Cesspool replacement challenging, bacteria closes Ala Moana beach, AG Chin seeks $2.5M to counter civil disobedience, Trump tax cuts could lower electricity costs, Hanabusa island-hopping, Peter Boy siblings sue state, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Rinsing off baby after Kona swim ©2018 All Hawaii News

Ending the environmental threat that cesspools pose to Hawaii’s drinking and surface waters presents an enormous challenge — even with more than 30 years’ notice. Star-Advertiser.

The Department of Health presented their new report, Relating to Cesspools and Prioritization for Replacement, to a joint committee in Honolulu on Wednesday. Big Island Video News.

Cesspools an ‘impending threat’ to waters. Hawaii legislators were brought up to speed on cesspool replacement Wednesday during a briefing for the House and the Senate on the Department of Health’s cesspool report. Garden Island.

Homeowners express outrage at cesspool talk. Report to Legislature targets Upcountry Maui as potential threat for drinking water wells. Maui News.

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Hawaii Attorney General Douglas Chin, the state’s chief law enforcement officer, is seeking $2.5 million from the Legislature that he said would be used to respond to potential mass violence or civil disobedience events — and, possibly, demonstrations atop Mauna Kea. Star-Advertiser.

Legislators Push To Create More “Safe Zones” For The Homeless. But critics of legal homeless encampments say the state should emphasize finding permanent housing for people. Civil Beat.

U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, who officially launched her gubernatorial bid this week, said she wanted to show support for the neighbor islands during a visit to Hawaii Island on Wednesday. Tribune-Herald.

‘The future of the state’: Hanabusa touts Hawaii Island’s potential in bid for governor. West Hawaii Today.

Dialysis patients worry over Hawaii Medical Service Association policy change. On Feb. 1, HMSA said it will stop accepting payments from nonprofits that receive donations from dialysis clinics that treat patients whose medical premiums are paid for by the same charities. Star-Advertiser.

An upcoming HMSA policy change has certain Hawaii dialysis patients worried about how they’ll be able to pay for treatment. KITV.

Trump tax cuts could result in lower electric bills for Hawaiian Electric customers. The new federal tax code has the potential to ease the burden of Hawaii's utility ratepayers by lowering electricity costs across Hawaiian Electric Cos.' service territory. Pacific Business News.

US Marshals Return Escaped Psychiatric Patient To Hawaii. The killer had walked away from the state hospital in November. Associated Press.

Hawaii State Hospital escapee Randall Saito arrived in Honolulu today under the custody of federal marshals. Star-Advertiser.

U.S. Marshals escorted a psychopathic killer who escaped from the Hawaii State Hospital and fled to California back to the islands Wednesday. Hawaii News Now.

Kamehameha Schools official hopeful about settlement talks in abuse case. Kamehameha Schools has presented a “strong, substantial” financial offer in hopes of settling a lawsuit in which more than 30 former students accused a psychiatrist of sexually abusing them decades ago, the institution’s chairman said Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Settlement talks are now underway in the Kamehameha Schools sex abuse case. Hawaii News Now.

The Hawaii Tourism Authority on Wednesday released the 2017 Visitor Plant Inventory, which showed that visitor accommodation units statewide increased to 80,336 units, up 1.6 percent, year-over-year, the largest total ever recorded for the state. Garden Island.

Hawaii is leading the way in digital health and other ways to cut costs. Hawaii Public Radio.

First Hawaiian ranked ninth among U.S. banks. First Hawaiian Bank, in its first year of eligibility, cracked the top 10 of Forbes magazine’s 2018 annual list of America’s 100 largest top-performing banks. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

The state Department of Health issued a high bacteria advisory today for Ala Moana Beach Park. Star-Advertiser.

Department of Health Clean Water Branch officials are warning of elevated bacteria levels at a highly popular Oahu beach. Hawaii News Now.

High levels of fecal matter detected at Ala Moana Beach Park. KITV.

Warning signs posted after high bacteria levels detected in Ala Moana waters. Hawaii News Now.

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Hawaiian Electric says crews cleaned up about 95 percent of the estimated 500 gallons of oil that leaked from an underground pipeline in Pearl City Tuesday evening. KITV.

Cleanup underway after oil leaks from underground pipeline in Pearl City. KHON2.

Blue Startups will kick off its 4th annual East Meets West Conference on Feb. 1, with global investors managing over $1 billion expected to attend. Pacific Business News.

Federal investigators say a man who once spent time on Delaware's death row came to Hawaii intending to develop a major prostitution ring — and that he threatened, beat and raped women to force them to cooperate. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Lawsuit filed in ‘Peter Boy’ death. The estate of the late Peter Kema Jr. and Kema Jr.’s siblings are suing the state of Hawaii, the Department of Human Services and Kema Jr.’s parents, claiming the 1997 death of the chronically abused Big Island boy could have been prevented. Tribune-Herald.

The family of "Peter Boy" Kema, the 6-year-old who died at the hands of his abusive parents in 1997 but whose killing would remain unconfirmed for 20 years, has sued the state, saying Child Protective Services workers and the system didn't do enough to protect him. Hawaii News Now.

County hiring practices changing in wake of critical audit. A critical audit of the county Human Resources Department has spurred a bevy of changes to how public employees are recruited and hired. West Hawaii Today.

Retired police detective suing county, captain. A retired Hawaii Police Department detective claims he was falsely arrested and imprisoned early last year, and is suing the county and a police captain. Tribune-Herald.

Lawsuit alleges racial harassment. A Hawaiian Airlines employee stationed at Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport filed a lawsuit citing racial harassment and discrimination after discovering a noose and lynch rope near his locker. West Hawaii Today.

The Governor’s Task Force on Rat Lungworm Disease says the problem is spreading, it’s become an “emerging” tropical disease and that unanswered questions need to be addressed with research. Tribune-Herald.

