Powerful senator's private business tied to legislative actions, Ige blasts 'backroom deals,' Kenoi discloses cancer battle, famed Molokai mule trail in legal dispute, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

humpback whale breach Kohala Sail & Sea Michael Faughn

Whale count: Nearly 3 dozen spotted in just 15 minute time frame. Hawaii News Now.

State senator’s actions highlight gaps in ethics laws. Senate Ways and Means Committee Chairman Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz recently supported a bill to take more than $40 million away from the Hawaii Tourism Authority, a state agency that had denied the private company where he works an estimated $3.5 million worth of contracts over the last year or so. Star-Advertiser.

Ige Fires Back: Hawaii Doesn’t Need ‘Backroom Deals’. The governor says legislative leaders who now support Colleen Hanabusa are using their political power to manipulate the voters. Civil Beat.

House Finance Chairwoman Sylvia Luke berated Gov. David Ige and some of his department heads over conflicting testimony and tepid support for a proposal to set up a state-managed paid family leave program for Hawaii workers. Star-Advertiser.

A Senate bill making its way through the state Legislature would boost funding to improve state-owned trails across Hawaii and promote hiking safety and etiquette. Star-Advertiser.

‘Kaulana’s Law’ for fatal hit-and-run cases awaits floor vote. Star-Advertiser.

Early college program expands dramatically. Encouraging Hawaii’s public school students to chart their career and college paths as early as freshman year appears to be bearing fruit, according to a report released today. Star-Advertiser.

State studies ways to help ex-inmates find jobs. In 2016 Hawaii had a recidivism rate of about 63 percent, according to a study by the Attorney General’s Office. Star-Advertiser.

Requiring athletic trainers at every school makes Hawaii a national model. A state law enacted 25 years ago has helped make countless Hawaii student athletes healthier — and is also paying dividends that could someday be felt nationally or even worldwide. Star-Advertiser.

Marshallese in Hawaii struggling with poverty, according to new report. Extreme racial disparities exist among Hawaii’s population, with a growing number of immigrants from the Pacific islands living in poverty. Star-Advertiser.

A Hawaii-based nonprofit is disputing a report by the Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, which analyzed the impacts of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, saying the state agency left out “crucial details of federal tax law.” Pacific Business News.

Hurricanes and tsunamis get a lot more attention, but wildfires are one of the state's most common threats. Hawaii Public Radio.

Nene could be off the endangered species list in a year. KITV.

Oahu

Expect the Honolulu Police Department to gradually begin rolling out body cameras for officers by the end of the summer, Chief Susan Ballard said this week. Star-Advertiser.

How ‘Blind Faith’ Led To Hawaii’s Biggest Police Corruption Scandal. Federal public defenders quickly unraveled a case about the alleged theft of a mailbox. How did  U.S. attorneys miss the clues? Civil Beat.

A ceremony is scheduled for the $1.5B USS Daniel Inouye. Irene Hirano Inouye, the widow of U.S. Sen. Dan Inouye, will participate in a keel-joining ceremony — a major milestone in the life of a Navy ship — in May in Bath, Maine, as work progresses on the $1.5 billion destroyer named for the Medal of Honor recipient and legendary Hawaii lawmaker. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. David Ige on Friday had his second sit-down this month with the leader of one of Oahu’s largest homeless encampments following the governor’s March 13 pledge not to sweep Pu‘uhonua o Waianae, located next to the Waianae Small Boat Harbor. Star-Advertiser.

City Has No Aloha For A Waianae School Crosswalk. The Waianae parents and community leaders are flabbergasted that the city painted over their crosswalks. Civil Beat.

Nalo Farms to restructure for survival. Dean Okimoto of Nalo Farms in Waimanalo has made a difficult decision to sell his prime farm site, 2.5 acres passed to him by his parents, and transfer a lease on 14 acres of nearby state land to his leading farmworkers to keep Nalo Farms operating with him as a minority partner. Star-Advertiser.

Goat cheese and former Navy housing mix on a North Shore farm. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Former Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi announced in a Facebook post Thursday that he is battling a rare, aggressive cancer. Tribune-Herald.

Former Big Island Mayor Billy Kenoi wrote a lengthy Facebook message to friends, family, clients and students that a rare form of bone cancer he was diagnosed with three years ago has recently returned with a vengeance. Star-Advertiser.

Aina Lea developer prevails in federal taking case. A federal jury sided with a South Kohala developer, agreeing that a state Land Use Commission’s decision to reclassify more than 1,000 acres at Aina Lea was a constitutional taking of the property without just compensation. West Hawaii Today.

Police chief says proposed budget lacks funding to reinforce Puna, Ka'u districts. Tribune-Herald.

Council throws another $4M into Lono Kona. When bids for the Lono Kona sewer project came in earlier this year, the county tossed them out, hoping for a better deal. West Hawaii Today.

A Senate committee amended a bill authorizing a $25 million special purpose revenue bond for a small electrical satellite launch facility in response to strong opposition from Ka'u residents. Tribune-Herald.

Kanaka Rangers: It’s Time To Move Forward With Hawaiian Homesteads. The state is decades behind in awarding land to Native Hawaiians on Mauna Kea and elsewhere under the state homestead act. Civil Beat.

As funding cuts loom, GVS Accelerator hopes first major release inspires continued support. West Hawaii Today.

Vendors Are Dripping In Hilo As Farmers’ Market Weathers Political Storm. Tarps and tents that keep products and sellers dry have been ordered removed by county officials. Civil Beat.

Paddle boarder was alongside his dad when shark bit him. A stand-up paddle boarder is still fighting for his life after a shark attack in Kona waters Saturday morning. Hawaii News Now.

Maui

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday, for the second month in a row, dealt Maui County a setback in the legal defense of its Lahaina sewage treatment plant injection wells. Star-Advertiser.

While Maui County is pursuing projects to reuse its wastewater, the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has denied the county’s request for a full-panel review of its Feb. 1 decision that the county violated the Clean Water Act by pumping treated wastewater into injection wells at its Lahaina Wastewater Reclamation Facility since the early 1980s. Maui News.

