Group sues over Native Hawaiian election, Tax Department revamp coming, ahi fishermen reach limit, state works on marijuana dispensary rules, charter school applicants denied, parking lot woes on Maui, Kauai transfer station investigated, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Native Hawaiian children at play © 2015 All Hawaii News

A lawsuit filed Thursday is challenging an election solely for Native Hawaiians, saying it's unconstitutional to restrict voting to those who have Native Hawaiian ancestry. Associated Press.

Four Native Hawaiians and two non-Hawaiians filed a lawsuit Thursday in U.S. District Court in Honolulu seeking to block a “race-based” and “viewpoint- based” election planned this fall as a step toward establishing a sovereign Hawaiian government. Star-Advertiser.

A hui of four Native Hawaiians and two non-Hawaiians on Thursday filed a lawsuit against the state of Hawaii to halt what plaintiffs argue is “a racially exclusive election and constitutional convention designed to establish a sovereign Hawaiian nation.” Civil Beat.

The U.S. Department of the Interior has taken a major step toward federal recognition of Native Hawaiians. The agency has released the draft of a proposed rule regarding procedures to re-establish a government-to-government relationship with a native governing entity. Civil Beat.

Hawaii’s newly approved medical marijuana dispensary program is expected to fuel a multi-million-dollar industry starting next year. But a lot remains to be decided about program rules and how the state Department of Health will choose companies to receive eight coveted licenses to grow and sell cannabis. Civil Beat.

The state Tax Department is getting ready to enter the 21st century. The five-phase Tax System Modernization project kicked off with an announcement Thursday promising a wide range of improvements, including faster refunds on tax returns, better customer service and fraud protection. Civil Beat.

With the current El Nino event on pace to be among the most powerful on record, Hawaii will see no letup in the busy hurricane season, followed by a drier-than-normal winter that will worsen the state’s drought. In addition, weather experts predict the islands will experience more episodes of big surf during the winter. Star-Advertiser.

The state Public Charter School Commission voted Thursday to reject applications for three campuses proposed for Oahu and Kauai, citing serious concerns over incomplete academic and financial plans. Star-Advertiser.

The Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism released the 2014 edition of the State of Hawaii Data Book on Thursday. Star-Advertiser

Stem Inc., a Hawaii Energy Excelerator energy storage and data analytics startup, has secured $45 million in funding, the California-based firm said Thursday. Pacific Business News.

Hawai‘i longline fishermen have hit their annual limit for bigeye tuna in Pacific waters, in the Western and Central Pacific region on August 5 and more recently in the Eastern Pacific for larger vessels. That doesn’t mean there won’t be tuna at local stores and restaurants. But it does mean some changes. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

The Hawaii water commission is moving to exert greater pressure on state and federal authorities to negotiate a tougher agreement with the Navy to upgrade its aging Red Hill Underground Fuel Storage Facility where 27,000 gallons of fuel leaked last year. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu Police Department needs new police cars, motorcycles, and video surveillance machines.  They've asked the Honolulu city council for $2.6 million from taxpayers but Hawaii News Now has found an HPD account that has six times that amount, just waiting to be used.

It's been nearly two months since a gas fire halted construction on Kapahulu Avenue. Repaving of the road has yet to restart, and that has some residents wondering what's up. KITV4.

A badly needed new parking lot at an Oahu elementary school has remained unused for nearly five months because of safety concerns, frustrating families tired of a parking crunch there. Hawaii News Now.

Administrators at Ewa Beach's Campbell High School will be using portable classrooms to alleviate overcrowding. Associated Press.

Macy’s is closing its department store in Downtown Kailua in Windward Oahu, one of the largest ground lease tenants acquired by Alexander & Baldwin Inc. nearly two years ago, both the retailer and the head of A&B's Kailua properties confirmed to Pacific Business News Thursday.

Hawaii

The state Attorney General’s Office remained mum Thursday on the status of a criminal investigation — or even if there’s an ongoing investigation at all — into Mayor Billy Kenoi’s use of his county-issued purchasing card, as the County Council prepares next week to clarify rules governing the taxpayer-backed pCards. West Hawaii Today.

According to defendants seeking Ho’oponopono following their April 2 arrests on Mauna Kea, the opposing sides have yet to meet to initiate the Hawaiian cultural process of making right. Big Island Video News.

Former state Rep. David Tarnas announced Thursday he’ll seek the District 7 state House seat currently held by Rep. Cindy Evans, a fellow Democrat. West Hawaii Today.

A quarantine to prohibit the movement of ohia trees, the soil surrounding them and ohia products from the Big Island is is likely to be approved this month in an attempt to stop the spread of a fungus that has the potential to kill the native trees throughout the islands. Civil Beat.

The mysterious and graceful manta ray is a Hawaii celebrity, attracting thousands annually to experience its nightly underwater feeding dance. Honoring the manta ray, Sheraton Kona Resort &Spa at Keauhou Bay will present Malama Hahalua, Manta Ray Week, Sunday through Aug. 22. West Hawaii Today

Maui

County of Maui says fire access is a big problem with new Shops at Wailea paid parking gates. MauiTime.

Maui County is seeking $160,000 from condo, vacation rental and time-share owners to help fund a study into ways to keep their beachfront property from washing away. Associated Press.

Hospital and state administrators expect to select either Kaiser Permanente Hawaii or Hawaii Pacific Health as a partner for Maui County’s three public hospitals by the end of September. Associated Press.

Kauai

An investigation is being launched by the Department of Health to determine if the Kauai County Hanalei Transfer Station is properly managing its stormwater containment areas, officials from the DOH confirmed with The Garden Island Wednesday.

First subsistence fishing rules signed for Kauai, Tropical Storm Guillermo update, teacher shortage plagues Hawaii, advocates seek homes for Honolulu homeless, Maui wind farm planned, Big Island council hears from Roundup foes, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaiian fisherman © 2015 All Hawaii News

Gov. David Ige has signed a law establishing a community-based subsistence fishing area in Haena, Kauai, the first of its kind. The law will give the Haena community the opportunity to protect local fish populations using traditional fishing practices. Star-Advertiser.

Amid mounting public pressure, Gov. David Ige has signed rules to create Hawaii’s first Community-Based Subsistence Fishing Area for Haena on the north shore of Kauai. Civil Beat.

Gov. David Ige’s office announced Tuesday that the governor signed into law a historic rules package creating the state’s first Community-Based Subsistence Fishing Area in Haena. Garden Island.