Members of the Governor’s Joint Task Force on Rat Lungworm Disease visited Hilo Medical Center on Tuesday. The group is on the island, learning first hand about the effects of the disease in East Hawaii. Big Island Video News.

State officials are looking to fine a major big island landowner after unpermitted construction work damaged a historic cemetery in South Hilo. Hawaii News Now.

Maui

Is This Maui Landowner Getting A Raw Deal From The State? A man who lost his waterfront land may have to pay the state $1 million as part of an eminent domain case. Civil Beat.

Rep. Angus L.K. McKelvey of Maui presented a letter to Gov. David Ige formally requesting that he intervene and stop a Hawaii Department of Transportation proposal that includes last-minute changes to the Keawe Street intersection of the Honoapiilani Highway in Lahaina. Maui Now.

Liquor Commission sends evaluation of director to mayor. Arakawa will need to sign off before report is available to public. Maui News.

The pending sale of Grand Wailea resort on Maui for $1.1 billion will be the highest price paid for a Hawaii hotel and the second highest paid for a hotel in the United States. Star-Advertiser.

Blackstone Group LP is buying the Grand Wailea resort on Maui from Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund for a reported $1.1 billion, according to several reports. Pacific Business News.

Kauai

Panel looks at the climate and what could be ahead for Kauai. Threats to species, shorelines and structures, as well as opportunities for innovation were all on the table as the Earth Matters public lecture series opened Tuesday with a panel discussion on climate change and conservation. Garden Island.

West Maui condos face imminent threat from extreme erosion. Hawaii News Now.

The Kauai County Council on Wednesday approved a new lifeguard stand for Poipu Beach Park that officials believe will save lives.  Garden Island.

Audit blasts state energy office, Hanabusa more popular among business leaders, new U.S. attorney named, dialysis clinics vacant as inspections awaited, rats return to Lehua Island, Kealoha accused of coercing witness, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Waikiki king tides July 2017, courtesy UH Sea College Grant program

For the past two years, the University of Hawaii Sea Grant Program has been recruiting citizen scientists from across the Pacific. They were trained to document high water levels or King Tides in an effort to understand and adapt to sea level rise. Hawaii Public Radio.

State Auditor’s report blasts energy office. The Hawaii State Energy Office awarded a contract for more than $250,000 to plan a “state-of-the-art” energy innovation center last year, and then seven months later commissioned another consultant to assess whether that center is actually needed, according to an audit of the office. Star-Advertiser.

Read full audit here.

Auditors couldn't figure out what this state office does — or plans to do. Hawaii News Now.

Audit: State Energy Office ‘Is Not Doing Its Job’ A scathing report cites the office’s failure to document what it’s doing to help Hawaii’s transition to renewable energy resources. Civil Beat.

Why Colleen Hanabusa Can’t Sit Still. The Hawaii congresswoman talks about ambition, office-hopping and her quest for the Hawaii governor’s office. Civil Beat.

BOSS Asks Business Leaders: Ige or Hanabusa? Hawaii Business.

Kenji Price — a former federal prosecutor and Army Ranger who is now a director at the Honolulu law firm of Alston Hunt Floyd & Ing — has been appointed Interim U.S. Attorney for Hawaii by Attorney General Jeff Sessions, the Justice Department announced today. Star-Advertiser.

Ex-Army Ranger Named Temporary US Attorney For Hawaii. Kenji Price has been focusing on white collar criminal defense and commercial litigation at a Honolulu firm. Associated Press.

Delays in clinic inspections hurt dialysis patients. Lawmakers are trying to find solutions to a three-year delay in inspections for some dialysis clinics that largely remain closed as the number of residents with kidney failure continues to climb. Star-Advertiser.

One aspect of the homeless crisis: State realizes policing encampments is pricey. DLNR is requesting $330,000 in related funds. Gov. David Ige's administration also wants $419,302 to pay for eight new deputy sheriffs that could respond to complaints about illegal camping and trespassing on state lands. There is also a $5 million lump sum request in the state Department of Human Services' budget. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii joins 'tele-abortion' pilot amid debate about procedure's safety. Hawaii is one of only four states taking part in a "tele-abortion" pilot project, and the politically-charged issue is riling up abortion foes. Hawaii News Now.

Preschool Open Door Program Open for Enrollment. Low and moderate-income families in Hawaii can tap a state subsidized program to give their keiki a head start in early learning. Hawaii Public Radio.

No end in sight for mumps outbreak. In addition to containing clusters of mumps cases, the state is gearing up for the peak of flu season. KITV.

Mumps booster needed to avoid virus. Even if you had a mumps vaccination, you are being urged to get a booster shot. KITV.

Foreign fishermen settle human trafficking suit. Two Indonesian fishermen who say they were enslaved on an American fishing boat have settled their lawsuit against the vessel’s owner seven years after escaping and receiving special U.S. visas as victims of human trafficking. Associated Press.

Kmart to pay over $84K for overbilling Hawaii Medicaid customers. Pacific Business News.

Hawaiian Airlines awarded share of $227M federal contract. Hawaiian Airlines Inc. on Friday received a share of a $227 million federal contract for international commercial scheduled air cargo transportation services. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

Katherine Kealoha coerced man to lie to grand jury, charges say. The deputy city prosecutor wife of a Honolulu police chief convinced a man whose trust she allegedly stole from when he was a child to lie for her before a grand jury looking into corruption allegations against the couple, according to court documents filed today. Associated Press.

An alleged victim in the case against former Honolulu police chief Louis Kealoha and his deputy prosecutor wife, Katherine, is now a suspect. KHON2.

Police Commission Loosens Rules On Legal Fees For Officers. For years, city attorneys have been strict when it comes to paying an officer’s attorney fees in lawsuits and criminal complaints. Civil Beat.

Rise in attacks by state hospital patients prompts call for change. KHON2.