Search for Souki’s successor begins. The resignation of two-time speaker of the House and longtime Wailuku Rep. Joe Souki has kicked off the official search for his successor, at least for the rest of his term this year. Maui News.


A grand deal: Grand Wailea to be sold April 17. The amount of the sale is reportedly the second highest paid for a hotel in the U.S. Maui News.


Kauai

A roundabout is being proposed for the Kuhio Highway and Mailihuna Road intersection in Kapaa. Garden Island.

Feds: Removing shipwrecks good for reefs. The remnants of the 1800s freighter Pele lie off the coast of Kauai’s South Shore, and though there’s not much of her left, shipwrecks like Pele could offer answers to coral research. Garden Island.

Lanai

Larry Ellison’s high-tech indoor hydroponic agricultural partnership, which is projected to grow vegetables for sale cheaper than imported produce, will open late this year, according to a filing with the state Public Utilities Commission by the Oracle Corp. founder’s Lanai utility companies. Maui News.
Molokai

Molokai mule ride company evicted from trail land. Landowner says that tour operators continued to refuse to negotiate a lease. Maui News.

Lease dispute aims to put a stop to famed Molokai mule rides. The family business that provides mules rides and escorted hikes on the cliffside Kalaupapa Trail has been evicted following a lease dispute with the owner of the land it must access to provide the popular activities. Star-Advertiser.

Arguably one of the most unique things to do in Hawaii, the Molokai mule ride down to Kalaupapa could soon be a thing of the past if the two-year long legal dispute between R.W. Meyer and Kalaupapa Rare Adventures isn't resolved. KHON2.

Akaka hospitalized, lesbian child support case draws national spotlight, Arakawa fights ethics fine, kupuna caregiver plan announced, state shoreline creeps mauka, Oahu property values climb, Hawaii County OT pared, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Former Sen. Daniel Akaka, right, with the late Sen. Daniel Inouye, 2012 file photo © 2017 All Hawaii News

Former U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka is fighting a leg infection at Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu. Akaka, 93, was admitted to the hospital a couple of weeks ago after a small infection on his leg worsened. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Attorney General Doug Chin issued a formal advisory opinion today stating that when the shoreline migrates landward (or mauka) due to erosion or sea level rise, the dividing line between public and private ownership also migrates mauka. Big Island Now.

Hawaii case draws attention to same-sex child support issues. National gay rights advocates are watching a child support fight between a divorced lesbian couple in Hawaii. Associated Press.

Civil Beat Poll: Voters Just Say No To Legalizing Recreational Marijuana. Survey respondents 50 and older aren’t ready to take the step, and in Hawaii, older voters still call the shots. Civil Beat.

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New state program offers aid for caregivers. The state is hoping its new program to provide up to $70 a day in services to those caring for seniors will help keep caregivers in the workforce longer. Star-Advertiser.

Caregivers to get much-needed financial help under new state program. Hawaii News Now.

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New state initiative offers support for those working and taking care of kupuna. The Kupuna Caregivers Program will provide financial help of up to $70 per day for services such as home-delivered meals, personal care, respite, adult day care, transportation or homemaker assistance. Tribune-Herald.

DowDuPont to cut jobs in Hawaii. Two global companies doing seed crop research in Hawaii became one in August, and now the company plans to consolidate local operations from six sites to three while also investing in two facilities. Star-Advertiser.

State traffic fatalities down so far this year. As of Monday, the state had 101 traffic fatalities, compared to 112 last year at the same point. Star-Advertiser.

How Will Hawaiian Airlines Weather Its Big Transition In 2018? With a new chief executive and the bulk of a new fleet set to arrive, Hawaii’s dominant airline will face a major competitor — Southwest Airlines. Civil Beat.

Republican leaders reach an agreement over tax reform. The call for sweeping changes could impact how much you pay at tax time, along with how much money is available for affordable housing in Hawaii. KITV.

Oahu

Oahu property values rise and taxes may, too. Across Oahu, the valuations for residential properties are going up 6.1 percent for the 2018-2019 tax year. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Police Department reviews body camera pilot program. Now that the pilot program is done — will it be rolled out permanently? KHON2.

Red Hill study details 6 options for fuel tanks. The Navy has submitted a tank upgrade study for the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility that examines six options ranging from enhancing current maintenance and inspection to creating a carbon steel tank within a tank. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu North Shore: Short Term Vacation Rentals. The state and counties are trying to resolve illegal vacation rentals in residential areas but it’s a complicated issue throughout the state. Hawaii Public Radio.

City sued over falling, 'twisting' hillside in Palolo. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii business could lose everything over Amazon taxes dispute. Ren Wu, the founder of the Remi Collection in Kalihi, says he has been a third-party seller for Amazon since 2009. Hawaii News Now.

Some of Hawaii's kumu hula considering trademark on halau name. A number of kumu hula are in the process of trademarking their halau after a Kaneohe hula school announced it may be forced to change its name. KITV.

Hawaii Island

Hawaii County is on track to pare almost half a million dollars off overtime expenses this year compared to last year. But overtime for county employees, most notably in the police and fire departments, still accounts for millions of dollars, according to an analysis of data provided by the county Finance Department. West Hawaii Today.

Hilo parcel could be developed after arsenic removal. A proposed commercial development in Hilo will move forward only if a plan to clean up and contain arsenic gets approval from the state. Tribune-Herald.

VIDEO: More Rule Changes Target Kealoha Beach Park. The Hawaii County Council continues to visit laws that could curb problems at 4-mile in Keaukaha. Big Island Video News.

A year after Hawaii County celebrated a $10.3 million renovation to the renamed Mauna Kea Recreation Area, Big Island residents and visitors are still waiting to use the park’s refurbished cabins, bunkhouses, dining hall and concessionaire. Civil Beat.

Aerospace agency promotes basalt as base for new industry in Hawaii. Could basalt — the volcanic rock that makes up the ground beneath our feet — become the building blocks for a new industry in the state? Tribune-Herald.

Maui

The state's Campaign Spending Commission wants to fine Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa $1,000 and wants him to pay back $8,000 to his campaign for excess donations to multiple charitable organizations. Hawaii News Now.