Wednesday 5 a.m. update: The center of Tropical Storm Guillermo is expected to pass about 160 miles north-northeast of the Big Island late tonight...and 90 miles North-northeast of Maui on Thursday. Central Pacific Hurricane Center.

The military’s “Hurricane Hunters” spent Monday night and Tuesday morning doing what most people back on the ground would care to avoid: flinging themselves through the eye of a tropical cyclone. Star-Advertiser.

At 28,000 feet over Tropical Storm Guillermo a bang is heard within the Hurricane Hunters WC-130J. On most flights, such a sound might spur concern for the average passenger, but on this flight of the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron the sound signals the beginning of data collection that will assist Central Pacific Hurricane Center forecasters in narrowing the cone of uncertainty as Guillermo approaches the Hawaiian Islands. West Hawaii Today.

Notices are arriving in the mailboxes of more than 95,000 Native Hawaiians this week as the first step in the election of delegates to a constitutional convention that will consider options for Hawaiian self-determination. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Schools Begin the Year Short on Teachers — Again. Finding enough instructors is an annual struggle in the islands, and it’s most difficult in remote and low-income areas. Civil Beat.

The fates of three proposed public charter schools remain in limbo after a State Public Charter School Commission committee voted Tuesday to support a recommendation to deny one school’s application but could not agree on whether to advance two others. Star-Advertiser.

Having been denied participation at the International Astronomical Union conference, foes of telescope construction atop Mauna Kea on Tuesday hand-delivered an invitation to their own event. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission has set formal evidentiary hearings and public listening sessions on NextEra Energy Inc.’s $4.3 billion acquisition of Hawaiian Electric Co. Pacific Business News.

Ian Lind Commentary: Ex-Legislator May Make a Good Ethics Commissioner. Rey Graulty brings specialized knowledge to his new post, and he’s ready to dig into questionable gift-giving. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Advocates for the homeless rallied in front of Honolulu Hale on Tuesday to urge government officials to do more to get people into housing, scrap homeless camp sweeps and halt expansion of the city’s “sit-lie” ban. Star-Advertiser.

Proponents for more affordable housing launched their campaign at City Hall today. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii

County Council members on Tuesday sharpened their debate about county purchasing cards, promising to tighten the law after hearing a presentation from the legislative auditor. West Hawaii Today.

On Tuesday, Puna State Senator Russell Ruderman testified before the Hawaii County Council Committee on Environmental Management in favor of a bill (Bill 71) that would ban certain pesticides from being sprayed on government grounds. Big Island Video News.

One more time extension will get a long-stalled Hualalai Road condo project off the ground. That’s according to Kukui Development LCC, the California-based company that bought the troubled Hale Nanea Condominiums in 2013 after previous developers failed over a dozen years to bring the 92-unit project to fruition. West Hawaii Today.

The Hawaii Department of Transportation will be holding a public informational meeting for the Queen Kaahumanu Highway widening project to update the community on planned construction and anticipated traffic impacts. West Hawaii Today.

Tropical Storm Guillermo is expected to bring rain and perhaps some thunder today as it brushes the Big Island, though residents largely will be spared the worst as the former hurricane shifts farther to the north, forecasters say. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

The Hawaiian Homes Commission is expected to make a decision in November whether to issue a lease to a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Inc., which is buying Hawaiian Electric Co. for $4.3 billion, for the development of a 60-megawatt wind farm on the southern coast of Maui. Pacific Business News.

A portion of the Iao Stream flow will be disrupted during mid to late August due to work on the Waihee Ditch siphon where it crosses Iao Stream. Maui News.

The Airport Access Road is now open to motorists beginning today from Pakaula Street to the Hāna Highway in Kahului. Maui Now.

Unresolved legal challenges to construction of the Daniel K. Inouye Telescope atop Haleakala were cited Sunday by a protesters' group as fueling the outrage that led to 20 arrests late Thursday and early Friday at the Central Maui Baseyard. Maui News.

With a goal to stop goats and deer from destroying what's left of the unique ecosystem of the Ahihi-Kinau Natural Reserve Area, a state Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife crew - field assistant T.J. Shimabukuro (from left in photo on left), acting reserve manager Casey Stewman and Kupu AmeriCorps intern Amy Markel - adds to a fence Wednesday that is being installed to enclose the makai section of the preserve.  Maui News.

Kauai

Kauai Search and Rescue recently welcomed three newly certified K9 members following weeklong field testing conducted by Robert Noziska, a certified instructor and trainer with the United States Border Patrol Services. Garden Island.

Starting Friday, Eiwa Street will become a one-way street for southbound traffic with motorists being able to turn right at the Rice Street junction. Garden Island.

Federal grants threatened as state road projects lag, Ige to list possible vetoes today, charter school sued over prayers, Hannemann returns as tourism chief, sea cucumbers protected, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Island traffic copyright 2015 All Hawaii News

After years of delays on major Hawaii transportation projects, Federal Highway Administration officials are warning the state they may yank funding for new highway projects unless the state streamlines its plodding, bureaucratic system and moves roadwork into construction more quickly. Star-Advertiser.

Fallout from the state's backlog of federally funded highway projects will affect Hawaii motorists for years as the state Department of Transportation halts work on some complex, large-scale projects that would increase road capacity and ease traffic flow. Star-Advertiser.

As Gov. David Ige continues working on which bills he will approve or veto from the 2015 session, a key lawmaker says the Legislature is unlikely to override any vetoes once the list is published. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii lawmakers sent more than 200 bills to Gov. David Ige last spring but he still has to decide what he’s going to do with nearly half of them. Legislation to establish medical marijuana dispensaries, authorize the counties to levy a surcharge on the General Excise Tax and make it easier for someone to change their birth certificate so it aligns with their gender identity are among the 114 bills pending action by the governor. Civil Beat.

Land board members heard from Native Hawaiians who say even though they worry about how their cultural gathering rights will be affected, they support this temporary ban on the taking of sea cucumbers. KITV4.

Mufi Hannemann has been appointed president and CEO of the Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Association, a position he previously held after serving as Honolulu's mayor. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

On an island that many people think of as paradise, the struggle for residents to get to school or to work in crushing traffic gridlock is a daily part of life. Associated Press.

Honolulu rail transit officials are reminding drivers about overnight road closures this week on Fort Weaver Road for rail guideway construction along Farrington Highway. Hawaii News Now.