Medical Pot And Veterans: Groups Offer Free Evaluations. The cost of getting evaluated usually far exceeds the price of the actual registration process for cannabis users. Civil Beat.

Honolulu EMS announces the need for more money. KHON2.

Warning signs posted after big sewage spill into Kaneohe Bay. The public is being told to stay out of Kaneohe Bay after a spill sent 30,000 gallons of sewage into the water. Hawaii News Now.

Kaimana the monk seal is hooked again. Kaimana the monk seal got hooked — a second time. This time, she needed help getting it out. Star-Advertiser.

$500K-plus micro condo units to hit Kakaako market. About 200 studios range from 277 square feet to 373 square feet, with the smallest of those starting between $500,000 and $600,000. Star-Advertiser.

Howard Hughes to open sales office for new Honolulu tower. Pacific Business News.

Petitioners want to preserve monkeypod trees at Manoa Marketplace. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Ige releases additional $1.3M for outreach, research in battle against rapid ohia death. Tribune-Herald.

Mayor Harry Kim’s lobbyist to the state Legislature appeared before a more local body Wednesday, where he defended his track record and pledged better communication with the County Council. West Hawaii Today.

The traffic signals are in place, but it may take until the end of the month before intersection improvements at Shower Drive and Highway 130 in Puna are complete. Tribune-Herald.

A former driver for The Arc of Hilo who sexually assaulted a physically and mentally disabled woman last year in a van owned by the nonprofit organization was sentenced Wednesday to 20 years in prison. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Makawao is Highest Priority Area for Cesspools, Public Meeting Announced. Maui Now.

Water Director Taylor remains at home. Water Department leadership in limbo following council vote in support of director. Maui News.

Kauai

Rats! signs of life. A rapid assessment team flew to Lehua Island Tuesday after checks of motion-detecting field cameras showed the presence of two rats. Garden Island.

Housing crisis lingers as additional rental unit bill deferred. A bill aimed at allowing homeowners to build small rental units on their land in order to help meet an affordable housing shortage was deferred to the end of February during a Kauai County committee meeting Wednesday. Garden Island.

UH pay hikes questioned, Honolulu suffers sewage spills, renters may purchase solar power, former state officials join HMSA, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

University of Hawaii at Hilo ©2017 All Hawaii News

Lawmakers question big pay hikes at UH. Some lawmakers are blasting a decision by the University of Hawaii to award $800,000 in pay raises and merit-based bonuses to university executives. Star-Advertiser.

End of tax write-off for premium seats may hit hard at UH. In good years UH has grossed as much as $4.4 million annually from its premium seat contributions and parking initiatives, or as much as 10 percent of the revenue it takes to run the 21-team athletic program in Manoa. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Department of Education is thinking up new ways to attract teachers to the state to address an ongoing teacher shortage, starting with looking at teacher-exchange programs with other countries. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Medical Service Association has hired two high-profile former state employees. Kathryn Matayoshi, former superintendent of the Department of Education, was hired to lead the sales team, and former state representative Pono Chong is joining Hawaii’s largest health plan as a lobbyist. Star-Advertiser.

A new Community-Based Renewable Energy program is designed to open the door for people previously shut out of the solar market. Hawaii’s long-awaited Community-Based Renewable Energy Program is designed to let residents, including renters, buy their electricity from off-site producers of renewable power. Civil Beat.

Rental Housing Report. A recent study that tracks rental housing across the country throws some light on the plight of families in Honolulu and Hilo as they struggle to make rent spending more than a third of their salary for housing. Hawaii Public Radio.

Filing error overvalues Island Air's assets. Hawaiian Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq: HA), the parent of Hawaiian Airlines, last week agreed to pay $750,000 for the assets of its now defunct competitor. Due to the filing error, Hawaiian will now only have to pay $625,000. Pacific Business News.

The Rat Lungworm Task Force. The State Department of Health has created a Rat Lungworm Task Force to look at this daunting disease. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Suits Against Honolulu Cops Cite ‘Culture Of Silence’ At HPD. An attorney says the incidents that injured his clients could have been prevented if officers had been disciplined in the past. Civil Beat.

About 6,200 gallons of raw sewage spilled into Honolulu Harbor today after a clogged pipe caused waste water to seep out of a manhole near Pier 38, a Department of Environmental Services spokesman said. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu grapples with 3 large sewage spills over 2 days. Hawaii News Now.

Homeowner at center of Portlock beach access debate suffers stroke and wife blames city. Hawaii News Now.

A former employee at Waianae's largest medical facility has been indicted for the alleged theft of thousands of boxes of diabetic test strips that were later sold on the black market. Hawaii News Now.

A 69-year-old woman accused of stealing millions of dollars from an Oahu non-profit pleaded not guilty in court Tuesday. Lola Jean Amorin is accused of taking $7 million from stealing millions of dollars from an Oahu non-profit pl The Arc in Hawaii, a non-profit that provides services for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. KITV.

Efforts are underway to save the Falls of Clyde. A year and a half after she was impounded by the state Harbors Division, the historic Falls of Clyde may be heading home to her birthplace of Scotland this summer. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii DLNR

Albatross colony at Kaena Point gets new life. Conservationists last week teamed up with the U.S. Navy to translocate 21 Laysan albatross eggs to Kaena Point Natural Area Reserve from the Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kauai. Star-Advertiser.

For aircraft safety (and theirs), 21 albatross eggs relocated to Oahu. Twenty-one fertilized Laysan albatross eggs have been taken from a colony on Kauai, where the protected birds are an aircraft strike hazard. Hawaii News Now.

One of the state’s largest charities is worried it will have less money to help those in need next year because of tax changes that take effect next month. KHON2.

Honolulu-based Hawaiian Islands Land Trust will honor Henk Rogers and Blue Planet Foundation, the clean energy nonprofit he founded, at its 17th annual Buy Back the Beach: Malama Kipuka Benefit Luau on Jan. 20. Pacific Business News.