The chairman of the Maui County Liquor Control Commission promised a simpler application process for nonprofits seeking single-event liquor licenses after a handful of groups complained of more issues during Wednesday’s meeting in Wailuku. Maui News.

Lawsuit filed over Maui cancer institute's land leases. The Hawaii Health Systems Corp. has filed a lawsuit claiming land leases it entered into with the Pacific Cancer Institute are illegal and should be voided. Associated Press.

Maui hospital, cancer center lease dispute heads to court. A dispute between the Hawaii Health Systems Corp. and the Pacific Cancer Institute over the cancer center’s ground lease at the Maui Memorial Medical Center campus has reached an impasse and is headed to state court ahead of a deadline for resolution next month. Pacific Business News.

Kauai

Kauai Independent Food Bank had a busy weekend. Garden Island.

Navy holds first Hawaii hearing on missile test proposal, Honolulu police begin bodycam testing, Hagar selling Maui estate, Big Island bus ridership drops 30%, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

A Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) Block 1B interceptor missile is launched from the guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG 70) during a Missile Defense Agency and U.S. Navy test in the mid-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo)

Some seek to block Navy's bid to continue training in Hawaii waters. In a public meeting Monday evening at the Oahu Veterans Center, the community had a chance to weigh in on the Navy's Draft Environmental Impact Statement. Hawaii News Now.

Environmental and cultural concerns expressed over proposed US Navy training exercises. The US Navy officials hosted the first of several public meetings in Hawaii regarding its Environmental Impact Statement on testing and training operations in the waters off Hawaii and Southern California. KITV.

A rare joint exercise of three U.S. aircraft carrier strike groups — a combination wielding massive firepower — will occur in coming days in the Western Pacific as part of a pressure campaign on North Korea by the Trump administration. Star-Advertiser.

Nuclear shelter-in-place plan could keep parents, students separated for days. As nuclear rhetoric and missile tests continue from North Korea, Hawaii emergency officials say be ready to “Get inside, stay inside, and stay tuned.” KHON2.

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Two months after U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa announced her plans to run for governor, candidates looking to fill her seat in Congress are starting to emerge. Star-Advertiser.

Events to mark 100th anniversary of the death of Hawaii’s last monarch, Queen Liliuokalani. Hundreds of churches around the state are expected to toll their bells 100 times at 8:30 a.m. — the time of day Liliuokalani died on Nov. 11, 1917. Star-Advertiser.

Ancient Hawaiian Tradition Threatened by Invasive Bug. The hala or pandanus tree can grow up to 30 feet tall and is characterized by its long, sharp and spiny leaves. Those trees are now being attacked by an invasive predator. And the cultural practitioners whose traditions depend on hala are feeling the impact. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Seventy-seven Honolulu police officers Monday began testing body-worn cameras in a 30-day pilot project, making the Honolulu Police Department the last in the state to use the cameras. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Police Officers Begin Testing Body Cameras. HPD has outfitted dozens of officers with the technology as part of a 30-day pilot program. Civil Beat.

The Honolulu Police Department started testing body cameras Monday. KITV.

Criminal Case Against Kealohas Puts Brakes On Uncle’s Suit. The lawsuit filed by Gerard Puana will have to wait while the case against his niece and her husband continues, a judge rules. Civil Beat.

Defense attorneys in Kealoha corruption probe face heat over questionable practices. Legal experts say questions surrounding the attorneys for the former police chief and his deputy prosecutor wife are extremely troubling. Hawaii News Now.

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Waialua sunflower farm to hold open house. DuPont Pioneer, which recently merged with the Dow Chemical Co., held a media tour Monday at its 2,000-acre Waialua property, one of Hawaii’s largest farms. Star-Advertiser.

Waimanalo Tent-Dwellers: A Different Kind Of Homelessness. People living in a roadside encampment receive an unusual amount of community support, because many of them are longtime residents. Civil Beat.

Carbon monoxide poisoning linked to 2 Marco Polo deaths. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu home prices creep higher. For single-family houses, October’s median sale price edged up 1.3 percent to $752,000 from $742,000 in the same month last year. Star-Advertiser.

Home sales on Oahu saw a “healthy uptick” in the number of sales in October, compared to the same month last year, as the median price of a single-family home and condominium nudged up slightly, according to a report by Honolulu-based real estate firm Locations LLC. Pacific Business News.

Ward Village condo sales aid developer’s profit. Howard Hughes Corp. earned $27 million from condominium sales at Ward Village in the third quarter, according to a financial report the company published Monday. Star-Advertiser.

The Howard Hughes Corp. has sold nearly 90 percent of the 1,381 condominium units the developer is building at its Ward Village community in Honolulu and last month repaid a $195.3 million construction loan on the Waiea and Anaha towers there, the company said Monday in its third quarter earnings report. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

House Finance Committee checks in on state investments in West Hawaii. Members of the state House of Representatives Finance Committee were in town Monday to take a closer look at some of the projects they’ve recently funded throughout West Hawaii, including the major overhaul at the Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport. West Hawaii Today.

Big Island bus ridership has dropped by almost a third over the past four years, mostly due to unreliability of an aging fleet, consultants said Monday. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii County Talks Vacation Rental Rules. Local and state lawmakers discussed possible regulations for the growing vacation rental industry during last week's county council committee meeting. Big Island Video News.

Demolition of Uncle Billy's Pagoda Hotel uncertain. A hotel sitting vacant in Hilo will remain that way for at least the near future. Hawaii News Now.

October home sales soar on Hawaii's Big Island. Home sales on Hawaii’s Big Island soared in October, with increases of more than 25 percent from a year ago for both single-family homes and condominiums, but the median price of a condo fell by more than 25 percent, according to data provided by Hawaii Information Service on behalf of Hawaii Island Realtors. Pacific Business News.

Cyanotech earns $475K in second quarter. Hawaii island microalgae producer Cyanotech Corp. more than quadrupled its fiscal second-quarter profit in large part through a $900,000 reduction in legal fees. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

Victorino to run for mayor. Former Maui County Council Member Mike Victorino officially announced his intention on Monday to run for mayor in what is shaping up to be a competitive battle in 2018 to succeed Mayor Alan Arakawa. Maui News.