What will Chinatown look like in the next few years? That was the question posed at Saturday’s Chinatown Action Summit. KHON2.

Hawaii

While the 1-year-old June 27 lava flow hasn’t threatened populated areas since March, geologists at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory continue to study samples that might help fine-tune projections if it sends another 2,000-degree river of molten rock toward homes in lower Puna. Tribune-Herald.

Motorists driving the Queen Kaahumanu Highway near Waikoloa on Sunday morning saw hundred of runners streaming along the makai shoulder of the roadway and along Waikoloa Beach Drive. But for the first time in years, West Hawaii drivers weren’t having to adjust their course and travel times for the Kona Marathon. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Repeated floods have eroded Iao Stream's channel bed and levees over the past three decades to the point where the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is proposing new structures and stream diversions to protect surrounding homes and businesses. Maui News.

Kauai

A charter school employee in Kauai files a civil rights complaint over what he says is the practice of forced prayer on campus, illustrating the complex relationship between culture and spirituality at many of the state’s Hawaiian-focused schools. Civil Beat.

The Kauai County Council unanimously approved a Kauai Police Department request to purchase a package deal that includes more than 100 body cameras and 100 Tasers worth just under $180,000, using money from the KPD asset forfeiture fund. Garden Island.

When the Pacific Missile Range Facility at Barking Sands begins consolidating its electric grid with $30 million in federal funding earmarked for the project, it’s Capt. Bruce Hay’s hope that alternative energy will be part of the solution. Garden Island.

Hawaii’s governor never planned to get involved in politics. In 1985, David Ige was 28 and working as an electrical engineer in the private sector, with no thought of ever running for elected office. Garden Island.

Molokai

A proposed 6-mile fencing and management project in the Waikolu Valley and Pu'u Ali'i Natural Area Reserve will be discussed at an informational meeting from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday at Kalanianaole Hall on Molokai. Maui News.

Public reacts to whale sanctuary plans, Honolulu Mayor Caldwell returns budget without signature, Ige discusses Japan trip, Big Island shuts down Section 8 waiting list, some Kauai Bed and breakfasts could close, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Humpback whale breaches, courtesy NOAA

Federal officials have collected more than 3,000 written testimonies about proposed changes to the humpback whale sanctuary. Anne Walton, the sanctuary’s program analyst, said staff members for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will spend the coming months sorting the testimonies and replying with general responses based on the subject matter addressed in the comments. Garden Island.

Gov. David Ige took his first international trip to Japan last week, and spent his time during the three-and-a-half day visit meeting with tour companies and airlines, as well as the prime minister of Hawaii’s largest but struggling international market for visitors. Pacific Business News.

Gov. David Ige says Japan is Hawaii's most important source of foreign tourists, and his recent trip there was intended to solidify that relationship. Associated Press.

Unlike most states, where charter schools are registered as private companies or nonprofit corporations, charters in Hawaii are state agencies. That means the state may be responsible for debts if the school closes. Civil Beat.

TPP opposition grows in Hawaii. Coalition of labor, environmental, Native Hawaiian, farmer, and social justice groups urges bold opposition to “fast tracking” the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Hawaii Independent.

Oahu
Mayor Kirk Caldwell allowed the city's $2 billion operating budget and related bills to become law without his signature Monday and then criticized the Hono­lulu City Council and Chairman Ernie Martin of funding pet projects, apparent bureaucracy building, and overstepping their authority. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell refused to sign off on several budget bills Monday, saying he had too many problems with City Council meddling. Caldwell also didn’t sign the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation’s operating and capital budgets for similar reasons. Civil Beat.

The City and County of Honolulu’s major budget bills are being returned to the City Council without the Mayor’s signature.   The city’s chief executive has not signed previous budgets. Hawaii Public Radio.

Rail officials are calling it a milestone. They are planning to announce a new phase of construction Tuesday, which could greatly impact those who live and work in Waipahu. KHON2.

A new partnership between the University of Hawaii-West Oahu and a nonprofit that offers science, technology, engineering and mathematics curriculum programs will open the door for more students to gain valuable skills in fields where jobs are expected to grow over the next several years, officials say. Star-Advertiser.

A Kahaluu woman said an off-duty police officer arrested for trespassing outside her home got special treatment because he was charged with misdemeanor offenses. Hawaii News Now.

DLNR is using Facebook and Twitter as well as YouTube and vimeo.com to post an informational video called “Sacred Falls — Don’t Risk Your Life, A Fine, or Jail.” Civil Beat.

Hawaii

Struggling with a waiting list of more than 7,000 applicants, Hawaii County has given notice that, beginning July 10, it will stop taking applications for the federally subsidized rental assistance program commonly known as Section 8. West Hawaii Today.

Earlier this year, Mayor Billy Kenoi told a group of business leaders he was working on a plan to improve Hilo’s dilapidated Banyan Drive area. As for what it is, he and his staff have chosen to remain silent. Tribune-Herald.

Supporters of a West Hawaii shooting range haven’t given up on their longtime dream, even as the project seems at a standstill more than three decades after first being envisioned. West Hawaii Today.

Construction of the Pahoa roundabout will begin by the end of the year and possibly by the end of summer, according to a state Department of Transportation spokesman. Tribune-Herald.

A pernicious fungus is wiping out native ohia trees on Hawaii island, prompting scientists to work on ways to prevent its spread to other islands. Star-Advertiser.

Work on a new restroom facility at the Hawaii County-managed Mauna Kea Recreation Area has been completed. Big Island Video News.

Maui

Opinion: I love it when a news story explaining a meaningless press release that hasn’t even been sent out yet. On June 20, The Maui News reported that Maui Police officials said during the June 17 Police Commission meeting that the department’s body camera study–in which 10 volunteer officers wore cameras donated by Taser–is effectively over. In fact, it apparently ended about six weeks ago. MauiTime.

Kauai

ILEAD Charter School co-organizer Deena Fontana Moraes and supporters made their case before the Hawaii State Charter School Commission on Friday. Garden Island.

Tougher regulations could force some bed and breakfasts on Kauai out of business for good. KITV4.

Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, formerly known as State Civil Defense, together with Kauai County Civil Defense Agency will conduct siren testing on Wednesday. Garden Island.

