii Governor David Ige on Sunday ordered that the Hawaii state flag be flown at half-staff at the state Capitol and at other state agencies and locations until sunset on June 16. The action honors the victims of “the terrible attack” that occurred last night in Orlando, Florida,” the governor’s office said in a statement. Civil Beat.

The Supreme Court rejected an appeal today from a group of American Samoans who say the United States should grant full citizenship to people born in the U.S. territory. Associated Press.

Oahu

The Paradise Park redevelopment plan in Manoa is emerging as a flashpoint in a primary challenge to House Higher Education Chairman Isaac Choy, a Democrat who has represented the state House district that includes Manoa since 2009. Star-Advertiser.

After waiting decades for promised renovations, residents of a former sugar plantation village are being asked for input on redevelopment plans. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu officials are moving forward with plans to redevelop a former sugar plantation village built in the early 1900s after promising renovations to residents of the largely neglected area decades ago. Associated Press.

Dan Grabauskas, executive director of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation, and Brennon Morioka, deputy director, recommend that the new elevated rail system terminate Downtown as the board reconsiders options for the over-budget project. Pacific Business News.

A Civil Beat review of Ethics Commission records, meeting minutes, emails, correspondence and interviews with those familiar with the commission’s work show that city Ethics Director Chuck Totto has been under attack by Kirk Caldwell and those he’s appointed ever since the mayor took office in 2013.

Hundreds of people took to the streets of Downtown Honolulu to ‘Iolani Palace on Sunday as part of community rally and cultural event E HUI ANA NA MOKU: ‘Aina Protectors Unite. KITV4.

Hawaii

The embattled president of a now-defunct medical marijuana collective is suing to block the opening of state medical marijuana dispensaries. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s medical marijuana dispensary law isn’t perfect — far from it — but it’s a start, and the state needs to begin somewhere. That’s how lawmakers characterized the up-and-coming dispensary system Thursday evening to a fired up crowd in Pahoa, many who pointed out what they called flaws in the way the law was written. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii County Councilwoman Margaret Wille withdrew her proposal to repeal a section in the Hawaii County Code that allows a real property tax exemption for island credit unions. Big Island Video News.

General contractors on Hawaii Island are staying busy even as the construction sector is easing down from last year’s peak. Tribune-Herald.

Melissa Takahashi said that when she graduated from Waiakea High School on Hawaii island in 2000, she enjoyed chemistry and did well in mathematics but never thought she would be working on cutting-edge research to prevent the spread of global diseases like the Zika virus. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

After a revised archaeological survey and pending approval of a habitat conservation plan, the Honua'ula project is nearing settlement of a more than 3-year-old lawsuit in which the Sierra Club and Maui Unite challenged the adequacy of the South Maui development's final environmental impact statement. Maui News.

Hawaii Commercial & Sugar Co. is not admitting fault under a proposed settlement that reduces a $1.3 million air quality and reporting fine tied to Puunene Mill to $600,000. Star-Advertiser.

Solar companies and industry groups say that the cap on residential rooftop photovoltaic system hookups to the power grid on Maui could be reached by this week "and almost certainly no later than the end of the month." Maui News.

An approximately $26 million renovation of Whalers Village is "timely" and sorely needed for the nearly half-a-century-old shopping center, a Kaanapali resort official said Friday. Maui News.

Kauai

The State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers said it will appeal a ruling by the Hawaii Labor Relations Board that Kauai police did not need the union’s approval prior to implementing body-worn cameras. Garden Island.

Kauai high school students are making some of the right choices when it comes to their health and well-being, but some improvement is still needed. Garden Island.

Daynette “Dee” Morikawa (D-16, Niihau, Lehua, Koloa, Waimea) is seeking her fourth, two-year term as a state House representative for Kauai. Garden Island.