Kaanapali development met with resistance from Maui residents. Hundreds of people packed Lahaina Intermediate School Monday night to question the landowners and developers behind the Kaanapali Golf Courses Revitalization Project. Hawaii News Now.

Puunene Shopping Center filling up. Planet Fitness, Massage Envy and Ulta Beauty to open outlets on Maui. More retailers are flocking to the Puunene Shopping Center with pet store Petco opening its doors Monday and farm-to-table restaurant Fork & Salad slated to open early next year. Maui News.

Rocker Sammy Hagar is selling the 10-acre Maui estate he bought more than 20 years ago after searching for a place to relax in Hawaii following a world tour with Van Halen. Pacific Business News.

Kauai

KIUC issues request for qualifications for solar-hydro project on Kauai's west side. The Kauai Island Utility Cooperative last week issued a request for qualifications for its Puu Opae Energy Project on the Garden Isle's west side. Pacific Business News.

Kauai condo sales nearly double in October, median prices up by double digits. The number of condominiums sold on Kauai in October nearly doubled, when compared to the same month last year, while sales of single-family homes rose by more than 30 percent and median prices in both categories increased by double digits, according to data provided by Hawaii Information Service on behalf of the Kauai Board of Realtors. Pacific Business News.

Kids can earn money, recognition on the floor of the state House of Representatives, and a chance to mingle with legislators through a statewide contest running now through Jan. 31. Garden Island.

Economy beats expectations, appeals court agrees with Hawaii on Trump travel ban, flu program curtailed, foam food container ban advances, Ige confident against Hanabusa, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Waikiki shoppers © 2017 All Hawaii News

Economic experts tasked with forecasting Hawaii’s tax collections say the state’s revenue will grow at a slightly higher rate over the next two years, bringing in roughly $40 million more than previously expected. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s attorney general cheered a federal appeals court decision Thursday rejecting the Trump administration’s limited view of who is allowed into the United States under the president’s travel ban. Star-Advertiser.

A federal appeals court on Thursday rejected the Trump administration's limited view of who is allowed into the United States under the president's travel ban, saying grandparents, cousins and similarly close relations of people in the U.S. should not be prevented from coming to the country. Associated Press.

Governor Ige: I Have More Experience Running the State Than Congresswoman Hanabusa. Hawaii Public Radio.

Multiple federal agencies and state regulators have built cases around investment adviser and former head of the Hawaii Republican Party, David Chang, sources tell Hawaii News Now.

Mazie Hirono is happy, healthy and feeling great, ready to take on the Trump Administration and re-election. KITV.

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A lack of funding is forcing the state to scale back its annual school vaccination program. Hawaii News Now.

Stop Flu at School, the state’s free annual vaccination program for students in kindergarten through eighth grade, will be offered at only about 90 public schools on Oahu this year, according to the Department of Health. In addition, the free flu shots will no longer be offered in private schools. Star-Advertiser.

The state Department of Health will not provide free vaccinations against influenza at private schools this year. Tribune-Herald.

‘Stop Flu at School’ Annual vaccination program limited to selected public schools. Garden Island.

According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, the United States could be short more than 100,000 doctors by 2030. But Hawaii may have a solution. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

A more than $100 million public-private partnership to add new low-income rental homes to the state’s largest public housing project has unraveled, and a state agency and a private developer are blaming each other for it. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu Police Commission whittled its list of 34 police chief candidates to nine Wednesday after ranking their scores from a written exam that was administered by an independent contractor helping evaluate the applicants. Civil Beat.

Earlier this month, the Honolulu Police Department told us it was finally ready to begin testing body cameras. Now, we’ve learned that’s no longer the case. KHON2.

A contract dispute between the state and Queen's Medical Center forced some young patients with mental illnesses to scramble for new services last week. Hawaii News Now.

The Honolulu City Council granted special permits Wednesday for a 400-foot-tall, 444-unit condo-hotel near Ala Moana Center, waiving some zoning restrictions because of its location along the future rail line. Civil Beat.

Family demands answers for child’s second-degree burns from spilled hot school lunch. KHON2.

Three years after the city removed a filthy water fountain from Chinatown’s Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Park and promised other improvements, a nearby business owner hopes to call out city officials Saturday by painting a community mural over a massive and useless 11-by-10-foot pump house that remains in the park. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

A polystyrene food container ban took a big leap forward Thursday, when the County Council moved a bill to its final reading. West Hawaii Today.

The Hawaii County Council voted to pass Bill 13, the polystyrene foam reduction bill, on first reading during Thursday’s meeting in Hilo. Big Island Video News.

A Hawaii tour operator has been fined for repeatedly dropping swimmers in front of dolphins and encircling the animals with his tour boat, officials said. Associated Press.

County Finance Director Collins Tomei has turned in his resignation. He’s the second department head to resign since Mayor Harry Kim took office in December. West Hawaii Today.

The final touches are being made to a new Hawaii Fire Department station on Haihai Street in Hilo. Star-Advertiser.

Two Big Island school bus drivers have been placed on leave, after two school buses filled with children crashed into one another on Wednesday. KITV

A federal judge in California ruled at the beginning of this month that a lawsuit alleging violations of consumer protection laws and misrepresentation by the owner of Kona Brewing Co. could move forward. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Knowing that 1 million to 2 million gallons of drinking water every day irrigates Wailea and Makena landscapes, Maui County administrators and County Council members have begun exploring ways to find alternatives. Maui News.

The Department of Land Natural Resources plans to close Iao Valley State Monument again, this time for two months beginning on Monday, Oct. 16. Maui Now.

Anna Foust has resigned as head of the Maui County Emergency Management Agency to move with her family to Dayton, Ohio. Maui News.

Kauai

The Real Property Tax Assessment office announces that property owners who were previously denied the 3 percent Assessment Cap for Home Exemption due to a transfer of title may now retroactively adjust their 2017 assessments pursuant to Kauai County Ordinance 1015. Garden Island.