Paradise Park founder had knack for numbers and real estate. James Wong is probably most known for establishing Paradise Park in Manoa Valley. But he also developed real estate on Oahu, taught accounting at Chaminade College and in recent years lobbied for bills at the Legislature to improve affordable-housing production. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Five Big Island regions are especially vulnerable to contamination from cesspools, a state report says. The Dec. 19 report to the Legislature by the Department of Health says the Big Island is home to more than half of the state’s 87,900 cesspools, and has five of the 14 areas prioritized for cleanup. West Hawaii Today.

A driver’s insurance policy should cover the cost of replacing approximately 15 headstones damaged or destroyed after a vehicle plowed into Hilo’s Alae Cemetery last week, according to the Hawaii County Department of Parks and Recreation. But the department is still asking family members to call so they can help replace the grave markers. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Adult Correction Officer Recruitment Opens on Maui. Maui Now.

November home sales sizzle with strong demand. Low inventory makes it a hot sellers’ market. Maui News.

Lost funding has put brakes on local Read Aloud program. Cost cutting has led to loss of vans, use of U-Haul vehicles. Maui News.

1,275 Rocks Returned to Haleakala in 2017. Letters of apology to Pele, the Hawaiian goddess of fire and volcanoes, often accompany these rocks. Maui Now.

Kauai

Coastline changes. While geologists say shifting sands aren’t unusual, it’s a prediction of what could be coming in the next few decades and scientists say long-term studies of the area are necessary. Garden Island.

Expedia Travel featured Lihue as one of the best vacation destinations in America to escape the winter, mainly because its average temperatures in January reach a warm 78 degrees and drop to a comfortable 65 degrees. Garden Island.

Officials mull private prison partnerships, Finance Director Machida to retire, local banks share tax savings with employees, entangled humpback freed off Maui, homeless problems persist, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Community Correctional Center ©2017 All Hawaii News

State prison officials consider private partnerships. State prison officials are asking lawmakers for $1 million to study the potential for forming “public-private partnerships” that could be used to help expand and modernize the crowded state correctional system. Star-Advertiser.

State Finance Director Machida to retire, following 2 surgeries. State Director of Finance Wesley Machida, who has served as the state’s budget director since 2014 and previously led the state’s $16 billion public employees pension fund, will retire effective New Year’s Eve. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. Ige Makes Two Cabinet Appointments. The governor named a temporary replacement for the outgoing State Budget Director, and a new head for the Human Resources Development Department. Civil Beat.

‘From Bad To Worse:’ Hawaii’s $1.75 Billion Cesspool Problem. The risks posed by the state’s 88,000 remaining cesspools will likely be amplified by climate change. Civil Beat.

Reducing liability for rescue tube landowners. The threat of being sued may be stopping lifesaving equipment from getting to the waters edge, where it is needed the most. KITV.

Local banks to save millions from corporate tax cut. Hawaii’s four largest banks gave unexpected stocking stuffers to employees over the long holiday weekend in the form of bonuses and minimum wage increases. Star-Advertiser.

Four Hawaii banks raise minimum wage, award cash bonuses. Pacific Business News.

Price for Island Air’s assets to be reduced by $125,000. The sale of Island Air’s operating certificate and other assets is not going to generate as much money from Hawaiian Airlines’ parent company as initially expected. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Obama a sight on Oahu this holiday season. Unlike the eight years Obama spent in the Oval Office, there are no machine gun-mounted boats patrolling the waters off of Kailua this year. And there have been no presidential motorcades to snarl Oahu traffic. Star-Advertiser.

HECO asks for $6 million more from the state PUC. Hawaiian Electric Co. is asking the state Public Utilities Commission for slightly more than the 2.5 percent base-rate increase that was approved Dec. 15. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Electric files motion with state regulators to recover pension contributions. Pacific Business News.

Honolulu Police Try Building More Trust With The Homeless. In a new program, officers work with outreach workers to help steer the homeless to services rather than just write tickets. Civil Beat.

In just two years Christina Bush has solicited donations through Facebook and Instagram that have generated thousands of dollars’ worth of new and used donations for hundreds of homeless and low-income children and families across Oahu while building a small but loyal group of volunteers. Star-Advertiser.

Can Hawaii end homeless crisis for good? There's a new push to make affordable housing a reality. It's called the Puuhonua Villages Bill -- and the idea would tackle the homeless crisis head-on. KITV.

Councilwoman: Giant treehouse in Manoa is site of illegal 'retreat'. A Christmas Day accident at a Manoa treehouse is renewing calls by neighbors to investigate the landowner. Hawaii News Now.

Wastewater discharges prompt advisories for Pauoa, Kailua. The state health department advises the public to stay out of the waters of Pauoa Stream from Olomana Lane to Hialoa Street bridge due to wastewater discharge. Star-Advertiser.

The badly decomposed carcass of a humpback whale that nearly washed ashore at Haleiwa on Christmas Day, is in the process of being towed out to deep ocean waters this afternoon, according to the state Department of Land and Natural Resources. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

County negotiates state approval to move forward with permanent homeless development. Hawaii County continues to move forward with plans to relocate Camp Kikaha out of the Old Kona Industrial Area and expand it to accommodate several hundred homeless on a permanent basis — but both the process and pace of that change have been altered in recent weeks. West Hawaii Today.

Rarest of the rare: Colony of endangered seabirds discovered at PTA. In a discovery that surprised researchers, a nest of the endangered band-rumped storm-petrel has been found at nearly 7,000 feet above sea level on Mauna Loa, making it the seabird’s only confirmed colony in the state. Tribune-Herald.