Honolulu Zoo loses accreditation, sex trafficking bill opposed by sex workers and prosecutors, police body cams advance in Legislature, Kauai farm center created, Hawaiian Electric's Lau makes $2.7M, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Honolulu Zoo © 2016 All Hawaii News

The Honolulu Zoo has lost its accreditation with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the organization and the city announced today. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu Zoo could lose as many as 90 exotic animals on loan through animal exchange programs after the Association of Zoos and Aquariums this week denied the Waikiki facility’s request for re-accreditation. Star-Advertiser.

© 2016 All Hawaii News

The Association of Zoos and Aquariums has rejected the Honolulu Zoo’s request for re-accreditation. City officials recently met with AZA executive members, and were told their application was denied due to concerns about consistent funding from the city and private partners. Civil Beat.

The Honolulu Zoo has lost its accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Hawaii Public Radio.

© 2016 All Hawaii News

The Association of Zoos and Aquariums has denied Honolulu Zoo’s application for re-accreditation as it is worried about the institution's lack of funding from the city. Pacific Business News.

A panel of Association of Zoos and Aquariums executive members met with a team from the Honolulu Zoo this Monday in Omaha, Nebraska to consider the city’s application for re-accreditation of the Honolulu Zoo. KITV4.

The Association of Zoos and Aquariums has denied the city’s application for re-accreditation of Honolulu Zoo. KHON2.

================================

A new version of a sex trafficking bill vetoed last year by Gov. David Ige was discussed before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, and it drew the same opposition as last year from Honolulu’s prosecuting attorney. Civil Beat.

Advocates for sex trafficking victims are saying Hawaii is long overdue to pass a bill banning sex trafficking. But some sex workers oppose the measure. Hawaii is the only state in the nation without a law that specifically bans sex trafficking. Hawaii News Now.

Body cams and dashboard cameras in police cars moved a step closer on Tuesday to becoming part of police operations in Hawaii. The House Judiciary Committee unanimously passed Senate Bill 2411, with two Republican members voting with reservations. Civil Beat.

Hawaii lawmakers have made changes to a controversial bill aimed at simplifying tax collections for transient vacation rentals to prevent the operations from being run illegally. Associated Press.

Connie Lau, president and CEO of Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc., received total compensation of $2.7 million in 2015, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.Star-Advertiser.

Discovery of long-lost Navy vessel ends years of searching. Star-Advertiser.

Scientists from Honolulu's Bishop Museum have helped document the existence of second bat species that once lived in the Hawaiian Islands. Associated Press.

Oahu

A federal jury found Honolulu police officer Landon K. Rudolfo guilty this morning of knowingly buying then selling a stolen vehicle. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s often-fractious relationship with most members of the City Council appeared to reach a new low last week, with some Council members calling him insincere and disrespectful during a public meeting. Civil Beat.

TheBus, the future rail line and Handi-Van are all moving closer toward sharing a “smart card” fare pass that Oahu riders would use for all public transportation. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu Authority of Rapid Transportation and the city’s Department of Transportation Services have awarded a $31 million contract to design, build, operate and maintain a new smart card pass system to INIT Innovations in Transportation, Inc. Pacific Business News.

Pushed out for rail, a Kakaako business owner fears he'll lose everything. Hawaii News Now.

At a time when airport security is at the top of people’s minds, the agency responsible for protecting our nation’s airports is experiencing its lowest staffing levels in years. KHON2.

Hawaii is facing a nearly $6 million funding shortfall to host the International Union for Conservation of Nation World Conservation Congress slated for September in Honolulu, an international event deemed the “Olympics of Conservation.” Civil Beat.

Hawaiian Airlines has received a temporary daytime slot by the U.S. Department of Transportation for travel this winter between Honolulu and Haneda International Airport in Tokyo. Hawaiian currently has less-desirable late-night arrival and departure times because of a 2010 U.S.-Japan Open Skies agreement that limited U.S. flights to between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. local time. Star-Advertiser.