Molokai

Nearly 10 years after shutting down operations at Hawaii’s Molokai Ranch, the property’s Singapore-based owner has put the 55,575 acres, or 35 percent of the island of Molokai, on the market for sale with an asking price of $260 million. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii growth slows, Hanabusa mulls gubernatorial bid, lab bottleneck closes marijuana dispensaries, battle over Kawananakoa's $200M estate, monk seal moved from Waikiki, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Undersea cable, Hawaiian Telcom

Testing for the $250 million Southeast Asia–United States undersea fiber cable system is complete, according to Hawaiian Telcom, one of seven investors in the 9,300-mile long cable connecting Indonesia to California, via Hawaii. Pacific Business News.

The state’s top economists are a little less bullish on Hawaii’s economy. The Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism cut its growth forecast for Hawaii this year by a half-percentage point and projected the economy will continue to grow at a slower pace for the rest of 2017 and the three subsequent years. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s economy is experiencing positive growth, but at a slower pace than during previous years, according to report by the Department of Business and Economic Development. Pacific Business News.

Leadership from both the state House of Representatives and Senate have been meeting over the last several months to discuss the over-time and over-budget Honolulu rail project, but lawmakers now want to hear from the public as they work toward an agreement on financing. Hawaii News Now.

U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa said Friday she may mount an election challenge to Hawaii Gov. David Ige in 2018. Civil Beat.

A years-long effort to begin taxing dividends paid out to investors by some of the largest commercial property owners in Hawaii was blocked this year by state Sen. Rosalyn Baker, a lawmaker who has received substantial campaign donations from lobbyists and executives who represent some of those same investors. Star-Advertiser.

New Hawaii Salary Database: How Much Do We Pay Our Public Servants? Here’s the first installment of our new Hawaii public employee salary database for fiscal year 2018. Civil Beat.

Growing up in low-income public housing in the Bronx and attending New York City public schools, Christina Kishimoto experienced firsthand the effects of learning in an uneven school system, where resources vary greatly between neighborhoods. Star-Advertiser.

With two medical cannabis dispensaries now selling products, the Hawaii Department of Health is bracing for a surge of patients signing up for the state's medical cannabis registry. Hawaii News Now.

After a one-day delay because of bad weather, a NASA rocket containing experimental payloads from 15 collegiate institutions — including four University of Hawaii community colleges — launched Sunday from the Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Kaimana the monk seal was swept off to her new home Saturday morning with only a few barks of protest. Star-Advertiser.

A Hawaiian monk seal pup born on a Waikiki beach has been moved so that it can remain a wild animal and won't become accustomed to interacting with people. Associated Press.

Video from Civil Beat's live camera, of Kaimana being removed from the beach at around 8am Saturday morning by NOAA officials. KITV.

First rail land trial ends in condemnation. Star-Advertiser.

The state Department of Transportation is proposing to make several safety improvements along Farrington Highway, including eliminating and relocating some bus stops and crosswalks. Hawaii News Now.

Aloha Green Holdings Inc., one of Oahu’s three licensed medical cannabis dispensaries, said it has sold out its initial stock after just three days in business. Pacific Business News.

If a bill requiring older residential towers to install sprinklers becomes law, the city could offer no-interest loans to condominium owners who might need help to pay their share, Mayor Kirk Caldwell said last week. Star-Advertiser.

Marco Polo get-together like ‘big hug’ after tragedy. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu Police Department is finally ready to begin testing body cameras. The pilot project will be rolled out in mid-September. KHON2.

Ex-Cop Sues Honolulu For Not Paying To Defend Him In Assault Lawsuit. The Police Commission rejected Nelson Tamayori’s request for legal aid, but approved it for another officer facing the same allegations. Civil Beat.

With Hawaii’s unemployment rate so low, finding workers can be hard to come by, but the struggle isn’t just felt by employers. KHON2.

An increasingly bitter legal battle over the $200 million estate of Abigail Kawananakoa intensified over the weekend as the 91-year-old Campbell Estate heiress, in a letter transmitted by her longtime partner, accused her former attorney of ignoring her wishes and mismanaging her financial affairs. Star-Advertiser.

The $200 million estate of a 91-year-old descendant of Hawaiian royalty has become the topic of a legal dispute between her lawyer and her longtime partner. Associated Press.

In an explosive letter sent to Hawaii News Now, Abigail Kawananakoa says her longtime attorney is improperly trying to take control of her fortune. Hawaii News Now.

A new tribute to iconic island musician Don Ho was unveiled at the International Market Place Sunday.  Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Hawaii County Department of Water Supply has lost yet another water source in North Kona, prompting a revised water usage restriction with the most stringent mandates the department has issued since the saga began in January. West Hawaii Today.

Once again, a fifth water well is down in West Hawaii, leading to a new Emergency Water Restriction notice for North Kona. Big Island Video News.

Hawaii County officials say they could be a year away from relaunching an online building permit tracking system. Tribune-Herald.

The County of Hawaii is on the hook for improvements at a Kailua-Kona housing project years after discovering that sidewalks and showers aren’t compliant with federal accessibility guidelines. West Hawaii Today.

David Tarnas, who last year suffered a whisker-thin primary loss in his campaign to unseat state Rep. Cindy Evans, is ready for a rematch. West Hawaii Today.

About a dozen food and bike vendors have set up shop each night at the county-maintained parking lot at the end of Chain of Craters Road, located near the start of the more than 4-mile-long gravel emergency road that leads to the lava flow. Tribune-Herald.

Additional pavilions are in the works for Wailoa River State Recreation Area. Tribune-Herald.

Daughter of deported coffee farmer trying to keep operating afloat while waiting for dad’s return. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Anti-tobacco activists are hoping Maui County will follow Hawaii and Kauai counties in outlawing smoking in vehicles when children are present. Maui News.

Maui’s first state-licensed medical marijuana dispensary to open for business will be closed Monday and Tuesday and will change its operating hours. Associated Press.

Representatives with Hawaiʻi’s first medical cannabis dispensary say lab delays are forcing the business to suspend sales. Maui Now.

‘Bottleneck’ temporarily closes pot dispensary. ‘High demand’ leads to sold-out first batch of certified product. Maui News.