Rat lungworm disease can be devastating. The overwhelming majority of cases have been on Hawai'i Island. State legislators on that island have made several requests to fund ongoing research and outreach efforts at the UH Hilo College of Pharmacy and Hilo Medical Center. In the last legislative session, funds WERE allocated—but not to institutions on the Big Island. Hawaii Public Radio.

UH-Hilo pharmacy study could have nationwide impact. A University of Hawaii at Hilo study designed to decrease medicine-related re-hospitalizations of older adults is garnering national attention. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui Ag Shipments Down 65% in Third Quarter. Young Brothers, Limited announced that intrastate cargo volumes between Honolulu and six neighbor island ports increased 0.3% in the third quarter of 2017, compared to the same time last year. Maui Now.

Meeting to discuss administrative rules for harbors planned. Maui News.

Unemployment rates in county at historic lows. Maui News.

Whale freed off Lahaina. Adult humpback had been entangled in 340 feet of heavy line. Maui News.

Entangled Humpback Whale Freed Off Maui. An entangled adult humpback whale was freed by a team of trained responders off Lahaina, Maui on Christmas Day. Maui Now.

Kauai

Debris threatens whales. A buoy is floating about 200 yards offshore at Ahukini Landing, seemingly snagged on something in the water below. Garden Island.

Sexual misconduct in Hawaii Legislature, SHOPO president busted down to midnight patrol, more people leaving than moving to Hawaii, free Wi-Fi at Honolulu airport, Salary Commission slows raise-making, Sunset Beach succumbing to the sea, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Snow-topped Mauna Kea, photo by Harry Durgin

Sexual misconduct complaints have hit 4 state lawmakers. Four Hawaii lawmakers have been the subject of sexual harassment or sexual misconduct complaints since 2008, an Associated Press investigation has found. Associated Press.

People keep leaving Hawaii in droves and this year was no exception. Some 13,537 more people left Hawaii for the mainland than moved in from another state from July 2016 to July 2017, according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii’s strong tourism industry boosted the performance of hotels statewide in November with the neighbor islands in particular seeing a significant bump. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii hotels experienced a 5.5 percent increase in revenue per available room in November compared to a year ago, while average daily rates and occupancy also grew, according to the Hawaii Hotel Performance Report released Thursday by the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii unemployment rate drops to record 2%. Hawaii’s unemployment rate is at a record low, dropping 0.2 percentage points from 2.2 percent in October, to 2 percent in November, according to figures released on Thursday by the state Department of Labor & Industrial Relations. Pacific Business News.

Former deputy sheriff sues state, claiming discrimination because he's gay. Hawaii News Now.

OHA Trustees’ Settlement Cost $879,000 In Legal Fees. The state agency paid $614,000 to litigate Akana vs. Machado, while insurer AIG paid for $265,000. Civil Beat.

Plans to add planes sent Island Air into nosedive. David Uchiyama, president and CEO of what had been Hawaii’s second-largest interisland airline, described the company’s downfall under questioning Thursday by an attorney and court-appointed trustee working to liquidate Island Air assets for the benefit of creditors. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

New Police Chief Reassigns Union President To Patrol Shift. Susan Ballard says she had concerns with how the department’s Peer Support Unit was led by SHOPO chief Tenari Maafala. Civil Beat.

Amid debate about homeless safe zones, 9 possible sites identified. As the state, city and police struggle to keep homeless campers off public property, some are now looking at whether Hawaii should offer homeless people a legal place to camp. Hawaii News Now.

Erosion at Sunset Beach could cause a “catastrophic” collapse, the state says. The severely eroding cliff and shoreline at Sunset Beach Park on Oahu’s North Shore have reached inland at an unprecedented level, forcing city officials to implement immediate safety measures and consider long-term solutions. Star-Advertiser.

Experts say the severe erosion taking place at Sunset Beach is reaching unprecedented levels, leaving city and state officials hustling to find both short- and long-term solutions to address the rising sea levels. Hawaii News Now.

Public urged to stay away with Sunset Beach erosion expected to get even worse. KHON2.

Free Wi-Fi debuts at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport. Coverage at the Honolulu airport includes the Overseas Terminal and Central Concourse on the first and second levels between ticket lobbies 4 to 8, gates 12 to 25 and baggage claims E to H. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Airline's outgoing CEO says the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport isn't  "adequate to fit the community" and needs to be modernized. KITV.

$20 Million Facelift For Popular UH Library Is Among Ige’s Requests. The governor’s supplemental budget proposal is one small step toward addressing the university system’s maintenance backlog. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Salary Commission slows the raise train. Faced with the mayor and two County Council members urging caution, the Salary Commission on Thursday hiked salaries a little further in two departments, but postponed action on a dozen other positions — including the mayor and County Council members themselves — until its next meeting in January. West Hawaii Today.

Repair of Keopu Deep Well poised to rollback months-long North Kona water restriction. West Hawaii Today.

Wi-Fi planned for Hilo airport. The state Department of Transportation launched free Wi-Fi coverage Dec. 14 at several terminals in Honolulu’s airport and expects to extend that service to airports throughout the state, including Hilo International Airport and Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole, in 2018. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Rapidly increasing erosion on the Maui shoreline has threatened a cemetery temple building and swept away close to 100 gravestones. Associated Press.

Kauai

Navy and KIUC sign lease to develop solar farm. The Navy and the Kauai Island Utility Cooperative have signed a lease to develop a 19.3-megawatt direct-current solar facility in conjunction with a 70 megawatt-hour battery energy storage system at the Pacific Missile Range Facility that will benefit the community and missile testing. Star-Advertiser.

Pacific Missile Range Facility will be housing a new 19.3-megawatt solar facility in conjunction with a 70-megawatt hours battery energy storage system, thanks to an agreement between the U.S. Navy and Kauai Island Utility Cooperative. Garden Island.