The commander of the 25th Infantry Division, Maj. Gen. Charles A. Flynn, has been named a deputy commander of U.S. Army Pacific at Fort Shafter, the Pentagon announced last week in a slew of general officer changes for Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

With the announcement of its third class of physician residents last Friday, the Hawaii Island Family Medicine Residency Program has reached a milestone. For the first time since it began in 2014 as a means of addressing Hawaii Island’s doctor shortage, it will have a full complement of doctors: 12 in all. Tribune-Herald.

A new surcharge will hit water bills this summer as the Department of Water Supply strives to reduce its dependence on purchased power. The energy rate surcharge, set at 5 cents per 1,000 gallons of water, goes into effect July 1, and is expected to generate $460,000 the first year. West Hawaii Today.

State Representatives passed two resolutions through committee on Monday requesting stakeholders collaborate on the future stewardship and preservation of Waipi‘o Valley. Big Island Video News.

Burrowing beetles that colonize dead ohia trees and spread wood dust on the wind are being targeted as the likely cause of a swiftly spreading fungus that threatens the island’s forests. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

A bill that would allow Alexander & Baldwin to temporarily hold on to the rights to millions of gallons of water it diverts each day from East Maui streams survived a close vote in a key Senate committee Monday night. Star-Advertiser.

Most charges were dismissed Monday for four college students who had been awaiting trial after being arrested last year during a protest over the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope being built at the Haleakala summit. Maui News.

The wife of Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders came to Maui on Monday and heard about the end of sugar - its lost jobs as well as the harms of cane burning - reached out to Native Hawaiians and offered advice to a community grappling with the issue of genetically modified organisms in food. Maui News.

Public meetings on proposed tuition increases for the University of Hawaii system - including the University of Hawaii Maui College, which would see annual rates rise $150 by the 2019-20 school year - will be held at 2 p.m. May 5 at the college and through Skybridge's two-way video to Hana, Lahaina, Molokai and Lanai. Maui News.

Kauai
Seventy-five acres of prime farmland, ceded by the county to a community-based not-for-profit organization will become an agricultural center. Garden Island.

Democratic voters in Kauai have an opportunity to show their patriotic spirit when they cast votes for their party favorite Saturday as part of the presidential preference poll. Garden Island.

Trump favored as Hawaii gears up for Republican presidential caucus, hearing set for Kauai police cameras law, early release could lessen prison overcrowding, health-care workers fight flu shot requirement, county employees seek ethics clearance for county contracts, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

File photo: Honolulu Festival parade © 2016 All Hawaii News

The 22nd Honolulu Festival, which showcases the cultures of the Pacific Rim, is expected to bring 5,000 visitors to Honolulu this weekend. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s world-class beaches and swaying palm trees may lure tourists, but as Republicans prepare for Hawaii’s GOP presidential caucus Tuesday, the far-away state isn’t drawing the candidates’ love. Associated Press.

Republicans prepared for tonight’s presidential caucus with a flurry of activity Monday that included a campaign stop by former Pennsylvania U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum, and a scathing open letter by former U.S. Rep. Charles Djou criticizing billionaire Donald Trump. Star-Advertiser.

Trump Favored to Win Hawai'i Caucus Tuesday. The Hawai’i Republican Party is preparing for its Presidential Caucus tomorrow night.    There are some last minute campaign ads but most observers conclude it’s a done deal. Hawaii Public Radio.

Republican presidential candidates made their final pitches to Hawaii Republicans on Monday, as the state geared up for a caucus that could garner national attention. Hawaii News Now.

It will be Wednesday on the East Coast before Tuesday's last political prize is doled out. Hawaii Republicans will go to the polls Tuesday to decide how the state's 19 delegates should be divvied up among the five GOP presidential candidates. Here's how the state's GOP caucus works: Associated Press.

On Tuesday, March 8, Hawaii voters will weigh in on the Republican presidential race: real estate mogul Donald Trump, Texas senator Ted Cruz, Florida senator Marco Rubio and Ohio governor John Kasich. KHON2.