Hawaii on the Hill in D.C., Hawaiian Electric shareholders vote on sale today, new blood wins teachers union leadership, Thirty Meter Telescope protesters allowed to camp on site, Honolulu homeless sweeps continue, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii on the Hill, courtesy Chamber of Commerce Hawaii

More than 50 companies from Hawaii are converging on Capitol Hill this week for the second annual Hawaii on the Hill event, which kicked off on Tuesday with a reception at Google's Washington, D.C., headquarters. Pacific Business News.

Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc. is hoping to get shareholder approval Wednesday for its sale to Florida-based NextEra Energy Inc. after it failed to win the necessary votes at a May 12 meeting. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Electric Industries will hold a special shareholders meeting today. They’ll vote on whether or not to approve the $4.3 billion sale to the Florida-based company NextEra Energy. Hawaii Public Radio.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals might have upheld Hawaii’s law banning government contractors from donating to political candidates. But in reality the prohibition doesn’t do much to curb the outsized influence that businesses have on politics in the Aloha State. Hawaii can’t block individuals from donating their money to political campaigns, even if they own a company that has ongoing contracts with state and local governments. Civil Beat.

Campbell High School social studies teacher Corey Rosenlee, who's led a grass-roots movement to improve teaching conditions at Hawaii public schools, has been elected to lead the powerful Hawaii State Teachers Association, the union announced Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

The new leaders of the Hawaii State Teachers Association say they have big plans for changing the way their union tackles some of the toughest education issues in the state. But before Corey Rosenlee, Justin Hughey and Amy Perruso can start addressing problems like teacher retention or school spending, they will have to deal with the divisions caused by one of the most contentious elections in union history. Civil Beat.

NOAA wants to expand its focus and boundaries of the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary and is currently in the comment period for the proposed expansion – more than 2,000 signed letters have been received opposing it. KITV4.

Oahu

Homeless families in Honolulu are figuring out where to go after the city swept the banks of a canal where they were living in tents. Star-Advertiser.

A day after the homeless encampment along the Kapalama Canal was given notice to pack their belongings, crews moved through to clean up and enforce the city's stored property ordinance -- which officials say is designed to keep public areas safe and sanitary. But just hours after crews cleared the area Tuesday morning, many of the homeless who were camping out here had already returned. Hawaii News Now.

Hawai’i government and social service partners have adopted the national goal to end homelessness for veterans on O’ahu by the end of this year. Hawaii Public Radio.

In early February, officials were worried vast sections of reefs in Kaneohe Bay might be overrun with a fast-moving and deadly coral disease. Now it appears the malady has vanished and, in fact, the disease wasn't even what officials thought it was. Star-Advertiser.

The state is not buying two new ZipMobiles to replace the aging machines that both went down a little more than two months ago, creating a traffic nightmare for H-1 freeway commuters. But the state is greatly boosting the repair and maintenance expenses of the ZipMobiles, after officials admitted not enough money was spent on upkeep in the past. Hawaii News Now.

Caretakers of a historic home that once belonged to King Kamehameha III and Queen Kalama say the historic site is not getting the respect it deserves. The area is off-limits to the public, but that’s not stopping people from using the site as their own playground. KHON2.

Kualoa Ranch in Windward Oahu has plans to expand its operation to the North Shore with a sheep operation as part of a proposed solar energy farm, and a partnership involving cattle with Big Island’s Parker Ranch and Honolulu social impact investment firm Ulupono Initiative, the head of Kualoa Ranch confirmed to Pacific Business News.

Less than two weeks after the city Ethics Commission announced former Honolulu City Councilman Nestor Garcia had been fined $8,100 for ethical breaches, Garcia quit his job as a television reporter at KHON2 effective Friday. Star-Advertiser.

A house of squalor in Kaimuki remains untouched with heaps of trash fouling up the neighborhood. Neighbors are in disbelief, wondering what it takes to get help from anyone in the government. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii

Despite rules prohibiting camping on Mauna Kea, protesters of the Thirty Meter Telescope have been allowed to do so for more than two months, maintaining a 24-hour presence outside the Mauna Kea Visitor Information Station. Tribune-Herald.

Organizers of a charter school planned for Ka‘u have scaled back enrollment projections, but they say the project is on track for a July opening. Ka‘u Learning Academy, the state’s only charter school approved this year, plans to use the Discovery Harbour golf course clubhouse as a temporary facility. Organizers have been appearing before the state Public Charter School Commission, the Windward Planning Commission and the Hawaii County Liquor Commission as they wrap up fundraising efforts and attend to the myriad of details associated with turning a golf clubhouse into a school. West Hawaii Today.

The number of cruise ship visits to Hilo Harbor declined in the first five months of 2015 compared with the same time period last year. Forty-eight vessels arrived in port between Jan. 1 and the end of May, according to data provided by the state Department of Transportation. Fifty-seven cruise ships visited Hilo during the same period in 2014. Tribune-Herald.

Lava insurance moratorium lifted. Tribune-Herald.

A talk story session is scheduled at Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park on Wednesday to discuss its draft general management plan, wilderness study, and environmental impact statement. The meeting will be held at the Kilauea Visitor Center from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Big Island Now.

Maui

Shark attacks are increasing in Hawaii, especially off Maui, and scientists think they have figured out why. A report due to be released next month by University of Hawaii marine biologists basically concludes that a burgeoning recreation industry is butting up against shark-friendly environmental conditions to create a double whammy of sorts, at least for the human population. Civil Beat.

A $7,000 settlement payment to the state is being proposed for Maalaea reef damage that happened when the Ocean Odyssey went aground a quarter-mile northeast of McGregor Point in 2013. Maui News.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is reopening a 15-day public comment period that ends June 25 on the proposed critical habitat designation of 135 species found in Maui County. Maui News.

Kauai

Gov. David Ige channeled his inner-engineer on Tuesday when he summed up his governing philosophy: “It’s about execution: doing the right thing, in the right way.” The governor made the remark at a Kauai Chamber of Commerce luncheon during his first visit to the island since he was sworn into office in December. Garden Island.

A parachute inflated during a test of new technology for landing larger spacecraft on Mars, but it disintegrated immediately afterward, NASA officials said Tuesday. Associated Press.

A Kauai Community College researcher is seven months into the first field experiment studying the potential of ulu (breadfruit) as a major field crop. Garden Island.