KIUC teams up with U.S. Navy to develop new solar-plus-storage facility on Hawaii's Garden Isle. The Kauai Island Utility Cooperative Thursday said it signed a lease with the U.S. Department of the Navy, Command Navy Installations Command and Naval Facilities Engineering Command for the development of a 19.3-megawatt solar facility along with a 70 megawatt-hours battery storage component. Pacific Business News.

Health department ends Hanalei cesspool upgrade program. The Hawaii Department of Health has withdrawn a program aimed at helping Hanalei residents upgrade their sanitation systems. Associated Press.

Hawaiian Airlines seeks to buy bankrupt competitor's assets, Ige asks Supreme Court to hurry up with Thirty Meter Telescope decision, cesspools threaten drinking water, Kahaluu residents fight homeless igloos, no rat poison found in beached whales, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaiian Airlines at Honolulu airport © 2017 All Hawaii News

Hawaiian Airlines’ parent to buy bankrupt Island Air’s assets for $750,000. In a surprise twist to the Island Air bankruptcy case, the trustee overseeing the liquidation filed a last-minute motion this morning disclosing that Hawaiian Airlines’ parent company has agreed to purchase the operating certificate and other assets of the failed company. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Holdings subsidiary offers to purchase Island Air assets. Pacific Business News.

The parent company of Hawaiian Airlines has offered to buy Island Air's assets and operating certificate. Hawaii News Now.

The owner of Hawaiian Airlines could soon also own Island Air. During a bankruptcy hearing for the now-defunct airlines Tuesday, an offer was made. KHON2.

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Cesspool upgrades critically necessary. A state Department of Health report released Tuesday identifies 14 areas where officials say interim cesspool upgrades are critically needed to protect public health and the environment. Star-Advertiser.

Cesspools could soon impact your drinking water, DOH says. Hawaii News Now.

‘Devastation’ Discovered In Deep Sea From Industrial Fishing. But without a $2 million donation, it may be the last expedition for the Hawaii-based research submarines and support vessel that conducted the study. Civil Beat.

A coalition of 17 Hawaii conservation supporters released its second annual state of the environment report Monday, urging greater support for environmental initiatives to help combat climate change already starting to emerge in the islands. Star-Advertiser.

Report: There Are Worse Places To Be Than Hawaii In A Health Emergency. The islands have room for improvement, but they fare well in a state-by-state comparison, according to a new survey. Civil Beat.

Hawaiian Telcom expands broadband connection to 5,000 rural areas in Hawaii. In 2015, Hawaiian Telcom was awarded approximately $26 million in CAF Phase II support to continue expanding high-speed broadband internet service in Hawaii’s rural areas, mostly on the Neighbor Islands, through 2020. Pacific Business News.

Scoot: Inaugural Singapore through Osaka to Honolulu Flight. The first flight from Singapore through Osaka landed in Honolulu today. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Caldwell looks to rein in ‘monster houses’. Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell is backing a call by some City Council members for a moratorium on large-scale houses in residential zones until permanent language can be imposed putting limits on the so-called “monster houses” that have been sprouting up in older Oahu neighborhoods recently. Star-Advertiser.

Kahaluu residents voice concerns over plans for homeless 'igloo' shelters. Plans to build "Dome Homes" for homeless people in Windward O'ahu are just waiting for a building permit from the city. KITV.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell Builds A New-Look Police Commission. His nomination of Shannon Alivado, if confirmed, would mean all seven commissioners would be his appointees. Civil Beat.

‘Beagle Brigade’ sniffs out contraband at airport to prevent spread of pests. In the midst of holiday travel, the USDA is reminding the public of what can and cannot be transported to the mainland due to tropical pests in Hawaii that pose a threat to mainland agriculture. Star-Advertiser.

The former Sports Authority location in Kakaako will be transformed into an indoor marketplace next year for as many as 250 local vendors. Star-Advertiser.

Sexual predator abused children — and treated priests who did the same. Long-hidden documents show how the same man, prominent Honolulu psychiatrist Dr. Robert Browne, played a central role in two of Hawaii's biggest sex abuse scandals. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Gov. David Ige is urging the state Supreme Court to issue a quick decision on the Thirty Meter Telescope case. The governor is hoping the high court will fast track the case because the project faces a looming deadline. Hawaii News Now.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources is seeking to fine a landowner nearly $65,000 for damage done to a plantation camp cemetery it alleges was caused by heavy machinery. But Ed Olson, whose trust purchased the land in 2015, says the equipment didn’t touch the headstones. Tribune-Herald.

The Hawaii Interagency Council on Homelessness voted Tuesday to provide $25,000 in state funds to Hawaii County to continue operating Camp Kikaha, a legal homeless encampment in Kona on Hawaii Island known as a “safe zone". Civil Beat.

Help is on the way for the troubled Hele-On bus system. The state Department of Transportation is sending another $419,817 in federal funds to the county, on top of the $700,000 already appropriated. Bill 87, set to be voted today by the County Council, will accept the money into county coffers. West Hawaii Today.

The W.M. Keck Observatory, which hosts two of the most powerful telescopes on Earth, is getting an upgrade to its adaptive optics system. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii County in November issued its highest number of solar permits in 13 months as it continued to buck the downward trend on Oahu and Maui, the other two major PV markets in the state. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

Upcountry Maui is one of 14 priority areas where cesspool upgrades are critically needed to protect public health and the environment, the Hawai‘i State Department of Health cited in a report filed today with the Legislature. Maui Now.

Erosion devouring mission property. Members of the 111-year-old Mantokuji Soto Zen Mission of Paia are hoping to save their temple building and cemetery from rapidly increasing erosion that has swept out into the shore break close to a hundred gravestones and claimed several acres of land over the years. Maui News.

Kauai

No rat poison found in beached pilot whales. A U.S. Department of Agriculture report released Tuesday indicates that no detectable levels of rat poison were found in the livers of five pilot whales stranded on Kauai in October. Star-Advertiser.