The state's community correctional centers are bursting at the seams. Now, lawmakers are considering releasing some inmates early to make more space. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii could soon require unannounced inspections of state-licensed care facilities for the elderly instead of giving the operators advance warning of when the Department of Health is coming. Civil Beat.

A new bill circulating the Hawaii Capitol would hold insurers accountable for delays in medical services, while some insurers claim the measure will contribute to rising health care costs. Pacific Business News.

Health care workers across the state would be required to receive annual flu vaccinations if a measure currently being debated in the Legislature is adopted. Tribune-Herald.

With less than six weeks to go before the state is scheduled to announce the winners of licenses to grow and sell medical marijuana, the Department of Health still hasn’t chosen the members of a panel that will evaluate the applications. Civil Beat.

Hawaii’s Public Charter School Movement At A Crossroads. Big changes could be ahead, including how new schools are created and how they are overseen. Civil Beat.

Abused By Priests As A Child, He’s ‘Finally Been Released’ As the deadline nears for child sex abuse victims to sue, one of the first to step forward talks about his settlement with Hawaii’s Catholic Church. Civil Beat.

Oahu

A much-anticipated report from the city Auditor’s Office echoes what many riders have voiced for several years: Honolulu’s Handi-Van service has steadily been getting worse in key ways despite efforts to make it better. Star-Advertiser.

Two men who were assaulted by a Honolulu police officer in an illegal game room in 2014 are suing the officer, his partners, Police Chief Louis Kealoha and the city. Star-Advertiser.

Thirty or so homeless people camping out in Kakaako’s Makai Gateway Park along Ala Moana Boulevard were packing up and preparing to be kicked out of the area in a sweep again Monday night, but — just like usual — planned to return this morning. Star-Advertiser.

The University of Hawaii has selected four finalists for the director’s position at the embattled UH Cancer Center. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

A new law requiring that county employees seeking to do contract work for the county in addition to their day job get permission from the Board of Ethics won’t go into effect until July 1, but would-be contractors and their families already are starting to line up for advisory opinions. West Hawaii Today.

Farmers and ranchers in the Ka‘u District concerned about statewide impacts of a recent court decision regarding East Maui water rights are hoping a piece of legislation can serve as a temporary solution. Tribune-Herald.

After canceling blood drives on Hawaii island because of the risk of dengue fever in Kailua-Kona, the Blood Bank of Hawaii will hold drives at its Kalihi headquarters this week. Star-Advertiser.


Maui

The Democratic Party of Hawaii has scheduled precinct meetings at 1 p.m. March 26 at various locations in Maui County. Maui News.

Alvin Kaimi (“Kai”) Pelayo has accepted the post as Community Affairs Manager for Monsanto Maui. Effective Jan 18 Pelayo has taken on possibly the most high profile and contentious job on the island. Maui Watch.

With the purchase of new equipment that can scan 1 million points a second to create a 3-D diagram, police traffic investigators are hoping to collect evidence more quickly at fatal crash scenes. Maui News.

As part of the largest single-day, private-sector pay increase ever, more than 3,800 Walmart and Sam’s Club associates in Hawaiʻi, including more than 300 associates on Maui, will receive a pay raise in their March 10 paycheck. Maui Now.

Kauai

A proliferation of non-traditional guest accommodations for visitors, particularly in popular tourist areas, has prompted proposed changes in the way bed and breakfasts are regulated on Kauai. Garden Island.

The Hawaii Labor Relations Board has scheduled a two-day hearing to address a complaint by the police union against Kauai County over the use of body cameras by police officers. Star-Advertiser.

The Republican Party of Kauai is hosting a presidential caucus from 6 to 8 tonight at locations across the island. Garden Island.