Hawaiian Airlines cuts legroom, chief elections officer could face reviews, Honolulu committee advances Hoopili development, snubs Malaekahana, new charter school approved, Maui hospital denied, Kaui forest to be burned for fuel, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaiian Airlines interior © 015 All Hawaii News

Hawaiian Airlines passengers won't be able to recline their seats on any interisland flights by the end of this year. The state's largest carrier said Thursday it is retrofitting the 18 Boeing 717 aircraft it uses on interisland routes with new lightweight seats that will reduce legroom by about an inch under a reconfiguration and allow the airline to add five to 10 more passengers on each flight. Star-Advertiser.

The state's chief elections officer would have to undergo a performance evaluation after each general election under a plan approved by the state Senate. The bill, SB 622, requires the Elections Commission to provide the written performance evaluation to the Legislature. Associated Press.

Despite concerns from the departments of Health and Human Services, Hawaii lawmakers are pushing forward bills that would help the adult care-home industry make more money while potentially compromising the quality of services provided to those most in need. Civil Beat.

A bill that would make an exception for married couples who do not receive Medicaid to live together in the same Community Care Foster Family Home is advancing through the state House of Representatives. Star-Advertiser.

As a mark of respect for the late former state Rep. Diana “Mele” Carroll, Gov. David Ige has ordered that the flags of the United States and State of Hawaii shall be flown at half-staff at all state offices and agencies, as well as the Hawaii National Guard, from sunrise to sunset Friday to recognize services held on Oahu and Sunday, which is the day services will be held on Maui. West Hawaii Today.

The commercial solar energy market in Hawaii has turned into a race of sorts, a race for businesses to get their systems in place before a federal tax credit sunsets at the end of 2016. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

The City Council Zoning and Planning Committee gave a preliminary thumbs up Thursday to one landscape-changing development scheme and a thumbs down to another one. A rezoning request for D.R. Horton Schuler Division's 11,750-home Hoo­pili project in West Oahu advanced 5-0. But Hawaii Reserve Inc.'s plan to develop a section of Malaekahana, between Laie and Kahuku, appears to be in serious jeopardy. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu City Council Zoning and Planning Committee approved a planning document for the North Shore on Thursday but amended it to remove a highly controversial new residential community at Gunstock Ranch in Malaekahana. Civil Beat.

Ho’opili, a major residential and commercial project on O’ahu cleared its first major hurdle today following the completion of public testimony before a Honolulu City Council Committee. Hawaii Public Radio.

A Honolulu City Council committee has advanced a proposed development in West Oahu. The council’s zoning committee gave the green light Thursday for Hoopili’s next step. KHON2.

One controversial housing development has hit a major roadblock, while another in Kapolei has been given the green light to go ahead.The Honolulu City Council's Zoning Committee approved Bill 47 without including Envision Laie, a proposal that would have included nearly 900 new homes at Malaekahana in the Koolauloa section of Windward Oahu. Hawaii News Now.

After more than four hours of testimony Thursday, the City Council’s Zoning and Planning Committee approved the removal of language from the Koolau Loa Sustainable Communities Plan that could have paved the way for 875 homes to be built on land at Malaekahana. KITV4.

Oahu communities roundly oppose Malaekahana development. At a press conference today, the opposition to Malaekahana development expressed their reasons for supporting zoning chair Ikaika Anderson's proposed amendments to Bill 47. Hawaii Independent.

Elected leaders at Honolulu Hale and the state Capitol have been watching closely to see how their colleagues across Punchbowl Street will respond to rail's budget crisis. Now at least one Hono­­lulu City Council member appears concerned that his chamber might have waited too long to weigh in on a rail tax extension. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Pacific Health, the state's largest medical provider, is exploring a purchase of all or part of the financially struggling Wahiawa General Hospital. Star-Advertiser.

Opinion: Oahu General Plan Provides Diversification and Sustainability. The Oahu General Plan is not perfect but it provides land-use diversification and sustainability for our small island home. Civil Beat.

Hawaii

The state’s only new charter school is set to open its doors in Ka‘u in July, following unanimous approval of its facilities Thursday by the Windward Planning Commission. West Hawaii Today.

Just over a year after North Hawaii Community Hospital merged with The Queen’s Health Systems, the Waimea facility is adding new equipment, rebuilding a management team and laying groundwork for stabilizing its workforce. Efforts to recruit badly needed doctors are also moving ahead, although more slowly than many would like, the hospital’s president Ken Graham told West Hawaii Today in an interview.

Christina (Tina) Neal has been chosen to serve as the new scientist-in-charge of the U.S. Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. Neal succeeds Jim Kauahikaua, who served in the position for the past 10 years. West Hawaii Today.

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory's new scientist-in-charge is coming to Hawaii from Alaska where she has been mapping and studying active Alaskan volcanoes for more than two decades. Garden Island.

Home prices on Hawaii's Big Island rose by single digits in February, while sales of condominiums rose and sales of single-family homes fell, according to data released by Hawaii Information Service on behalf of Hawaii Island Realtors. Pacific Business News.

Maui

A Maui County Council committee decided Thursday to re-examine rules and guidelines in the county's transportation contract for residents with disabilities with Maui Economic Opportunity amid recurring complaints from riders. Maui News.

The state Health Planning and Development Agency has ruled against Regency Namakua's application to build a 40-bed skilled nursing and intermediate-care facility at the Maui Research and Technology Park in Kihei. Maui News.

Second Circuit Judge Joseph Cardoza and District Court Judge Adrianne Heely will hear Maui County's environmental cases when the new statewide environmental court program comes on line beginning July 1. Maui News.

Kauai

Legal costs and fees to defend County of Kauai officials in two lawsuits filed by county employees totaled a little more than half a million dollars before settlements were reached, according to documents obtained by The Garden Island.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources and private partners have launched a $1 million-plus project that aims to remove 15,000 tons of burned pine and eucalyptus trees, many of them dead and standing hazards, and then replant with healthy hardwoods, including a large section of natives such as koa. As part of the project, the logs will be hauled off to Kauai's new $90 million Green Energy biomass plant, where they will be burned to generate electric power. Star-Advertiser.

The state has started cutting down trees on 300 acres of Kauai forest reserve that were scorched by wildfire in 2012 and sending the wood to be processed at a new biomass-to-energy plant. Associated Press.

The median price of a single-family home on Kauai shot up by more than 46 percent in February as the median price on the North Shore passed $1 million, according to data released by Hawaii Information Service on behalf of the Kauai Board of Realtors. Pacific Business News.