No detectable levels of rat poison were found in the five pilot whales that died on Kauai in October, according to a Tuesday state announcement. Garden Island.

Two months after five pilot whales died following a stranding on a Kauai shoreline, new lab results are ruling out rat poison as the cause. Hawaii News Now.

More than 6,000 cesspools should be replaced on Kauai in order to improve water quality, according to the state Department of Health. Garden Island.

Search on for unexploded bomb at Kealia Beach. An unexploded bomb is reportedly floating near Kealia Beach, and officials with the state, county and Pacific Missile Range Facility are on the hunt. Garden Island.

Tsunami's effect on seabirds, Hirono to undergo second cancer surgery, Kauai missile test fails, Honolulu rail budget approved, Kona homeless camp nears sweeping, Maui golf course under review, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Albatross in Northwest Hawaiian Islands, NOAA

A new study takes a closer look at the tsunami’s devastation in the islands suggests the episode is a window into the future of what seabird populations face in a world of climate change, sea level rise and increased storm surges. Star-Advertiser.

A recent study examined the impacts of a 2011 tsunami on birds in the Pacific -- and the results aren't favorable for wildlife. Hawaii News Now.

Gov. David Ige is facing a political quandary as he nears Monday’s deadline for deciding the fate of a bill that would eventually end the catching of aquarium fish in Hawaii. Civil Beat.

Hawaii is experiencing another round of king tides, the highest tides of the year, which usually occur around the winter and summer solstices. Star-Advertiser.

Sen. Mazie Hirono invited Island News to talk about her health issues as she deals with stage four kidney cancer. She'll soon undergo surgery to remove a rib where a second tumor was found. The senator expects a full recovery. KITV.

U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono will undergo surgery Tuesday to remove a lesion on her seventh rib where a second tumor was found by doctors. Star-Advertiser.

U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono is preparing to undergo another surgery in her ongoing battle with stage four kidney cancer. Hawaii News Now.

A lawmaker is asking the state attorney general to consider litigation against pharmaceutical manufacturers over the opioid crisis that has resulted in overdose deaths and addictions. Hawaii News Now.

Lawmaker urges Hawaii to take action against makers of addictive painkillers. KHON2.

The Department of Education says there’s currently no policy on how schools are told to deal with a student with head lice. KHON2.

Hawaii continued to see drops near or above 20 percent in new foreclosure lawsuit filings during March and April, according to the latest data from the state Judiciary. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii-based nutrition and health products company Cyanotech Corp. on Thursday reported a net loss of $1.2 million, or 21 cents per diluted share, for the fiscal year that ended March 31, compared to a loss of $4.4 million, or 79 cents per diluted share, for the previous year. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

The Honolulu rail’s operating budget will increase 11.5 percent to $34.9 million from $31.3 million for the next year, according to a budget approved Thursday by the board that oversees the troubled development. Civil Beat.

In 2015, amid mounting costs, Honolulu rail leaders boasted that their efforts to obtain lower bid prices were paying off. A decision to break up a big nine-station construction contract into three smaller ones trimmed the price of that work by more than $40 million. Star-Advertiser.

At a Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation board meeting Thursday, members were confronted by critics about inflated ridership projections. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu is paying back $1.45 million in federal funds spent to upgrade a senior housing complex after an audit raised questions about how the money was spent. Civil Beat.

Sandwiched between a couple homes off Ohai Street in Wahiawa is a homeless encampment with a notorious reputation. Hawaii News Now.

Bikeshare Hawaii will launch Biki, Honolulu’s new bikeshare program, on Wednesday at the state Capitol. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

Word of a county plan to permanently relocate homeless from the Old Kona Airport Park has made its way down the beach and into the bush, falling on the ears of many who would be made unwilling wayfarers by the proposal’s execution. West Hawaii Today.

A bill allowing farmers markets at several Hawaii County parks needs more time to ripen, the County Council decided Thursday. Tribune-Herald.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency EPA requires the County of Hawaii to close large cesspools in Pahala and Naalehu. Big Island Video News.

Big Island low-income senior citizens will no longer receive fresh weekly produce deliveries. Civil Beat.

A Big Island Juggler With Leukemia Faces Deportation. Graham Ellis has been teaching circus skills to island children since 1981. Now he’s being swept up by Trump’s tougher new immigration rules. Civil Beat.

Maui

The Council’s Parks, Recreation, Energy and Legal Affairs Committee will host a meeting next week to consider options for the Waiehu Municipal Golf Course. Maui Now.

A project to install a recycled wastewater irrigation system at Waipuilani Park in Kihei is concerning condominium residents, who irrigate a portion of the park themselves and say that the project is a needless cost to the county. Maui News.

Kauai

A new defensive missile that could one day defend Hawaii against North Korean attack failed to intercept a target Wednesday night in a test off Kauai, the U.S. Missile Defense Agency said. Star-Advertiser.

The U.S. Missile Defense Agency said it failed to intercept a ballistic missile during a test off Hawaii. Associated Press.

Five projects with a combined price tag of nearly $70 million are on tap with the state’s Department of Transportation that may alleviate some congestion in the Wailua/Kapaa Kuhio Highway Corridor. Garden Island.

The Hawaii State Department of Health issued a Notice to Proceed to Acquire and Cultivate Marijuana to Green Aloha Ltd. Wednesday, becoming the first and only production center on Kauai to receive the go-ahead. Garden Island.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources announces the dates for the opening of the black-tailed deer hunting season on the island of Kauai. Garden Island.

Legislature begins conference committees, homeless efforts stall, few use cesspool replacement tax credit, Kauai water agreement restores stream, Maui audit shows post office demolition errors, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Legislative conference committee, courtesy Sen. J. Kalani English

The Legislature’s critical conference committee period kicked off Tuesday at the Capitol with Hawaii lawmakers making earnest statements about how they have found a lot to agree on when it comes to the state’s $28 billion budget. Civil Beat.