Maui school bus driver Cheryl Kuanoni was recently forced to leave five children behind because of a shortage of buses. KITV.

Traffic congestion and parking in Paia still generate headaches for residents and visitors of the bustling former plantation town hugging Maui’s north shore, but now property crime — especially vehicle break-ins — are a rising concern. Maui News.

Kauai

If Pierre Omidyar gets his way, 699 dairy cows will soon enjoy a glorious view of the Pacific Ocean, framed by a pristine beach. Omidyar, the founder of eBay, wants to build a dairy farm on Kauai. New York Times.

There are 106 vacant positions at the County of Kauai. However, 12 of them are dollar- funded, meaning 94 are vacant funded positions. Almost 30 of them are posted on the county’s website. Garden Island.

The Kauai County Council voted Wednesday to approve an access easement in Koloa. Garden Island.

The Kapaa Public Library will be reopening on Tuesday and resuming its normal public service hours. Garden Island.

Aquarium fish trade up for debate, police body cam bills die, Senate withholding public testimony, Oahu property taxes could spike to pay for rail, Ige meeting with bond rating agencies, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Lowfin chub and parrotfish © 2017 All Hawaii News

 During the next two weeks, Hawaii lawmakers will be negotiating the final details of a bill to limit fishing for the commercial aquarium trade — potentially capping a decades-old battle that has pitted fish collectors against conservationists and tour operators. Civil Beat.

Hawaii’s Department of the Attorney General says the state Senate improperly denied a person’s constitutional protected right to submit testimony for legislative hearings. An attorney general opinion says legislators cannot censor public testimony about proposed bills. But they did just that. Civil Beat.

Legislative measures to increase accountability and transparency at the Hawaii Tourism Authority are dead this session, but lawmakers have attempted an end run by asking the state auditor to deliver the agency’s 2018 management audit by the start of next session. Star-Advertiser.

There won’t be a law this year requiring Hawaii’s police departments to purchase and use vehicle and body-worn video cameras. Tribune-Herald.

Gov. David Ige and other state government officials began two days of meetings Monday in San Francisco with the three major credit agencies in a bid to obtain favorable bond ratings that will allow the state to borrow money at reduced interest rates. Star-Advertiser.

Tulsi Gabbard’s stance on Syria puts her back in the hot seat. Star-Advertiser.

Ten “town hall” events are scheduled to take place in Hawaii in the next two weeks, including seven scheduled by U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, two by U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz and one conducted by U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa. Civil Beat.

Hawaiian Airlines’ stock soared more than 5 percent Monday after the company raised its revenue expectations for the first quarter. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Oahu property taxes would need to jump 8 to 14 percent for the city to pay the remaining tab on an East Kapolei-to-Ala Moana rail line if state lawmakers don’t agree to a 10-year extension on the general excise tax surcharge, city officials told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.

The Division of State Parks has launched a high-tech campaign to prevent homeless campers from returning to the Diamond Head State Monument. Civil Beat.

A company that was declared in default and removed more than a year ago from a state project to build a new hangar at Hono­lulu Airport now says it was wrongfully terminated from the job by the state Department of Transportation. Star-Advertiser.

Hikers near the Kuliouou Ridge Trail are beginning to make some resident's homes their homes. Residents say they've been dealing with trash and even people trekking through front yards to borrow garden hoses. KITV.

One of two managers who was scheduled to go to trial next month on felony charges related to a fatal fireworks explosion in a former Navy munitions bunker in Waikele has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge in U.S. District Court. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu City Council members were briefed last week on plans to ease parking and delivery congestion in Waikiki. Hawaii Public Radio.

Transforming an empty Waikiki retail building that was once anchored by a NikeTown store into a seven-story hotel is projected to begin in 2018 and be complete in mid-2020. Star-Advertiser.

Michaels Development Co., one of the largest private sector affordable housing owners and developers in the United States, recently revealed details regarding its long-planned affordable housing project in Kapolei, including that the development could start construction by the end of this year. Pacific Business News.

Great Harvest Bread Co., a bakery and lunch restaurant in Downtown Honolulu, has closed for good. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

The state Land Board this week will consider approving a drone survey of forests affected by rapid ohia death and review proposed regulations that include restricting access to state forest reserves during emergencies. Tribune-Herald.

Alii bridge and culvert to be replaced at Kahului Bay. West Hawaii Today.

A $94,500 stewardship agreement for the county-acquired property by the Waipi’o Valley Lookout, Koaʻekea, will continue. Big Island Video News.

Debate rages in Waikoloa Village over homeowner subsidization of golf course. West Hawaii Today.

The agency charged with running Hawaii's small boat harbors blatantly mistreats and retaliates against residents who use the facilities, according to Hawaii County's prosecuting attorney. Hawaii News Now.

Maui

Members of a group opposed to new laws allowing the retail sale of alcohol 24/7 are expected to appear at the Maui County Liquor Control Commission meeting at 9 a.m. Wednesday in the Trask Building in Wailuku. Maui News.

The closing of Hawaii’s last sugar mill on Maui was the end of an era. But there’s a new cadre of innovative food startups and entrepreneurs hoping to write a new chapter for the Valley Isle’s agricultural story. Star-Advertiser.

Maui’s Kepaniwai Park at ʻĪao reopened today to increased visitor and residential traffic, after seven month closure. Maui Now.

County reopens Kepaniwai Park. Maui News.

Researchers are calling it an epidemic: a big spike in the number of people infected with rat lungworm disease in Hawaii. KHON2.

California couple contract rat lungworm disease during Maui honeymoon. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

A local cattle company that operates with 1,500 mama cows on the island recently received a six-figure investment from a Hawaii-based venture capital fund. Garden Island.

If all goes as planned, Lehua Island, a 284-acre state-designated seabird sanctuary less than a mile north of Niihau, will be rat-free in the near future. Civil Beat.

The concepts for five interpretive signs explaining the history and landscape of the Puna District will be unveiled at this year’s Earth Day celebration at Lydgate Beach Park. Garden Island.