Honolulu council balks at $350M rail transit bonds, groups want Hawaiian Electric purchase delayed, wind to power Maui landfill, Kauai mulls clean air bill, state second-worst for taxing the poor, West Coast port problems could hurt Hawaii, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Elevated rail construction, courtesy Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation

Honolulu City Council members continue to harbor strong reservations about a deal that would pave the way for the island's cash-strapped rail transit line to borrow hundreds of millions of dollars in bonds leveraged against the city's general fund. On Wednesday, Council members spent much of a Budget Committee hearing grilling rail officials on the project's new financial challenges — and airing concerns that the Council lacks sufficient oversight over the largest public works project in Hawaii's history. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu City Council's Budget Committee deferred a resolution that would allow the city to issue as much as $350 million in bonds to cover short-term financing for the elevated train. KITV4.

Clean energy advocates, solar trade groups and community organizations are asking Hawaii regulators to hold off on approving NextEra Energy’s acquisition of Hawaiian Electric Industries until there are firm plans in place outlining the state’s energy strategy. About half of the 12 groups go so far as to urge regulators to open up the sale of HEI to other bidders. Civil Beat.

Hawaii is the second-worst state in terms of taxing its lowest-income residents, according to a new study by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy and the Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice. Pacific Business News.

The Joint Legislative Money Committees are continuing to review budget requests from state departments and agencies this week.   Today, lawmakers heard from the corporation responsible for operating neighbor island healthcare facilities. Hawaii Public Radio.

Ongoing contract negotiations with port workers on the West Coast are having an impact here in the islands. The Pacific Maritime Association, which represents shipping companies like Horizon and Matson, says due to the negotiations, longshoremen have begun to stage slowdowns at many ports on the West Coast. It’s been going on since October. KHON2.

Scott Topping has left his position as chief financial officer for Hawaiian Airlines. The state's largest carrier said Wednesday that he has been replaced on an interim basis by Shannon Okinaka, who had served as vice president-controller since 2011. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

The union that represents city refuse workers wants to stop Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell from eliminating garbage disposal service for about 181 condominiums, apartments and other multifamily properties and nonprofit organizations, calling the move "an unlawful privatization" of a city service. Star-Advertiser.

The lawyer for the man once accused of stealing Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha's mailbox met Wednesday with the FBI about the police department's handling of the case. Star-Advertiser.

FBI investigators met with a federal public defender Wednesday to discuss the strange case of Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha’s missing mailbox. But neither attorney Alexander Silvert or an FBI spokesman would say any more about what sort of case might be in the works involving the chief and the Honolulu Police Department. Civil Beat.

A former Honolulu police officer was sentenced Wednesday to nearly three years in prison for trying to extort $15,000 from the owners of a local hostess bar. Associated Press.

Former HPD cop will spend almost 3 years in federal prison for extortion. Hawaii News Now.

Since the U.S. Navy handed Kalaeloa Airport to the state nearly 16 years ago, the state's No. 2 airport has been home to dozens of commuter planes, flight schools and corporate aircraft. But the state is proposing to quadruple rents for many, forcing the departure of several businesses. Hawaii News Now.

Waikiki Elementary School teacher Catherine Caine is in the running for the 2015 national teacher of the year award — the first Hawaii finalist in more than a decade. Star-Advertiser.

Condo owners locked in fight with developer. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Work at the Hu Honua Bioenergy LLC plant in Pepeekeo has resumed, with the facility set Wednesday to receive deliveries of equipment for installation. Meanwhile, the project was named this month the state’s top “Clean Energy Leader” by the Hawaii State Energy Office. Tribune-Herald.

A brush fire ignited by the June 27 lava flow has been contained after burning about 300 acres, said Darryl Oliveira, Hawaii County Civil Defense administrator. Tribune-Herald.

The hull of the wrecked sailboat Hawaii Aloha has been cut up and removed from the beach in North Kona. Salvage crews finished removing the 78-ton hulk from the shoreline near the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai on Sunday, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources confirmed Tuesday. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The Central Maui Landfill Refuse and Recycling Center completed a monthslong project Friday to install three 65-foot wind turbines to generate electricity and thousands of dollars in annual taxpayer savings on power bills. Maui News.

Developers of a 68-unit town house complex in Wailea are finalizing their design plans, though there's no construction timeline yet, the project's planning consultant said Tuesday. Maui News.

Kauai

The Kauai County Council will have at least another month to iron out the details on a proposed law that would declare air pollution that endangers public health or causes property damage a public nuisance. The seven-member board, by a 5-1 vote, gave their initial OK to the proposal outlined in Bill 2573 on Wednesday. Garden Island.

The Kauai Lagoons project, including the 27-hole Jack Nicklaus-designed Kauai Lagoons Golf Club, has been sold to Honolulu developer Ed Bushor’s Tower Development, Inc. Garden Island.

When the state public charter school commission turned down her request last year to establish a charter school on Kauai, Deena Fontana Moraes was disappointed. But not deterred. Garden Island.

Lanai
The Maui County Council's Planning Committee will begin a review of an update of the Lanai Community Plan this week. Maui News.

Army grows in Pacific, Tulsi Gabbard to marry videographer, big fight over Big Wind, Hawaiian Electric CEO to get $10M in buyout, study looks at geothermal impact on Native Hawaiians, Maui hospital wants private partners, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Pohakuloa Training Area  © 2015 All Hawaii News

Under a still-developing U.S. Army Pacific deployment concept called "Pacific Pathways," the Army is becoming more expeditionary — like the Marines. Rather than shuttling smaller groups back and forth as in the past, the Army is keeping larger numbers of troops west of the mid-Pacific dateline for extended periods — and adding to security in the region in the process, it says. Star-Advertiser.

One of Hawaii's most eligible singles is tying the knot. U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, the popular Hawaii Democrat who easily won re-election to a second term in November, confirmed Thursday she is engaged and planning an April wedding. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc. CEO Connie Lau will get an estimated $10.66 million in compensation if the company is sold to Florida-based NextEra Energy Inc. later this year as planned, according to a federal filing Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

On Monday political science professor Monique Mironesco will walk on to the West Oahu campus of the University of Hawaii and resume the job that was taken away from her 18 months ago. An arbitrator ruled last month that the university wrongfully fired the 10-year "temporary" faculty member in what the University of Hawaii Professional Assembly describes as a landmark decision that will affect hundreds of nontenured UH professors who might face the same situation now or in the future. Star-Advertiser.

The commission overseeing public charter schools agreed Thursday to begin shutting down the financially strapped Halau Lokahi Public Charter School, ending a months­-long struggle to keep the Hawaiian culture-based school afloat. Star-Advertiser.