The traditional Hawaiian value “hookipa” prompted state lawmakers to push a resolution to make Hawaii a sanctuary state, honoring Hawaii’s history as a home to a diverse group of immigrants who dramatically shaped the island state’s economy and culture. Associated Press.

Homelessness: A Lot Of Talk But No ‘Game-Changer’ At The Legislature. Some bills are still alive, with their fate to be decided in conference committees. Civil Beat.

There's nearly 90,000 cesspools across Hawaii, and many could be polluting our groundwater. That fact prompted the state to offer tax-credits to home-owners to clean up and clear out their sewage, but very few have switched to safer septic systems. KITV.

A new poll sheds light on some of the most controversial issues facing the state, and shows opinions aren't as divided as some might think. Hawaii News Now.

The Department of Education closed out 19 employee misconduct investigations during the first three months of the year, resulting in six terminations and five resignations or retirements in lieu of termination, according to data shared Tuesday with the state school board. Star-Advertiser.

New school lunch program emphasizes fresh local fare made from scratch. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Airlines said a shift in the wind blew it off course in February and resulted in the worst monthly on-time performance in more than a decade. Star-Advertiser.

Federal legislation to improve tsunami detection and climate forecasting, long championed by Sen. Brian Schatz of Hawaii, was signed into law by President Donald Trump on Tuesday. Civil Beat.

Commentary: The United Public Workers, the union which represents some 13,000 state and county blue collar workers, including about 1,200 prison guards, believes the Department of Public Safety is violating the state constitution and state law by refusing to promote prison guards into supervisory positions if they have been suspended from their jobs within the previous two years. Civil Beat.

Oahu

The Honolulu Police Commission said late this afternoon that it had received 38 applications for police chief, roughly 25 to 30 percent of them from out-of-state candidates. Star-Advertiser.

Dozens are applying to be the next chief of the embattled Honolulu Police Department. Associated Press.

Under a new lease deal, the Missouri memorial will stay in Pearl Harbor. Star-Advertiser.

As sit-lie ban expands, businesses wonder: Where will volatile homeless camp go next? Hawaii News Now.

Waimanalo Gym Closure Leaves A Town Feeling Sidelined. Residents are frustrated by the long wait to start a $3.12 million repair job on the damaged gym, which was a “safe haven” for kids. Civil Beat.

Manoa residents want their rough roads fixed, and some would rather not wait for the city to get around to fixing them. They’re offering to do the work themselves. KHON2.

Hawaiian Electric Co.’s time-of-use program, which makes energy use cheaper during the day and more expensive at night, is proving popular among retirees. Star-Advertiser.

PacRim Marketing Group, one of the largest public relations firms in Hawaii, is rebranding following its acquisition by Vector, Inc., a Tokyo-based communications firm. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

Substance abuse programs, elderly transportation, domestic violence and Native Hawaiian health care took top billing Tuesday as a Hawaii County Council panel recommended disbursing $1.5 million to 85 community nonprofits. West Hawaii Today.

Kolekole Park has been closed due to lead levels in excess of safe amounts, according to Mayor Harry Kim’s office. Tribune-Herald.

Hilo Medical Center received a top grade from the nonprofit Leapfrog Group — a leading proponent of patient safety. Tribune-Herald.

Veterans troubled over newly tapped director of Hawaii VA health system. West Hawaii Today.

Moanike‘ala Akaka, longtime Hawaiian activist and advocate, former Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustee and a founding mother of the renaissance of Hawaiian language and culture in the 1970s, died Saturday at Hospice of Hilo Pohai Malama Facility after a monthslong battle with cancer. She was 72. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

A 47-page audit was released today by the Maui Office of the County Auditor on the demolition of the Old Wailuku Post Office. Maui Now.

Another 6 megawatts — enough for possibly 850 residential rooftop photovoltaic systems — will become available for hookup to the grid on Maui, according to Maui Electric Co. Maui News.

VIDEO: Support Waiehu Golf Course Rally. Maui Now.

Controlling snail and slug populations is one of the most important steps in fighting the spread of rat lungworm disease, health and agricultural experts said Monday evening during a meeting at the Haiku Community Center. Maui News.

The new California owners of the Safeway and Longs Drugs-anchored Lahaina Cannery Mall on Maui plan to spend $18 million to renovate the 15-acre mall that will include nearly doubling the size of the Safeway store, the company said Tuesday. Pacific Business News.

Kauai

In a move all sides are calling historic, the Hawaii State Water Commission on Tuesday approved a mediated settlement that restores tens of millions of gallons of water a day to the Waimea River on Kauai. Star-Advertiser.

In what’s being dubbed a “historic” agreement, groups representing cultural, environmental, agricultural and development interests have reached a settlement in a longstanding dispute over the diversion of millions of gallons of water on the west side of Kauai. Civil Beat.

After more than 100 years, water is being returned to the Waimea River. Garden Island.

Access and safety at Kee were among the top concerns at the Hanalei School Cafeteria on Tuesday, as community members gathered to hear updates about the Hanakapiai Bridge project and the Haena State Park Master Plan. Garden Island.

The state has cited a 39-year-old Lihue man after he allegedly tried to pry open the shell of a live Hawaiian green sea turtle using a knife and rock. Star-Advertiser.

Two gardeners said they were evicted from Kalihiwai Community Garden because they refused to sign a contract they claim didn’t match their original agreement. Garden Island.

Lanai

Larry Ellison, the billionaire co-founder of Oracle Corp. and majority owner of the Hawaiian Island of Lanai, is looking for someone to run the operations of the 21 resort residential properties he purchased three years ago near the Four Seasons Resort Lanai at Manele Bay. Pacific Business News.