Bill would let imprisoned felons vote, DLNR creates oversight panel after newspaper reports land-lease abuse, bill allowing media access at disaster scenes clears committee, sight-seeing helicopter crash alarms Pearl Harbor tourists, Thai restaurant fined for taking down health placard, tax reform for Kauai, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Prison guard in Hawaii © 2016 All Hawaii News

Hawaii would become the third state to allow imprisoned felons to vote if House Bill 2773 becomes law. Incarcerated state residents would be allowed to vote by absentee ballot under the bill introduced by Rep. Kaniela Ing. It’s scheduled to be considered by the House Judiciary Committee on Friday. Civil Beat.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources’ controversial revocable-permit program could be in for some big changes. Suzanne Case, chairwoman of the agency’s board, announced Thursday the formation of an eight-member task force, including several members from outside the department, to review the program and recommend revisions to ensure the process serves the public trust and provides transparency and consistency. Star-Advertiser.

With six months to go before the Aug. 13 primary, two high-profile lawmakers seem to be having trouble raising money for their re-election bids. But while Reps. Calvin Say and Tom Brower may be cash poor, two of their colleagues — Romy Cachola and Sylvia Luke — have been raking in the cash, despite easy wins in the 2014 election. Civil Beat.

More than 40 percent of Hawai’i’s homeless live unsheltered on neighborhood streets, parks, beaches or vacant properties.   But the state does not plan to spend more on shelters for this population. Hawaii Public Radio.

News media could be granted access to restricted areas in emergency situations under Senate Bill 533, but critics worry reporters might put themselves in danger or interfere with rescue workers. Civil Beat.

As the three members of the Public Utilities Commission weigh whether to let NextEra Energy take control of Hawaiian Electric Industries, a regulatory dust-up that came to a head in Florida six years ago might offer some guidance. Civil Beat.

Gov. David Ige is urging Hawaii lawmakers to appropriate $9.4 million to fund the state’s troubled health insurance exchange. Star-Advertiser.

Ige Nominates 7 To Environmental Council. The neglected council has struggled to meet over the past year due to lack of quorum. Civil Beat.

Cultivating cannabis has become somewhat mainstream and one startup is hoping to harness the excitement of the growing trend to create a commodities trading platform for hemp, which can only be operational in 27 states, including Hawaii. Pacific Business News.

Hawaiian Airlines and other U.S. carriers now have two more opportunities to land another coveted slot at Haneda International Airport in Tokyo. Star-Advertiser.

U.S. Sens. Brian Schatz and Mazie Hirono are praising an agreement announced Thursday that will add more flights between the United States and Haneda International Airport in Tokyo. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii in general, and Hawaiian Airlines in particular, could reap more visitors from new agreements between Japanese and American aviation officials. Hawaii News Now.

Voting on a bill that would create no-spray buffer zones around sensitive areas was deferred by The Hawaii House Agriculture Committee in a joint hearing with the House Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection Tuesday, essentially killing the bill for this legislative session. Garden Island.

Oahu

A sightseeing helicopter carrying a family of four crashed just offshore of the USS Arizona Memorial visitor center Thursday morning, shocking tourists and prompting a few people to dive into Pearl Harbor to help those in the overturned aircraft. Star-Advertiser.

WATCH: Helicopter crash video near Ariz. Memorial. KITV4.

Schnitzer Steel and smaller metal recyclers would receive a 25 percent discount in refuse disposal fees under a bill passed 7-1 by the Honolulu City Council. Star-Advertiser.

Rail leaders have restarted condemnation proceedings for Blood Bank of Hawaii’s headquarters in Kalihi, despite the blood bank’s urging that they hold off as negotiations continue. Star-Advertiser.

A Thai restaurant in the Windward City Shopping Center faces a $7,000 fine for removing a yellow “Conditional Pass” placard that had been posted at its entrance after Health Department inspectors found food safety violations. Star-Advertiser.

Drivers stuck in traffic along the Waianae Coast may be getting some relief.  An afternoon contraflow lane in Nanakuli could be in operation in the next month or two, said state Rep. Andria Tupola, (R) Nanakuli. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii

Lawmakers have advanced a bill curbing the ability of counties to pass their own laws regulating geothermal power plants. Three Senate committees voted late Wednesday afternoon in favor of an amended version of SB 2535, which gives the state exclusive authority to regulate “geothermal resources development and geothermal resources exploration,” unless it delegates that power to the counties. Tribune-Herald.