AutoZone is opening its first store on the island of Kauai in the 8,575-square-foot former Blockbuster Video space at the Foodland-anchored Waipouli Town Center in Kapaa, the brokerage firm handling leasing for the center said Monday. Pacific Business News.

#BoycottHawaii trending on Twitter, gay tourism study released, state could be dinged by Trump budget, Honolulu rail spared, voter turnout lowest in nation, police set to test body cams, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii pool party at Kona resort © 2017 All Hawaii News

Hawaii won in court over the travel ban Wednesday but found itself in the midst of a social media firestorm Thursday as #BoycottHawaii went viral on President Donald Trump’s favorite platform, Twitter. Star-Advertiser.

After a federal judge in Hawaii blocked President Trump’s revised travel ban Wednesday, Trump supporters took to Twitter to call for a boycott of all things Hawaii. Civil Beat.

#BoycottHawaii is a hashtag that’s currently trending on Twitter after a federal judge in Hawaii blocked President Donald Trump’s revised travel ban. KHON2.

Derrick Watson: An Apolitical Judge Caught In A Partisan Firestorm. Acquaintances call the federal judge from Honolulu reserved and unemotional. But he’s under attack from the president and his supporters. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii Tourism Authority is bringing the preferences, sentiments and profiles of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender travelers out of the closet with the Thursday release of the state’s first commissioned studies for this niche market. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii's airline industry saw gains in 2016 due to the addition of new routes, though there are huge market opportunities from Asia and Japan, according to independent airline consultancy Ailevon Pacific. Pacific Business News.

New air service to Hawaii in 2017 is expected to bolster Hawaii’s economy by millions of dollars and help the state reach a sixth straight year of record-setting tourism performance. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii would stand to lose tens of millions of federal dollars annually that support services for the poor, affordable housing, the environment, local arts and media organizations under President Trump’s 2018 budget outline for discretionary spending released Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

President's budget proposal includes significant cuts to Hawaii programs, services. Hawaii News Now.

Trump’s draft budget still includes Honolulu’s rail funds. KITV.

At least 6,000 Hawaii students — including more than 1,000 on the Big Island — could be without after-school care if President Donald Trump’s proposed 2018 fiscal budget were to take effect as is. Tribune-Herald.

The East-West Center is listed among the Trump administration’s programs that would be eliminated under the president’s proposed budget cuts. Pacific Business News.

How Trump’s proposed budget could affect agencies, programs in Hawaii. KHON2.

For the fifth presidential election in a row, Hawaii had the lowest voter turnout rate in the nation, with only 43 percent of eligible voters casting ballots, according to a study. Star-Advertiser.

Lawmakers: Mail-in voting can improve Hawaii’s low voter turnout. Hawaii News Now.

Hundreds of people with developmental disabilities thronged the Capitol on Thursday to celebrate 30 years of progress toward self-determination and to push for adequate funding. Star-Advertiser.

The U.S. Air Force this week hosted allies and partners in Hawaii for a symposium on the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, which can sneak undetected behind enemy radar. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

The Honolulu rail board approved nearly $15 million in additional change orders Thursday — the latest tranche of money to help cover changes to construction contracts that project leaders have said the city issued prematurely. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu Police Department hopes to have patrol officers in at least one of its districts equipped with body cameras by the end of the year under a pilot project, HPD officials told the City Council Budget Committee on Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

A Kakaako street will be closed Saturday as the city begins construction of a new protected bike lane. Hawaii News Now.

Nineteen-year-old Christian Gutierrez, one of three people charged with slaughtering Laysan albatrossess at Kaena Point in 2015, agreed to a plea deal Thursday in Circuit Court. Civil Beat.

The Grand Islander, a 38-story Hawaii time-share property by Hilton Grand Vacations, is at 99 percent occupancy just two weeks after opening in Waikiki. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

Much of the Akaka Falls State Park trail system remains closed to visitors until further notice. The upper portion of the trail between the Akaka Falls and Kahuna Falls overlooks was damaged accidentally in February during the removal of trees. Tribune-Herald.

Rain and snowfall continue to replenish Lake Waiau, keeping the alpine lake that sits some 13,000 feet above sea-level atop Mauna Kea nearly full or full for more than two years. West Hawaii Today.

An endangered Hawaiian monk seal has died after wandering into a net pen and becoming trapped at a fish farm that was partially funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in Hawaii. Associated Press.

West Hawaii Today senior reporter Nancy Cook Lauer earned the Big Island Press Club’s Torch of Light award for her work on breaking the story surrounding former-Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi’s use of a county-issued pCard. West Hawaii Today.

Press Release: The Big Island Press Club presented its annual Torch of Light Award to reporter Nancy Cook Lauer for shining a light on a credit card scandal involving former Hawaii Island Mayor Billy Kenoi, who received the group’s Lava Tube dishonor award for keeping the public in the dark.

Maui

The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission’s public hearing on 113.5 percent sewer rate increases for 880 residential, business and government customers in Pukalani will begin at 6 p.m. today in Pukalani Elementary School’s cafeteria. Maui News.

The developer of a proposed project below Wailuku Heights that called for 147 residential lots, 450 multifamily units, a park and commercial area has nixed the project, according to a filing with the state Land Use Commission. Maui News.

Almost 280 people live in the Front Street Apartments, an affordable housing complex in Lahaina on Maui’s western shore. In two and a half years, their rents will convert to market rates if state lawmakers don’t take action to keep the 142 units affordable. Civil Beat.

Waiehu Golf Course Pro Shop co-owner Catherine Cordeiro holds a stack of petitions against Mayor Alan Arakawa’s proposal to shut down the municipal course. Maui News.

State House budget approved; moves to Senate for review. Proposed funding for Maui County airport improvements, ag park, flood damage included. Maui News.

Kauai

Fixing roads, freezing county vacancies, raising property taxes and establishing a special reserve fund are some of Mayor Bernard Carvalho, Jr.’s goals for the coming fiscal year. Garden Island.

Kauai residents are a step closer to being able to legally access an area in Koloa to get to the shoreline. Garden Island.

Award-winning documentary features pesticide use on Kauai. Garden Island.