Environmental attorneys say that Hawaii’s Public Utilities Commission likely erred in approving a wind farm before its environmental review was completed. Last week, the PUC approved a contract between Hawaiian Electric Co. and Champlin/GEI Wind Holdings, based in Santa Barbara, Calif., for a new 10-turbine wind farm to be built in Kahuku on Oahu’s North Shore. Civil Beat.

Hawaiian Electric Co. said it does not foresee any impact on the development of NextEra Energy's planned 15-megawatt Ka La Nui Solar project in Leeward Oahu from the Florida company's $4.3 billion acquisition of the state's largest utility, according to a public filing. Pacific Business News.

January electric bills at 4-year low thanks to oil. KHON2.

Hawaii

The Windward Planning Commission on Thursday approved the allocation of $293,760 for a study on the impact of geothermal development on Native Hawaiians. The request, which taps Hawaii County’s geothermal asset fund, came from geothermal critics and others who say the state’s indigenous population has been ignored during discussions surrounding the contentious issue. Tribune-Herald.

Palikapu Dedman with the Pele Defense Fund addressed the Windward Planning Commission on Thursday (Jan. 8, 2015), demanding the commission release funds for a study on the possible adverse impacts upon Native Hawaiians associated with the development of geothermal energy generation facilities on the island. Big Island Video News.

Stubborn ice deposited by Friday’s storm continues to keep the summit of Mauna Kea closed to the public. Snow storms typically close down access for a day or so, said Office of Mauna Kea Management Director Stephanie Nagata, but the current conditions are unlike anything seen before at the summit. Tribune-Herald.

When flash flooding crippled the Kohala Ditch last month, it spelled the end of one Kapaau business and forced rationing for other users. It also helped force the question of what to do with a historic water system that barely sustains itself but still serves a critical function — albeit not the one for which it was created. West Hawaii Today.

A 10-unit oceanfront development at mile marker 19 in Ninole got the thumbs-up from the Windward Planning Commission on Thursday, despite concerns by neighbors that the upscale community will make housing less affordable along the Hamakua coast. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The head of the Hawaii Health Systems Corp.'s Maui region plans to discuss a partnership with Hawaii Pacific Health during a news conference Friday morning, but the state-owned hospital network will still need legislative approval to partner with the private nonprofit hospital network, which oversees Kapiolani, Pali Momi, Straub, and Wilcox hospitals. Pacific Business News.

A federal judge last month ordered the now defunct Maui Pineapple Co. to pay a portion of an $8.7 million settlement to Thai farm laborers who suffered hostile and deplorable living conditions after being brought to Hawaii more than a decade ago. Maui News.

Former Maui mayoral candidate Nelson Waikiki Jr. is scheduled to be sentenced in a securities fraud case next month, after he was arrested Tuesday night on a warrant. Maui News.

Charter schools lag in 3R's, Honolulu police chief causes mistrial, Kauai newspaper offers $10k reward in monk seal bludgeoning, Pearl Harbor officials blasted for selling free tickets, Waikiki merchants could pay fee for beach upkeep, Pahoa merchants eye lava flow, land use mulled, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

courtesy Hawaii Charter Schools Network

Public school students as a whole performed better than charter school students in math, reading and science last year, according to the Charter School Commission's annual report released this week. Star-Advertiser.

An internal report from the National Park Service, which operates a visitors' center for a memorial at the USS Arizona, said tour companies sold tickets with the knowledge of park officials even though tickets are supposed to be free. Associated Press.

The state of Hawaii has implemented a "cloud first" policy across all state departments for all new information technology projects and migrating existing applications, the governor's office announced Thursday. Pacific Business News.

Three U.S. cities that President Barack Obama once called home are trying to outdo one another as the competition to host his future presidential library comes to a close. Associated Press.

The Hawaii Attorney General’s office and Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism failed to report millions of dollars from certain accounts, hindering the Legislature’s ability to monitor the money, a state audit has found. Civil Beat.

The University of Hawaii Board of Regents voted unanimously Thursday to approve Kalbert Young as chief operating officer and vice president for budget and finance. Young had been state budget director the past four years under former Gov. Neil Abercrombie, helping craft the state's roughly $10 billion operating budget and develop long-term financial strategies. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s FBI agency received $1.2 million worth of equipment in the form of three mine-resistant vehicles. Civil Beat.

The head of the Florida company buying Hawaiian Electric Industries said Thursday he plans to lower electric bills in the islands by switching power plants to liquefied natural gas, adding large-scale solar and wind farms and making use of smart grid technology. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

The lawyer for the man who was on trial for allegedly stealing Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha's mailbox is accusing Kealoha of intentionally causing a mistrial. Star-Advertiser.

Inappropriate testimony from Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha caused a federal judge to declare a mistrial in what has become a high-profile case involving a mailbox stolen from his house and an ongoing family feud between his wife and her estranged uncle over money. Civil Beat.

It was only in its second hour and on the second witness, when the federal trial for the man accused of stealing the mailbox of the Honolulu Police chief, abruptly ended. Hawaii News Now.

If two new city bills aimed at maintaining iconic Waikiki Beach are adopted, commercial property owners in the area will have to contribute to beach restoration projects. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Drivers traversing the intersection of Queen Kaahumanu Highway and Makala Boulevard in Kailua-Kona may need to adjust their driving pattern, and more changes are ahead. West Hawaii Today.

On Monday, a group of students and activists took down the American flag flying at main entrance of the University of Hawaii at Hilo, instead raising the Hawaiian flag that was beneath it. The action was related to what they say is the continued illegal occupation of the Hawaiian Kingdom by the United States. Big Island Video News.

A bill aimed at increasing transparency and public input in the process of creating planned unit developments was reluctantly endorsed Thursday by the Windward Planning Commission. West Hawaii Today.

The lava flow on the Big Island has shifted in recent weeks. That means new neighborhoods threatened and lots of questions, which community leaders attempted to answer Wednesday night. KITV4.

The new leading edge of the June 27 lava flow moved 170 yards between Wednesday and Thursday, bringing it within about 435 yards of a fork in its predicted path. Tribune-Herald.

Twenty-one people attended a state Planning Office meeting Wednesday at the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority, where officials gathered input about the state’s land use process, specifically district boundary amendment procedures. West Hawaii Today.