Puna Pono Alliance President Robert Petricci made the trip to Oahu to testify on Senate Bill 2535 relating to Geothermal Resources Exploration and Drilling. Big Island Video News.

Hawaii Electric Light Co. plans to kick one of its renewable energy partners to the curb. The utility said this week it likely will terminate next month a power purchase agreement with the foundering Hu Honua Bioenergy LLC plant in Pepeekeo, after the company failed to meet key deadlines in its effort to provide Hawaii Island with up to 10 percent of its energy needs in renewable power, totaling 21.5 megawatts. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

The Maui Police Department is seeking proposals for a body-worn camera system, as it takes a closer look at the technology. Maui News.

The Maui Police Department is considering outfitting officers with body-worn cameras. Hawaii News Now.

Heavy rains Tuesday night and early Wednesday flooded the Maui County Service Center at the Maui Mall, damaging computers and motor vehicle records, shutting down power and generating a foul smell. Maui News.

The Maui Visitors and Convention Bureau today launched its new “Maui Mavericks” public relations campaign and selected 16 next-generation leaders as Maui ambassadors for the program. Maui Now.

Kauai
Kauai County needs real property tax reform, but a 3 percent assessment cap for homestead and long-term affordable rental properties could provide relief for some families while county officials hash out a complete overhaul. That was the general consensus of the committee that took on the assessment cap bill on Wednesday. Garden Island.

Actress Julia Roberts has dropped the asking price — for a second time in less than a year — of her beachfront estate on the Hawaii island of Kauai by about $4 million to $21.95 million, Pacific Business News has learned.

Obama vacation costs Honolulu Police Department $341,000 in overtime, state senator seeks tax hike to pay for universal long-term care, downed Marines to be honored today, council mulls $650k for Big Island homeless, experts recommend UH Cancer center go private, Kauai police bodycam laws, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Obama swimming during one of his Hawaii vacations (Associated Press)

The Honolulu Police Department says it spent about $341,000 in overtime costs to help protect President Barack Obama and his family during their annual winter vacation. The department said Thursday it's the highest amount during an Obama Hawaii vacation since he was elected president in 2008. Associated Press.

State Sen. Rosalyn Baker hopes to push through a bill this year that would add a 0.5 percent surcharge to the statewide general excise tax to help cover the cost of in-home health care services for seniors and the disabled. Star-Advertiser.

Citing a “public health crisis,” a state senator wants a half-percent surcharge on the general excise tax to fund elder caregiving. Civil Beat.

A Hawaii state senator plans to reintroduce a bill that would make the Aloha State the first in the nation to offer universal long-term care to elders. Pacific Business News.

The cost of long term care in Hawai’i averages more than 10-thousand dollars a month, according to AARP.   And some lawmakers want to help. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii’s economy is on a normal growth path with a slowing tourism industry, but buoyed in part by improving labor and construction markets, economists told Hawaii lawmakers Thursday. Civil Beat.

Work-related deaths in Hawaii spiked in 2014, reaching the highest level since the federal government began tracking the number in 1992. Star-Advertiser.

At least 31 people died on the job in Hawaii during 2014, according to data released Thursday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Civil Beat.

The 12 Marines killed last week when two cargo helicopters collided and crashed on the North Shore will be remembered at a memorial service today. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

External consultants are recommending the University of Hawaii strongly consider changing the struggling UH Cancer Center to a semiautonomous business entity, co-owned and run with community hospital partners, to keep the research facility viable. Star-Advertiser.

A $5 million cash infusion plan for the University of Hawaii Cancer Center is already facing opposition from some lawmakers. Hawaii News Now.