Seven aircraft tour companies on Kauai are staffing a help line available for the public to report complaints about low-flying aircraft and noise issues relating to air tour operators. Garden Island.

A new study provided the first rigorous population estimate of an endangered bird species found only on Kauai. Garden Island.

Human bones moved to Mauna Kea by TMT protester, facial recognition in Hawaii tourism ads, rape test kit results lag, Kauai police continue body cameras, Kenoi rushes to finish projects as trial looms, Maui gay resort gets new owner, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

An ahu atop Mauna Kea © 2016 All Hawaii News

The Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources is investigating a case in which someone allegedly disinterred human remains and put them in a shrine at the proposed site of the controversial Thirty Meter Telescope on Mauna Kea on the Big Island. Civil Beat.

A Hilo man says an ahu built at the Thirty Meter Telescope site atop Mauna Kea should be protected after he deposited human remains there. Palikapu Dedman, who is facing potential criminal charges, told the Tribune-Herald he placed iwi, or bones, belonging to an ancestor on the stone altar last September and then again earlier this month after realizing the first set of bones were missing. Tribune-Herald.

The world of personal advertising isn’t quite there yet, but Hawai‘i Tourism Authority and Expedia are inching closer. They will roll out the “Discover Your Aloha” campaign on Sept. 26, which uses facial recognition software to personalize Hawaii advertising content. Star-Advertiser.

State and federal lawmakers are promising to improve conditions for hundreds of foreign fishermen working in Hawaii’s commercial fleet, and at least one company has already stopped buying fish from the boats following an Associated Press investigation that found the men have been confined to vessels for years without basic labor protections. Associated Press.

All four of Hawaii’s county police departments have failed to comply with a Sept. 1 statutory deadline requiring them to report to the attorney general’s office the number of untested rape kits they have in storage and the dates the forensic evidence was collected from alleged victims of sexual assault. Star-Advertiser.

Two top bond rating agencies last week upgraded their credit ratings for the state of Hawaii by a notch to the second-highest possible, a change that will allow the state to pay less interest when it borrows money later this month to finance state construction projects and to refinance debt. Star-Advertiser.

A Tennessee man was arrested Friday for allegedly making death threats against U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono and U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard. Civil Beat.

The Democratic Party of Hawaii followed through on Wednesday on its promise to sue a bigoted politician who is attempting to run for Congress as a Democrat in one race and as a Republican in a separate race. Civil Beat.

Oahu

The work to build Honolulu rail’s first 10 miles of elevated pathway is costing Kiewit Infrastructure West at least $100 million, according to a former project consultant with knowledge of the situation. Star-Advertiser.

Mayoral candidate Charles Djou has chastised Mayor Kirk Caldwell for eliminating a program designed to reduce the overuse of ambulances by chronic 911 callers. Star-Advertiser.

Chinatown Tries To Hang On To Tradition, Even As It Changes. Young professionals are moving to Chinatown to take advantage of the cheaper rents as well as new bars and restaurants. Civil Beat.

First wave-produced electricity in U.S. goes online in Hawaii. Associated Press.

The state health department confirmed a new case of hepatitis A today in a food service worker on Oahu. The infected person worked at Chart House Waikiki. The latest case brings the total of confirmed hepatitis A cases in the outbreak to 271. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

More than two years behind schedule and at least $228,000 over budget, the Ka'u gym project is becoming the gunk on the track slowing Mayor Billy Kenoi’s sprint to untie as many maile lei as he can before leaving office in early December. West Hawaii Today.

The criminal trial of Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi will go forward after a judge refused to throw out charges, including felony theft, stemming from his alleged misuse of his county credit card. Star-Advertiser.

The prosecutor in Mayor Billy Kenoi’s theft case said during a pretrial hearing Friday in Hilo he plans to call an FBI forensic accountant as an expert witness to go through the mayor’s personal and family finances. Tribune-Herald.

A judge has denied Hawaii Mayor Billy Kenoi's motions aimed at getting the theft case against him thrown out. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island Mayor Billy Kenoi will go on trial in October for theft relating to alleged misuse of his county credit card. KHON2.

Hawaiian Springs, which currently utilizes a well in Keaau, has submitted a proposed plan with the Hawaii County Planning Department for the “Pahala Town Square &Hawaiian Springs Facility.” Tribune-Herald.

Maui

West Maui Rep. Angus McKelvey and South Maui County Council Member Don Couch are calling on Gov. David Ige to stop - at least temporarily - construction of a seawall near Olowalu intended to prevent a section of Honoapiilani Highway from being washed away. Maui News.

Representative Angus McKelvey (West Maui, Māʻalaea, Kīhei) sent a letter to Governor David Ige on Friday, asking him to suspend the Department of Transportation’s work on the Honoapiʻilani Highway seawall near Olowalu.  Rep. McKelvey said he made the request, “so a cooling off period can be used to ensure that the concerns of the community are given a fair hearing.” Maui Now.

Wesley Lo, the chief executive officer of public hospitals in Maui County who helped shepherd a public-private partnership measure through the state Legislature, will be leaving his post Oct. 31, creating a leadership void as the hospitals make an operational transition to Kaiser Permanente in July. Maui News.

The Maui Sunseeker, the north Kihei shoreline resort known for catering to the LGBT community, has a new owner and a new name. Maui News.

Kauai

The Kauai Police Department plans to keep its officers outfitted with body cameras. Garden Island.

Progress on a project to create a 5.3-megawatt hydropower plant on state-owned land on the Kokee Ditch Irrigation System has been halted. That’s because the developer failed to meet construction deadlines, and the state withdrew the right to use the property, according to an Aug. 31 Federal Energy Regulatory Commission order terminating the permit exemption. Garden Island.

Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. and a few other public officials have intervened in a complaint at a state-owned housing complex, resulting in the promise of flooring upgrades, but questions still linger. Garden Island.

Genki Sushi reopens to wave of loyal customers. Garden Island.

The Department of Hawaiian Homelands is looking into a cache of cars abandoned south of Anahola Bay, brought to light by cleanup crews with Surfrider Kauai’s Net Patrol. Garden Island.