East Hawaii residents might have a harder time finding a Christmas tree this year after shipments to one major retailer were sent back to the mainland. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Target has already attracted 1,100 applicants online, and had hundreds of interested job seekers attend the first day of a four-day job fair on Maui today. Maui Now.

Maui-based Pacific Biodiesel Technologies has signed a contract with Hawaiian Electric to supply the utility with biodiesel processed from waste cooking oil and other local feedstocks for use at HECO's 110-megawatt Campbell Industrial Park generation facility. Maui News.

Kauai

The Garden Island newspaper is putting up a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of whoever is responsible for the bludgeoning death of a female Hawaiian monk seal pup in Anahola, on Kauai’s northeast coast. The award matches a $10,000 award offered by the Humane Society of the United States, Conservation Council of Hawaii, Center for Biological Diversity and the Monk Seal Foundation.

The county will not change the designation of a Poipu neighborhood after many residents and property owners objected. County planning officials, in response to concerns from Whalers Cove residents, said they will keep the active residential zoning designation for the area. Garden Island.

Hawaii internment camp to be national park, shorter men live longer, charter schools struggle for approval, Health Department cites Big Island landfills, Honolulu cracks down on ag houses, UH presidential hopefills visit Maui and Kauai, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Honouliuli Internment Camp, courtesy National Park Service

The National Park Service said Thursday it wants to make the former Honouliuli Internment Camp, now weedy and overgrown, a historic site as a new unit of the national park system, or a national monument. Star-Advertiser.

The National Park Service on Thursday proposed making the former Honouliuli Internment Camp on Oahu either a monument or a historic site. The park service plans to hold meetings this month and next to get the public's feedback. Associated Press.

In a report released Thursday, the National Park Service found that the former Honouliuli Internment Camp in Waipahu is a nationally significant historic site, a big step toward designating the area as a national monument.  The draft study evaluated 17 sites in Hawaii to determine what should be included in the national park system, and concluded that both the Honouliuli Internment Camp and the U.S. Immigration Station qualified as nationally significant. Civil Beat.

Honouliuli Internment Camp

A former internment camp where Japanese and European Americans were incarcerated during World War II could soon become a National Monument or Historic Site, the first ever in Hawai'i. Hawaii News Now.

Read the report here.

Size really does matter when it comes to living longer. In the largest, most detailed and longest study on aging, a team of Hawaii researchers discovered shorter men live longer. Hawaii News Now.

You're a Japanese male and you have some crazy notion about wanting to be taller. Better think again. A Honolulu-based research study published this week found a connection between short height and longer life in men of Japanese ancestry. Star-Advertiser.

Over the past few months, six prospective Hawaii public charter schools sought approval from state commissioners to move forward with their plans to develop alternative, publicly funded places of learning. But the state’s eight-member Charter School Commission denied four of the applications on Thursday for reasons ranging from insufficient planning to failure to integrate Hawaii’s culture into the learning model. Civil Beat.

A group of concerned state lawmakers has called together advocates for people with disabilities to increase public awareness of the services health care providers are obligated to provide patients who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf and blind. Star-Advertiser.

A massive molasses spill in Honolulu Harbor last fall led Hawaii lawmakers to introduce legislation designed to prevent a repeat disaster. But the proposals they crafted failed to survive the 2014 legislative session. Star-Advertiser.

A massive molasses spill in Honolulu Harbor last fall led Hawaii lawmakers to introduce legislation designed to prevent a repeat performance. But the proposals they crafted failed to survive the 2014 legislative session. Associated Press.

For her very first congressional campaign commercial, Hawaii Senate President Donna Mercado Kim takes a novel approach. Civil Beat.

A national organization promoting the labeling of genetically modified foods has opened an office in Honolulu. The Center for Food Safety has also established a local political action committee and will get involved in state elections this summer. Associated Press.

The State’s 4 County Mayors addressed members of the Chamber of Commerce of Hawai’i today during a luncheon in Honolulu.   It was the first event of its kind hosted by the Chamber and some members said it provided a fresh perspective.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Profile: Scott Enright earned his bachelor's degree in psychology and philosophy from the University of Hawaii at Hilo, but somehow ended up having a long career in agriculture. "You know, it certainly wasn't planned," said Enright, who is chairman of the Hawaii Board of Agriculture and thus de facto director of the state Department of Agriculture. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

The city is cracking down on what it says are illegal houselike buildings in a remote agricultural subdivision in the foothills of Kunia where residences are prohibited. Star-Advertiser.

Bus riders tired of homeless sleeping on benches. Hawaii News Now.

An infestation of bedbugs has become so rampant at the Oahu Community Correctional Center that officials announced a plan Thursday to shut down a housing module for fumigation and temporarily relocate more than 100 inmates. Star-Advertiser.

An arraignment of individuals charged with various crimes in connection with sweepstakes machines was held Thursday in Circuit Court. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Hawaii County has been fined more than $350,000 by the state Department of Health for alleged solid waste permit violations at the Hilo and West Hawaii landfills. Tribune-Herald.

The April 30 indictment of Waste Management of Hawaii Inc. and two of its officials shouldn’t have an impact on its lifetime contract to run the West Hawaii landfill or the current selection process for a waste-reduction facility to replace the Hilo landfill. West Hawaii Today.

An associate degree in marine science is one of the programs that could be offered when Hawaii Community College — Palamanui is up and running next year. Kenneth Fletcher, University of Hawaii Center at West Hawaii director, told residents in Waikoloa Wednesday night that many opportunities exist to link higher education with businesses. West Hawaii Today.

State officials say it will take about $2.1 million in capital improvements to help transition Kiholo State Park Reserve to a wilderness park, and estimate annual operating, maintenance costs at about $555,000. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

David Lassner and retired Lt. Gen. Francis Wiercinski, both seeking to become president of the University of Hawaii system, offered slightly different visions for the future of the University of Hawaii Maui College in separate public appearances at the college Thursday. Maui News.

The Hawai'i Health Connector has been a costly mistake, and the state government should immediately seek a waiver from the federal Affordable Care Act's requirement for the state to have an online insurance exchange, said Michael Gold, president and chief executive officer of the Hawaii Medical Service Association. Maui News.

Sugar production at Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co. on Maui, the state's last sugar plantation, plummeted 83 percent in the first quarter of the year compared to last year due to "extremely wet conditions," Alexander & Baldwin reported in its first quarter report Thursday. Maui News.

Kauai

By their own accounts, Francis “Frank” Wiercinski and David Lassner were on different paths in life. Garden Island.