Gov. David Ige is about to tackle an issue that’s been 100 years in the making. In his State of the State address slated for Monday, the governor is expected to unveil his plans for what to do with the Oahu Community Correctional Center, the largest jail facility in Hawaii. Civil Beat.

The state’s HI-5 recycling program was meant to be an incentive to recycle. But that’s getting a lot harder to do. KHON2.

The number of Oahu neighborhoods with a median single-family home price of $1 million or higher doubled in 2015 from the year before, with year-over-year price increases that ranged from 3 percent to 37 percent, according to local market report by the Honolulu Board of Realtors. Pacific Business News.

A new monthly event organized by Common Cause Hawaii is set to debut Monday evening at Manifest with a look at why the Legislature is important and the work that state lawmakers plan to focus on this session, which opened Wednesday. Civil Beat.

Hawaii

Broken glass, food containers and spray paint cans are among the leavings on the excrement-smeared floor of a little building that once represented big plans to combat homelessness in Puna. West Hawaii Today.

Attorneys for the parent company of the Hawaii Tribune-Herald are seeking to overturn a judge’s decision to seal a crucial court document in the case of a state law enforcement officer accused of raping a minor girl on a Hilo beach. Tribune-Herald.

After months of inaction because it couldn’t seat enough people to vote, the county Board of Ethics is getting reinforcements. West Hawaii Today.

State health officials identified six new cases of dengue fever Thursday, bringing the total number on Hawaii island to 230. Meanwhile, an entomology team from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is returning to Hawaii this week to continue working with the state Department of Health on mosquito surveillance in the Kona area. Star-Advertiser.

A consultant hired by the state has finished a draft of alternatives for improving and managing the Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park. Those plans will be up for public scrutiny and comment later this month. West Hawaii Today.

Leaders of the Thirty Meter Telescope haven't said much since construction atop Mauna Kea was halted last April. But for the first time, we now know how much the company had already spent before protests blocked construction. Hawaii News Now.

The first Kama’aina Observatory Experience tour was held this Saturday, giving Hawaii Island residents a chance to visit the summit of Mauna Kea and see the world-class telescopes operating above the clouds. Big Island Video News.

George Yokoyama says he first got the idea of a botanical garden at Rainbow Falls 20 years ago while observing the arrival of visitors from his office at the Hawaii County Economic Opportunity Council across the street. Tribune-Herald.

A pack of mutt-loving locals is mulling ways to install more public off-leash dog parks throughout the Big Island. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui Republicans will hold their presidential caucus from 6 to 8 p.m. March 8 at five Maui locations and at sites on Molokai and Lanai. Maui News.

County Department of Liquor Control Deputy Director Traci Fujita Villarosa is seeking to become the next Liquor Control director, she confirmed Wednesday. Maui News.

For those of you who look over Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar’s 36,000 or so acres of Central Maui that won’t be growing sugar anymore this time next year and think that maybe we might start growing hemp on at least a portion of that land, there’s good reason to be optimistic. Really optimistic, if state Rep. Kaniela Ing, D–South Maui, gets his way. MauiTime.

Leila Hayashida, a former principal at Waihee Elementary School, has been named Central Maui complex area superintendent, the state Department of Education announced Wednesday. Maui News.

A multimillion-dollar social hall and office building project for the Portuguese Association of Maui and Maui Puerto Rican Association is expected to be completed by the end of March after a donation from a local business owner on Monday. Maui News.

Kauai

It’s been nearly one month since the Kauai Police Department became the first in the state to implement body-worn cameras and legislators have taken notice. Garden Island.

Island Air is heading back to Kauai after less than a year’s absence. The state’s second-largest airline, which ceased flights to the Garden Isle in June amid a company restructuring, will restore service with six daily round-trip flights between Honolulu and Lihue on March 15. Star-Advertiser.

If you were wondering just how busy the Kauai Lifeguard Association was last year, these numbers tell a pretty good story: Garden Island.

A new law on Kauai allows enforcement officers to fine dog owners who don't control their dogs from incessant barking. KITV4.